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 theme hall, 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 117 residents share double rooms and semiprivate bathrooms, along with common kitchens and TV/activity lounges on each floor. Rooms are completely furnished (including micro-refrigerators) and have Internet access. Laundry facilities are also available.
Avenue Apartments: Located across the street from the Oakland campus, the Avenue Apartments accommodate 22 students in six two-bedroom apartments. Each apartment has one and a half bathrooms, a kitchen, closet space, and a living/dining area. 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: An elegant historical landmark building, Webster Hall is 2.6 miles from the Oakland campus. Designed by renowned architect Julia Morgan, the building features exceptional quality of light, high ceilings, and sweeping views of the East Bay. It comprises the top two floors of the Oakland YWCA building.
Centrally located at 1515 Webster Street in downtown Oakland, close to Lake Merritt, the Oakland Museum, and the famous Paramount Theatre, Webster Hall houses 84 students in single, super-single, double, and triple rooms. Rooms are completely furnished (including small refrigerators) and have Internet access. Webster Hall has TV/activity lounges on each floor; common kitchens allow students to prepare meals. Webster Hall also contains two large art studios for residents' use.
The college provides a shuttle service to both the Oakland and San Francisco campuses several times a day. In addition, Webster Hall is conveniently located just two blocks from public transit (bus and BART).
Theme Halls
The Office of Residential Life offers residential students three options for themed living. Each theme hall is facilitated by a resident advisor who plans programs that focus on the theme.
Artists for Community (AFC): Located in Clifton Hall, AFC gives 15 to 18 residential students a supported living and learning experience dedicated to art, architecture, and design in community. Students gain valuable and exciting experience by working with staff members to design projects, critique work, and discuss their educational path in communities of their choice. Close bonding with students who share similar interests, ongoing conversations with visiting artists, and collaboration on projects are highlights of this program.
AFC students live near one another in a dedicated wing at Clifton Hall. The group works with a staff person from the Center for Art and Public Life for mentoring and with an AFC RA on project planning. This is a leadership development opportunity, with students forming many of their own parameters for living and working together.
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.