YAR Residence Life

Students live on the Lesley University campus, a short walk from Harvard Square in Cambridge. Summer Session housing is set in traditional style residence halls with community bathrooms, living room, kitchenette for limited cooking, coin-operated laundry, and vending machines. Rooms are equipped with two single beds, two desks, two dressers, and two closets. The university has 24-hour, on-campus security. The residence halls are staffed with an on-duty live-in Summer Residence Assistant (RA). In addition, the AIB residence and YAR program is staffed with live-in AIB Mentors. Rules and guidelines are clearly outlined in the 'Residency Handbook' and are provided in writing to students who have enrolled in the program and their parents. Attendance is checked frequently at five or more daily checkpoints to ensure that all students are present. The AIB studios are located across the Charles River in Boston and university transportation is provided to and from classes and events.

Students eat breakfast and dinner in the dining hall on the Doble campus and lunch is provided at AIB between classes on weekdays. On weekends, meals are provided in conjunction with activities.

Schedule

A typical weekday:

• Breakfast 8:00am - 8:45am
• Shuttle departs for AIB studios 8:50am
• Morning classes begin 9:30am - 1:00pm
• Lunch at AIB 1:00pm - 2:00pm
• Afternoon classes begin 2:00pm - 5:30pm
• Shuttle departs for Doble campus 5:45pm
• Dinner in White Hall 6:00pm - 7:00pm
• Optional Artist Presentation 7:00pm - 8:00pm
• Free Time 8:00pm - 10:00pm
• Curfew 11:00pm
• Lights out 12:00am

A typical weekend:

• Breakfast 8:00am - 8:45 am
• Museum or Gallery Visits 10:00am
• Lunch out 12:00pm
• Tours and shopping 2:30pm
• Dinner in White Hall 6:00pm-7:00pm
• Optional Activities 8:30pm
• Curfew 11:00pm
• Lights out 12:00am

Activities

While living on campus, weekend and evening activities are designed to highlight the historic and cultural significance of Boston through visits to galleries, museums, and artist studios. Below is a partial list of activities from which the weekend schedule is determined. Educational activities (museums, artists talks, studio visits) are not optional since they contribute to the 6 college credits that the program awards. Many non-educational activities are optional with alternative activities offered.

• Museum of Fine Arts, Boston
• Harvard Art Museums
• MIT List Visual Arts Center
• The Institute of Contemporary Art
• DeCordova Sculpture Park and Museum
• Isabella Stewart Gardner Museum
• Studio visits to local professional design studios
• Visiting artist presentations
• Institute of Contemporary Art (ICA)
• Walking tours, including Boston's Italian neighborhood "The North End", Chinatown, The Freedom Trail, Historic Downtown Boston, Newbury Street Galleries, Harvard Square, Quincy Market, and Mount Auburn Cemetery.

Staffing and Services

The Coordinator of the Young Artist Residency program oversees a staff of an Assistant Coordinator and AIB mentors and van drivers. The program maintains a ratio of one mentor to eight students. Most mentors are upper level college students or graduates of AIB or Lesley University and have experience with teen leadership and a special interest in working with young artists. Some mentors are also educators who teach in the pre-college program. In addition to the live-in mentors, the university staffs the residence halls with a live-in Summer Residence Assistant (RA).

The University Student Health Service provides YAR staff access to a Nurse Practitioner on an on-call basis. Should the need arise, students are taken to the walk-in clinic of a nearby hospital. The YAR program has access to an on-call professional Psychology Counselor as well as a Coordinator of Disabilities Services for students who may need situational support.

The Public Safety office is located on the Doble Campus adjacent to the residence halls. This office never closes and staff are always available to respond to security needs and emergencies. All AIB students are issued college IDs for the duration of the program. Their ID allows access to all buildings, studios, and some equipment.

The Fitness Center is located on the Doble campus adjacent to the residence halls.