Consumer Information + Compliance

Learn more about our academics

2023-2024 Academic Catalog
Course descriptions, major degree requirements, and other academic information

The Kansas City Art Institute is a member of the Association of Independent Colleges of Art and Design, a consortium of 39 leading art schools in the United States and Canada.

The school is accredited by the Higher Learning Commission (HLC), a commission of the North Central Association of Colleges and Schools, and by the National Association of Schools of Art and Design (NASAD). In spring 2017, HLC awarded KCAI a 10-year reaccreditation. In March of 2011, KCAI was also awarded a 10-year reaccreditation from NASAD.

For more information about KCAI’s accreditation process, please contact neastman@kcai.edu

The Campus Crime and Fire Safety Report
The report includes information about crime and safety, as well as counseling services, policies, the risks and consequences of drug and alcohol use. The report is published annually and includes crime statistics for the previous three years for certain crimes reported to have occurred on campus; in certain off-campus buildings or property owned or controlled by the college; and on public property within, or immediately adjacent to and accessible from, the campus. The report also includes information about police and public safety resources, reporting crimes, coordination between law enforcement agencies, fire and medical emergencies, crime prevention, victim support services, KCAI policies, campus facilities, Residence Hall security, timely warning policy statement, the KCAI Sexual Misconduct Policy, and the KCAI Alcohol and Controlled Substances Policy.

KCAI’s drug and alcohol policies are available on the online policy library on the KCAI Policy Library

The Kansas City Art Institute Alcohol and Other Drug Prevention Program and Biennial Review

In accordance with the Campus Sex Crimes Prevention Act, information about Missouri’s State Sex Offender Registry can be located here.

KCAI is committed to demonstrating educational achievement and improvement through ongoing assessment of student learning. Each program has defined goals for student learning and effective processes for assessment of student learning. Each spring, all faculty members evaluate the performance of each senior in accordance with the learning outcomes defined by their discipline. Results are then analyzed to improve teaching and learning and to inform budget and planning processes. The liberal arts faculty also assess the general education student learning outcomes of a random, representative sample of the graduating senior class.

Studio Major Learning Outcomes 2021 - 2023

Liberal Arts Learning Outcomes 2021 - 2023

The Professional Practice Center believes that preparing students for success in the workplace is as important as helping students to succeed in the classroom. The PPC is a resource to match talent, aspiration, and artistic and intellectual discovery with diverse career possibilities in the art and design professions. Students participate in sequenced, career-related experiences to facilitate their journey to graduation and planning for a career beyond the completion of a B.F.A. degree.

KCAI is in compliance with the Principles of Excellence for Educational Institutions Serving Service Members, Veterans and Spouses, and Other Family Members and provides an annotated Student Shopping Sheet to students who are eligible to receive Federal military or veterans education benefits.

The following links provide additional information related to comparison tools:

• The College Scorecard provides students and families with clear information through an interactive tool that lets them choose among any number of options based on their individual needs – including location, size, campus setting, and degree and major programs.
• The Consumer Financial Protection Bureau helps students and former students to make smart decisions about financing their college education.
• College Navigator is a free consumer information tool designed to help students, parents, high school counselors, and others get information about over 7000 colleges and universities.

A positive and productive learning environment is critical to the success of all students. Most situations can be resolved through published college policies and processes. Policies and procedures can be reviewed on KCAI’s online Policy Library.

In accordance with the U.S. Department of Education Program Integrity Rule, 34 CFR 668.43(b), institutions of higher education are required to provide contact information for complaints.

• Students who wish to share complaints and grievances with the college that are not addressed in the published policies and processes on the online Policy Library are encouraged to submit concerns through the Student Complaints and Grievance Policy.
• Students may also make a complaint to the Higher Learning Commission and/or through the Missouri Department of Higher Education’s complaint resolution process.

KCAI celebrates Constitution Day annually. Events are planned through the office of student activities.

KCAI policies and sanctions related to copyright infringement and unauthorized peer-to-peer file sharing, including disciplinary action taken against students who engage in illegal downloading or unauthorized distribution of copyrighted materials using KCAI’s information technology systems, can be found online on the KCAI Policy Library.

Information about KCAI’s cost of attendance, including tuition, fees, books, supplies, room and board, transportation, and other costs is available at http://kcai.edu/financial-aid-scholarships/complete-costs/. Students may also utilize the Net Price Calculator to assist with financial planning.

Disability services works with students who have a disclosed disability to arrange accommodations that will allow those students equal access to the educational environment. Current and perspective students who wish to disclose a disability, including ongoing medical conditions such as severe allergies and seizure disorders, are encouraged to contact disability services.

It is the policy of the Kansas City Art Institute to provide equal employment and learning opportunities to all qualified applicants regardless of regard to their race, gender, gender identity, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, national origin, age, physical or mental disability, genetic information, citizenship status, veteran status, or any other characteristic prohibited by federal, state or local law. Although certain facilities are not fully accessible to persons with disabilities, KCAI employs all means necessary to ensure that qualified students with disabilities will gain access to all resources necessary for a full education.

To ensure access to classes and housing, we ask that persons with disabilities accepted for admission identify themselves within one month of acceptance and indicate the type of accommodation needed by contacting disability services.

Federal law stipulates that a student who has been convicted of an offense under any federal or state law involving the possession or sale of a controlled substance during a period of enrollment for which the student was receiving financial aid shall not be eligible to receive any federal or institutional grant, loan, or work assistance. KCAI’s Alcohol and Controlled Substances Policy can be reviewed on the online Policy Library.

The following financial aid information is available to prospective and enrolled students

Learn More

• All need-based and non-need-based federal, state, local, private and institutional student financial assistance programs available to students who enroll at the school are available
• Terms and conditions of the Title IV, HEA loans
• Criteria for selecting recipients and for determining award amount
• Eligibility requirements and procedures for applying for aid
• Methods and frequency of disbursements of aid are shared with current and prospective students on the online financial aid award letter

• Rights and responsibilities of students receiving Title IV, HEA student Financial Aid, including criteria for continued student eligibility and standards for Satisfactory Academic Progress
• Terms of any loan received as part of financial aid package, sample loan repayment schedule, and the necessity for repaying loan
• Procedures and forms by which students apply for assistance
• Information about the availability for financial aid for study abroad program
• General conditions and terms applicable to employment provided as part of financial aid package
• The Total Withdrawal and Leave of Absence Policy
• Information about avoiding financial aid and scholarship scams
• Information about KCAI’s relationships with lending agencies
• Information about federal financial aid penalties for drug convictions is available on the KCAI Policy Library, Alcohol and Controlled Substances Policy. The exit counseling information KCAI provides and collects is available for review through the Financial Aid Office.

• First-time Freshman, first- to second-year retention rates: fall 2017 to fall 2018 = 82%; fall 2018 to fall 2019 = 77%; fall 2019 to fall 2020 = 65%***; fall 2020 to fall 2021 = 74%***; fall 2021 to fall 2022 = 74%
• Graduation rate (first-time freshman who graduate within six years): 2017 = 54%; 2018 = 61%; 2019 = 61%; 2020 = 57%; 2021 = 62%; 2022 = 57%
• 2022 6-year graduation rate for PELL recipients = 48%; 2022 6-year graduation rate for Direct subsidized loan recipients: 60%
• 2022 6-year graduation rate for non-PELL and non-Stafford recipients = 68%
• 2022 6-year graduation rate for women = 59%; men = 50%;
• 2022 6-year graduation rate by ethnicity:  Nonresident Alien 100%; Hispanic/Latino = 43%; American Indian or Alaska Native = 67%; Asian = 100%; Black or African American = 42%; Native Hawaiian or Other Pacific Islander =N/A; White = 57%; Unknown = 83%; Two or More Races = 48%

***COVID-19 Pandemic

Student Body Diversity

• Fall 2022 full-time undergraduate student demographics: 77% Female; 23% Male; 42.3% PELL recipients
• Fall 2022 ethnicity (students elect to self-report): Black = 8.13%; American Indian or Alaskan Native = .81%; Asian or Pacific Islander = 4.61%; Hispanic/Latino = 14.63%; Not reported/unknown = 2.17%; Two or more ethnicities = 6.5%; White, Non-Hispanic = 61.65%; Non-resident Alien = 1.5%

On an annual survey administered to all graduating seniors between 2017 – 2022, KCAI students report that they plan to attend the following graduate and professional programs:

Southern Illinois University–Painting

School of Visual Arts, New York City–Photography

Southern Methodist University–Animation and Art History

UMKC–Art History

School of Visual Art–Illustration

Arizona State University–Ceramics

Washington University-Fine Arts

Southwestern College-Art Therapy

University of Kansas-Art History

School of the Art Institute of Chicago

Penn State

Lesley University

New York University

Carnegie Mellon Universityity

Missouri statute Section, 170.005.1, requires every student, teacher and visitor to wear an industrial quality eye protective device when participating in or observing any of the specific courses in schools, colleges, universities or other educational institutions. Protective eyewear can be purchased at the campus Art Store. The Bureau of Fire Protection inspects KCAI buildings on a regular basis and KCAI is compliant with city fire codes. Permits for inspections are posted in each building upon completion annually. Copies of the Safety Kleen profile for hazardous waste pick-up are available in the plant services office. Buildings with hazardous chemicals have labels indicating such.

Higher Education Emergency Relief Fund III, American Rescue Plan

The Higher Education Emergency Relief Fund III (HEERF III), authorized by the American Rescue Plan (ARP), was signed into law on March 11, 2021, and provides $39.6 billion in support to institutions of higher education to serve students and ensure learning continues during the COVID-19 pandemic. Emergency funds available to institutions and their students under all emergency funds total $76.2 billion.

Kansas City Art Institute, on May 23, 2020, signed and returned to the Department the Certification and Agreement and the assurance that the institution has used, or intends to use, no less than 50 percent of the funds received under Section 18004(a)(1) of the CARES Act to provide Emergency Financial Aid Grants to students. A supplemental grant award notification (GAN) was received from the Department on January 19, 2021, that included the HEERF II Funds. Another supplemental GAN was received on May 15, 2021, that included HEERF III funds.

KCAI has been awarded $1,107,828 in student financial aid funding under HEERF III. Following the guidelines set forth by the US Department of Education, these funds will be distributed as emergency financial grants. As designated by the Department of Education, KCAI is required to prioritize grants to students with exceptional financial need, such as those who receive Pell Grants. Students’ financial needs will be determined by the FAFSA; however, students are not required to have completed the FAFSA or be eligible for Title IV funding to receive a grant. KCAI will distribute these funds as widely as possible.

The American Rescue Plan Act of 2021 has also allowed institutions of higher education to make financial aid adjustments for any individual who has experienced financial hardship due to COVID-19, which may include loss of employment, income, or undue financial burden.

FAQs and HEERF Student Aid Reporting

Quarterly Budget and Expenditure Reporting for HEERF III

Student and Institutional Reporting (combined)

HEERF 2023 Q3 - FINAL
HEERF 2023 Q2
HEERF 2023 Q2 - APPENDIX
HEERF 2023 Q1
HEERF 2022 Q4
HEERF 2022 Q3
HEERF 2022 Q2

Institutional Reporting

HEERF 2022 Q1

2022 Q1 - Amended 2*
2022 Q1 - Amended 1
2022 Q1 - Original

HEERF 2021 Q4

HEERF 2021 Q4 - Amended*
HEERF 2021 Q4 - Original

HEERF 2021 Q3

HEERF 2021 Q3 - Amended 2**
HEERF 2021 Q3 - Appendix - Amended 2**
HEERF 2021 Q3 - Amended*
HEERF 2021 Q3 - Appendix - Amended*
HEERF 2021 Q3 - Original
HEERF 2021 Q3 - Appendix - Original

HEERF 2021 Q2

HEERF 2021 Q2 - Amended*
HEERF 2021 Q2 - Appendix - Amended*
HEERF 2021 Q2

* Due to updated guidance from the Department of Education, this quarterly report has been amended from an accrual basis to a G5 basis.  In other words, the report has been amended to align expenditures with the amount drawn down from G5. Please note that the original accrual basis reports were prepared based on guidance in effect at the time of publication.
** Please see the explanation for the amendment within the Appendix.

The Higher Education Emergency Relief Fund (HEERF II) provided funding to colleges and universities for emergency student grants. The purpose of the money is to award emergency financial aid grants to students for specific expenses. Student grants may be used for any component of their cost of attendance, emergency costs that arise due to Coronavirus, etc. with examples including tuition, food, housing, healthcare (including mental health), and childcare.

KCAI has received $420,333 in student financial aid funding. Following the guidelines set forth by the US Department of Education, these funds will be distributed as emergency financial grants. As designated by the Department of Education, KCAI is required to prioritize grants to students with exceptional financial need, such as those who receive Pell Grants; however, we plan to distribute these funds as widely as possible. Students’ financial needs will be determined by the FAFSA.

FAQs and HEERF II Student Aid Reporting

Quarterly Budget and Expenditure Reporting for HEERF II

Institutional Reporting

HEERF 2021 Q2

HEERF 2021 Q2 - Amended*
HEERF 2021 Q2 - Appendix - Amended*
HEERF 2021 Q2 - FINAL - Original
HEERF 2021 Q2 - FINAL - Appendix

HEERF 2021 Q1

HEERF 2021 Q1 - Amended*
HEERF 2021 Q1 - Original

* Due to updated guidance from the Department of Education, this quarterly report has been amended from an accrual basis to a G5 basis.  In other words, the report has been amended to align expenditures with the amount drawn down from G5. Please note that the original accrual basis reports were prepared based on guidance in effect at the time of publication.

The federal CARES ACT provided funding to colleges and universities for emergency student grants. The purpose of the money is to award emergency financial aid grants to students for specific expenses that are a direct result of the disruption of campus operations due to the coronavirus.

FAQs and HEERF I Student Aid Reporting

Policies and Procedures

Quarterly Budget and Expenditure Reporting for HEERF I

Institutional Reporting

HEERF 2020 Q4

HEERF I 2020 Q4****

HEERF 2020 Q3

HEERF I 2020 Q3 - Amended 2***

HEERF I 2020 Q3 - FINAL - Amended*
HEERF I 2020 Q3 - FINAL - Original

HEERF 2020 Q2

HEERF I 2020 Q2 - Amended*
HEERF I 2020 Q2 - Original

*Due to updated guidance from the Department of Education, this quarterly report has been amended from an accrual basis to a G5 basis.  In other words, the report has been amended to align expenditures with the amount drawn down from G5. Please note that the original accrual basis reports were prepared based on guidance in effect at the time of publication.

***The report has been amended to correct its final status, as it was erroneously labeled "FINAL" KCAI subsequently received additional funding under the CARES ACT, necessitating this amendment.

****This quarterly report has been included to indicate the absence of any activity during the reporting period, following the creation of an amendment for QTR 3. Refer to the details provided above in *** for further clarification.

KCAI is committed to a campus environment in which all individuals are treated with respect and dignity and a work/learning environment free of discrimination and harassment.  Kansas City Art Institute prohibits sexual misconduct, as well as discrimination and harassment based on race, gender, gender identity, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, national origin, age, physical or mental disability, marital status, parental status, genetic information, citizenship status, veteran status, or any other characteristic prohibited by federal, state or local law.

Furthermore, KCAI is also committed to creating and maintaining an environment where individual and institutional responsibility combine to promote each student’s development. Students are encouraged to help create an environment that stimulates both their educational and social development. With that freedom comes a responsibility to respect others. All individuals at KCAI are considered adults, and it is assumed they will maintain standards of conduct appropriate to membership in the college community. The college accepts and retains students on the condition that they observe these standards. The Student Code of Conduct is applicable to all students and recognized student organizations, to conduct both on and off campus, before, during and between semesters.

KCAI’s Sexual Misconduct, Discrimination and Harassment (based on protected class), and Student Code of Conduct Policies are located on the KCAI Policy Library.

According to the CDC, meningococcal disease is a potentially life-threatening bacterial infection that can lead to meningococcal meningitis, an inflammation of the membranes surrounding the brain and spinal cord, or meningococcal septicemia, an infection of the blood. Meningococcal disease can affect people at any age. Infants are at the highest risk for getting the disease. Disease rates fall through later childhood but begin to rise again in early adolescence, peaking between the ages of 15 and 20 years. Due to lifestyle factors, such as crowded living situations, bar patronage, active or passive smoking, irregular sleep patterns, and sharing of personal items, college students living in residence halls are more likely to acquire meningococcal disease than the general college population.

While not required for students attending private colleges in the state of Missouri, the Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices (ACIP) for the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) and the American College Health Association (ACHA) recommend that all incoming college freshmen living in dormitories be vaccinated against meningococcal disease.

More information about the disease and vaccination can be found through the Centers for Disease Control and Preventionwebsite.

Notification procedures to be followed when a student resides on or off-campus are located on the KCAI Policy Library.

KCAI conforms to federal regulations known as the Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act, or FERPA. The purpose of FERPA is to provide rights to students and their families with regard to access and privacy of academic records. FERPA guarantees students at the postsecondary level the right to inspect and view their academic records. It also prohibits KCAI from releasing information from a student’s record to any third party unless the student authorizes the release. FERPA notification is provided to the campus community every fall. The full FERPA policy can be found in the KCAI Policy Library.

To request access, contact the following offices:

• Financial Aid Records, Financial Aid Office
• Student Code of Conduct Records, Dean of Student Affairs
• Student Counseling Records, Counseling Services
• Student Immunization Records, Dean of Student Affair
• Academic Advising Records, Academic Advising
• All Other Educational Records, Registrar

KCAI’s withdrawal policies and procedures

Tuition Refund Policy

Fall 2021 full-time undergraduate student demographics: 74% Female; 26% Male;
42.4% PELL recipients.

Fall 2021 ethnicity (students elect to self-report):
Black = 7.85%;
American Indian or Alaskan Native = 1.1%;
Asian or Pacific Islander = 4.96%;
Hispanic/Latino = 14.19%;
Not reported/unknown = 2.62%;
Two or more ethnicities = 7.02%;
White, Non-Hispanic = 61.29%;
Non-resident Alien = 1%

KCAI Virtual Bookstore

KCAI Policy Library

All new students are required to submit the following information before attending classes at KCAI.

• Immunization records
• Meningococcal waiver OR documentation of receiving the meningococcal vaccination
• Tuberculosis (TB) screening questionnaire

Required Immunizations

MMR – Students born on or after January 1, 1957 must comply with the MMR immunization policy, which requires two (2) vaccines against measles and one against mumps and rubella. The first measles vaccine or combination measles/mumps/rubella vaccine (MMR) must have been given at age 12 months or later. A second vaccine for measles or MMR must have been administered at least one month after the first one.

MUMPS – The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) now recommends a second dose of mumps-containing vaccine for students attending colleges, or other post-high-school educational institutions, who lack other evidence of immunity.

Recommended Immunizations

• Update tetanus booster (every 10 years)
• Varicella vaccination (if there is no childhood history of chicken pox)
• Hepatitis B
• Annual influenza vaccine
• Meningitis vaccination (all students who will reside in the Living Center)

KCAI provides opportunities for students to register to vote annually. Events are planned through the office of Student Services. Additionally, information on voting in local, state, and federal elections, may be accessed at http://www.sos.mo.gov/elections/goVoteMissouri/Default.aspx.