SCAD to discontinue operations at the North Kowloon Magistracy Building after Monday, June 1, 2020
For ten years, our university has taught thousands of students from across the world at SCAD Hong Kong. The university has contributed in so many ways to the vitality of the city and the Sham Shui Po community, completing the restoration of the historic North Kowloon Magistracy Building and winning a UNESCO award for this important work. Together, we have flourished, launching creative careers and building lifelong friendships at SCAD Hong Kong.
In recent months, SCAD has given careful thought to the future of our Hong Kong location. The university prioritizes student safety and academic quality above all else, and after a comprehensive analysis, SCAD has decided to discontinue instruction at our Hong Kong location after the Spring 2020 quarter concludes. Classes at SCAD Hong Kong will continue to be taught virtually through the end of the Spring 2020 quarter.
SCAD remains stronger than ever — a global family and the preeminent university for creative careers, with more than 15,000 students from more than 115 countries and 43,000 alumni living and working around the world. SCAD leaders in Hong Kong and the U.S. have devoted significant time and resources to this decision, which we believe is in the best interest of students and families who are part of the international SCAD community.
Frequently asked questions
SCAD Hong Kong classes for the Spring 2020 quarter will be held online. SCAD will discontinue operations in Hong Kong following the end of the Spring 2020 quarter on Monday, June 1.
SCAD revitalized the North Kowloon Magistracy Building, an important Hong Kong building, for vibrant educational use, and we are proud of our lasting contribution to the Sham Shui Po community. When SCAD's lease on the magistracy building expires this summer, the university will return the building to the Hong Kong Development Bureau, which will determine the historic landmark's next purpose.
All degree programs offered at SCAD Hong Kong are taught at other SCAD locations and/or online via SCAD eLearning. We plan to offer each student in good standing an opportunity to transition to SCAD Atlanta, SCAD Savannah, or SCAD eLearning to continue progressing toward their degrees. Student success advisers will personally speak with each SCAD Hong Kong student over the next few weeks to discuss their options in anticipation of fall registration and to review transition plans and immigration and financial aid considerations. Students choosing to transition to SCAD Atlanta or SCAD Savannah will be provided with information about university housing options in Atlanta and Savannah. It is our expectation that students will be able to complete their degrees at approximately the same time and for the same cost as they would have at the North Kowloon Magistracy Building.
Student success advisers will contact every SCAD Hong Kong student to talk through their options and provide additional information to help each student make the best decision for their unique academic future. As questions arise, email [email protected] or Chris Royer, SCAD Hong Kong director of student success, at [email protected]. Responses to questions will be prompt, 24 hours a day, seven days a week.
SCAD is a single university with multiple locations, and course credits earned at any SCAD location, including SCAD eLearning, count toward a student's degree. A student graduates with a degree from SCAD, not from an individual location.
All SCAD locations use a central, digital database for all student and alumni records, accessible to the appropriate university faculty and staff at any location. For more information, email [email protected].
Students were instructed in late January to take home any projects or other remaining materials in the building, which is currently closed, and should email Chris Royer at [email protected] to discuss any remaining items. Faculty and staff should contact Deb Kelly, SCAD Hong Kong director of human resources, at [email protected] to access items left in offices, classrooms, or studios.
SCAD human resources is contacting all SCAD Hong Kong faculty and staff to answer questions and discuss how this decision affects their roles at the university. Faculty and staff may also email Lesley Hanak, SCAD senior vice president for human resources, at [email protected].
All current students will continue to have access to SCAD academic technology systems, including MySCAD, Blackboard, and the SCAD app, from any SCAD location or elsewhere in the world.
SCAD is continually evaluating new opportunities and the needs of our student body. At this time, there are no plans to open another SCAD location.
Requirements vary depending on each student’s specific immigration situation. Students who are not U.S. citizens should email the international student services office at [email protected] to learn more about the immigration documents and requirements needed to study at other university locations. ISSO will assist all students with the transition.
Tuition is the same at every SCAD location, including SCAD eLearning, and SCAD scholarships apply toward a student’s education expenses at every location.
The university is committed to ensuring all SCAD Hong Kong students complete their degrees, and students have the option to transition to SCAD Atlanta, SCAD Savannah, or, in some cases, online via SCAD eLearning. It is our expectation that students will be able to complete their degrees at approximately the same time and for the same cost as they would have at SCAD Hong Kong.
Students choosing to transition to SCAD Atlanta and SCAD Savannah will be provided with information about university housing options. The office of residence life and housing will work with each student and their families to address their housing needs. For more information, email [email protected].
In 2010, the university made history by becoming the first U.S. art and design university to establish a location in Asia's World City, and we are grateful to the Hong Kong Development Bureau, which entrusted SCAD to restore the historic North Kowloon Magistracy Building, which won a UNESCO award for cultural heritage. SCAD Hong Kong has made enduring contributions to the city's creative landscape and many SCAD graduates continue to live and work there.
SCAD students were informed of the decision first, and the university is now beginning discussions with local Hong Kong officials that include these financial aid questions. We will update students as more information becomes available.
We understand that some students may have personal belongings in their lockers or elsewhere inside the building. Though the magistracy remains closed for now, it will reopen for a few days for individuals to have one last chance to collect personal belongings. We will notify students in advance.
Government officials require that student visas be terminated after the last day of classes at SCAD Hong Kong on Thursday, May 28, 2020. If you are on a student visa at SCAD Hong Kong and your visa is terminated, you will have 30 days to leave Hong Kong. However, for those SCAD Hong Kong students traveling to the U.S. to study at SCAD Savannah or SCAD Atlanta, the university will sponsor and help cover the cost of your student visa to study in the U.S. Please contact your individual success adviser or Chris Royer ([email protected]) for more information.
Yes! SCAD residence halls and SCAD academic buildings in Savannah and Atlanta offer ample space for new and transitioning students, and more university buildings are opened every year. In Savannah and Atlanta, SCAD offers 21 different residential areas with thousands of beds and living spaces for students (and many dining options at SCAD Atlanta and at SCAD Savannah) and dozens of academic buildings in the U.S. with tens of thousands of classroom seats and studio spaces.
About SCAD: The University for Creative Careers
The Savannah College of Art and Design is a private, nonprofit, accredited university offering more than 100 academic degree programs in more than 40 majors across its locations in the U.S., Europe, and online via SCAD eLearning. SCAD enrolls more than 15,000 undergraduate and graduate students from more than 115 countries. The innovative SCAD curriculum is enhanced by advanced, professional-level technology, equipment, and learning resources, as well as opportunities for internships, professional certifications, and collaborative projects with corporate partners.
In 2019, the prestigious Red Dot Design Rankings placed SCAD as the No. 1 university in the U.S. and in the top two universities in the Americas and Europe for the third consecutive year. Also in 2019, The Rookies ranked SCAD as the Best 3D Motion Graphics School for the fourth consecutive year. Career preparation is woven into every fiber of the university, resulting in a superior alumni employment rate. According to a recent study, 99% of SCAD graduates were employed, pursuing further education, or both within 10 months of graduation.