Relying primarily on monetary backing from the broader Otis community, the college offers a 24/7 food pantry, housing vouchers, and more.
At Otis College of Art and Design, student success is not just measured by talent and ambition, but also by the support and resources we provide to ensure retention, stability, and safety.
Too often, you hear stories of students regretfully deciding between food and buying school supplies. At Otis College, the expensive nature of art and design materials only compounds the issue. For this reason, former student Nicole White White ’10 BFA Fine Arts, launched the Resource Exchange, so that faculty and students could donate, share, and swap art and design supplies.
In 2019, the Food Pantry was opened, supported in part by a generous donation from former Trustee Kirk Hyde. Students can access the pantry for various non-perishable food items and essential toiletries 24 hours a day, seven days a week. The Food Pantry is maintained by the Students’ Union, relying on food and monetary donations from the greater Otis community.
“Every student matters deeply and deserves to thrive at Otis,” says Laura Kiralla, Vice President of Campus Life. She recognizes that students are often surprised but appreciative that “a school of our size” has services such as the Resource Exchange and Food Pantry. “Often, these are services only available at larger institutions,” she said. Kiralla notes that food insecurity and access to supplies tend to be the most pressing needs, “but each student has their own set of basic needs unique to their circumstances.”
Relying on internal and outside funding to stay afloat, the college also offers programs to redistribute meals to food-insecure students (Feed-A-Need) and supply temporary housing vouchers to students facing housing insecurity. Plans are ongoing to expand student support even further, including a rideshare program for transportation needs and emergency grants to address in-the-moment financial hardships that impact a student’s ability to stay enrolled at the college.
“Our student community understands the issue of food insecurity and is open-hearted in wanting to do more to address not only food injustice but also other needs of their fellow students,” says Carol Branch, Assistant Dean of Student Affairs. “Students’ Union is passionate about holistically addressing these needs, both physical and mental.”
In honor of the college’s 103rd birthday this year, we’re encouraging the broader Otis community to join us in supporting our students’ basic needs any way they can, including planned gifts to Otis College through your estate plan. Contact Allison Graff-Weisner at (310) 658-6995 or agraffweisner@otis.edu to learn how you can support Otis students today and in the future.