Housing

2008–09 Academic Year

The residential community at California College of the Arts is a vibrant part of campus life. College housing provides students new to the Bay Area and to college life a variety of affordable housing options that foster community spirit. Many students who first live together in CCA housing later choose to live as roommates off-campus—and often develop lifelong friendships.

Housing Options

Housing is available for first-year students on the Oakland campus in Clifton Hall and the Avenue Apartments. The college offers housing at Webster Hall in downtown Oakland for our graduate, returning, international, and transfer students.

First-Year Community

Located on the Oakland campus just steps away from the first-year studios, the First-Year Community consists of Clifton Hall and the Avenue Apartments. The First-Year Community provides leadership opportunities, the Artists for Community and Artists’ Retreat Community theme halls, and many ways for first-year students to meet new people and connect to the college and the art community.

Clifton Hall: Located at the entrance to the Oakland campus, Clifton Hall's 118 residents share double rooms and quads with semiprivate, along with common kitchens and television/activity lounges on each floor. Rooms are completely furnished (including micro-refrigerators) and have Internet access. Laundry facilities are also available.

Avenue Apartments: Located on the Oakland campus, the Avenue Apartments accommodate 33 students in one- and two-bedroom apartments. Each apartment has a kitchen, closet space, and a living/dining area. The one-bedroom apartments have a single bathroom, while the two-bedroom apartments have one-and-a-half bathrooms. Apartments are completely furnished with extra-long twin beds, dressers, desks, furniture for the common areas, and Internet access. Laundry facilities are also available.

Continuing Student Community

Webster Hall: Our continuing-student community occupies the top two floors of an elegant, historical landmark building in the heart of downtown Oakland. Designed by renowned architect Julia Morgan, the building features exceptional quality of light, high ceilings, and sweeping views of the East Bay.

Webster Hall is located at 1515 Webster Street about two-and-a-half miles from the Oakland campus. Webster Hall is near Lake Merritt, the Oakland Museum of California, and the historic Art Deco Paramount Theatre.

Webster Hall houses 91 students in single, super-single, double, and triple rooms. Rooms are completely furnished (including small refrigerators) and have Internet access. Webster Hall has television/activity lounges on each floor; and common kitchens. Webster Hall also contains a large art studio, a fitness room, and laundry facilities.

The college provides a shuttle service to each campus (Oakland and San Francisco) several times a day. Public transportation (AC Transit and BART) are conveniently accessible within two blocks.

Living Learning Community

The Office of Residential Life, in conjunction with the First Year Program, Academic Affairs, and the Center for Art and Public Life (CAPL), has created a unique living learning community—Artists for Community (AFC)—that unites art, education, and community involvement within the residential setting.

The living learning community provides a singular experience in which a select group of students shares common residential and academic experiences that explore the power of art to shape, strengthen, and celebrate our communities.

AFC students gain valuable and exciting experience as they work with staff members and faculty to design projects, critique work, and discuss educational paths in their chosen communities. Program highlights include close bonding with similarly interested students, ongoing conversations with visiting artists, and project collaboration

The upward of forty AFC selected students share living quarters on a dedicated floor in Clifton Hall. The group works on project planning with CAPL and First Year Program staff, CCA faculty, and AFC resident advisors.

AFC is a unique leadership-development opportunity, with students establishing personal parameters for living and working together.Learn more about the integrated academic components of CCA's rewarding Artists for Community program.

Theme Halls

In addition to the Artists for Community living learning program, the Office of Residential Life offers residential students two additional options for themed living. A resident advisor facilitates each theme and plans programs and activities that uphold the hall's theme.

Artists' Retreat Community (ARC): ARC is designed to accommodate students seeking a peaceful environment so they can concentrate on what they do best—create art! Students who live in ARC share a commitment to maintaining a serene atmosphere conducive to the creative process. Programming revolves around artwork created by residents and includes special community shows and critiques.

Living in a tranquil environment is essential for some people to have a clear focus on creating art. The ARC, located in the Avenue Apartments, is the perfect home for student artists who want a creative and nurturing environment with fewer distractions.

International and Multicultural Community (IMC): The goal of IMC is to expand awareness of international issues and provide opportunities for involvement and exchange. With an emphasis on interaction among races, abilities, sexual orientations, cultures, and religions, IMC provides a locale for a variety of cultural and educational activities in which residents, faculty, and community members may take part.

Continuing Student Community students living in IMC, located in Webster Hall, have an opportunity to participate in a broad range of programming. The IMC RA assists in organizing dinner socials with professors and teaching assistants, as well as informal discussions about recent world news, overseas travel tips, debates, cultural celebrations, and lectures.

Clifton Hall

Clifton Hall lounge

Dates for Fall 2008

April 1
Housing application packets sent to students. Application packets are mailed after receipt of your Intent to Enroll form and tuition deposit.

May 15
Application packets with deposits must be received by this date, or within two weeks of receipt, to reserve your space.

July 1
End of normal application period; applications received after this date will be considered on a space-available basis.

Early August
Housing assignments, roommate information, and check-in information sent to students.

August 24
Move-in day for students in all residence halls.

Dates for Spring 2009

November 17
Deadline for applications indicating an interest in campus housing.

December
Housing application packets sent based on available space.

January 7
All residence halls reopen; new residents' move-in day.

Choose from a wide variety of products featuring the CCA logo. Profits benefit the CCA scholarship fund.