Houses the Weems Atrium, Anderson Auditorium, studio and academic classrooms, Grossman Gallery, Project Space, BAG Gallery, administrative offices (excluding registrar, associate dean of Academic Affairs - Graduate Programs, and director of Art Education ), Clark Library, Media Stock Room, School Store, Artist Resource Center, Counseling and Mental Health Service, and Cafe des Arts.

Mission Hill Building
160 St. Alphonsus Street
Boston, Massachusetts 02120

Houses graduate degree and Post-Baccalaureate studios, academic and studio classrooms, Writing Center, Registrar's Office, Graduate Programs Office, and Art Education Office.

Building Hours and Access
FALL TERM (9/4–12/21) & SPRING TERM (1/16–5/12)

All students, faculty and staff are required to have a School or Museum ID, with a valid semester sticker, with them at all times when on School premises. Students may be denied access to School facilities without proper identification. IDs are issued by the Registrar's Office.

Building access policies are set by the Student Affairs Office; Building Access Hours are published annually and posted on smfa.edu in the Students tab. 

General Hours of Operation for Buildings and Grounds (academic year):
Monday– Sunday:  8 am–Midnight

Holidays & Exceptions to the Above:
Veteran's Day (11/12)
Buildings Open - no classes

Thanksgiving (11/22)                    
Buildings Closed – no overnights 11/21 & 11/22 – no graduate access

Christmas (12/25)                        
Buildings Closed – no overnights 12/24 & 12/25 – no graduate access

New Year’s Day (1/1)                                     
Buildings Closed – no overnights 12/31 & 1/1– no graduate access

Martin Luther King Day (1/21)                 
Buildings Closed - overnights permitted

President’s Day (2/18)                           
Buildings Closed – overnights permitted                      

Patriots Day (4/21)                               
Buildings Closed – no overnights 4/20 & 4/21 – no graduate access

Break Access:
Winter Break (12/22 - 1/16):     8 am–6 pm – no overnights
Spring Break (3/15 – 3/23):    8 am–Midnight – no overnights

Campus Maps
Individual floor maps and site maps are available in the Campus Maps section of this handbook. 

Overnight Access
Fall: Monday, September 24 through Thursday, December 20, 2007
Spring: Wednesday, January 16 through Sunday, May 11, 2008

Overnight access is possible on selected nights during the semester as listed on the schedule above. For security and safety reasons, an Overnight Access Permit form must be filled out prior to the anticipated evening of the overnight (including graduate and Fifth Year students) and authorization obtained for each individual night for which access is desired (there are no blanket overnights granted). Overnight access is a privilege granted to full-time students; failure to work within the restrictions listed on the Overnight Access Permit can result in suspension of this privilege. Part-time students and guests of full-time students do not have overnight privileges.

Overnights Access Permit forms can be picked up and dropped off in the Student Affairs Office. Check with Student Affairs for more information regarding overnights. See also the New Media Areas Access section below for specific information on policies governing access in the media areas. Misuse of space, falsifying staff or faculty signatures on overnight forms, and other violations listed in the Community Expectations section of this h andbook will result in overnight privileges being revoked for one or more semesters.

Studio Access for Graduate Students
MFA, Post-Baccalaureate or MAT students who need to access Mission Hill Building studios or facilities may do so 24 hours a day, with the exception of the holidays when buildings are closed, by signing in with the guard at the front desk and presenting School ID. Overnight permits are not required at the Mission Hill building for students in these programs. Overnight permits are required for all students at the 230 The Fenway building, including graduate students.

New Media Areas Access
Access policies for the Media Stockroom and specific new media areas are listed below. These policies are subject to change upon review of faculty or departments.

Media Stockroom (x3674)
The Media Stockroom houses and maintains equipment supporting the photography, film, sound, and video areas. Students must be trained and authorized before being allowed access to most of the equipment. The authorization takes place in regular classes or during scheduled training workshops. The stockroom publishes a handbook outlining its policies and procedures. The following are a few things to remember:

Film (x3678)
Students registered in Film area classes have access to Film facilities and equipment. Attendance requirements must be met as stated in the course descriptions. Students who have previously completed coursework in the area may also request access. Overnights are approved only during the dates listed in the Overnight Access section of this handbook (see above). Extended access to equipment and facilities may be requested by application to the faculty, subject to the need for maintenance of the equipment and facilities. Schedules will be posted in the area. Some facilities are unavailable while classes are meeting. Graduate students may apply for access during the summer. Other students may apply for summer access only while summer classes are in session. Students enrolled in summer classes have priority for use of equipment and facilities during the summer.

Photography (x3676)
Only students who are currently enrolled in a photo class or who have successfully completed introductory and intermediate photo classes may have access to Photo area equipment and the darkrooms. Overnight access is approved for students who demonstrate a thorough competence in darkroom practices, abide by all darkroom rules, and clean up after themselves. Overnights must be on a buddy system, and are allowed only during the dates listed in the Overnight Access section. Access to the advanced darkroom is granted solely by permission of instructors and is contingent upon proper use and cleanup of the darkroom area. No equipment is checked out and there is no darkroom access during the winter or summer breaks. The darkrooms will remain open during holidays and spring break on a schedule to be posted each semester. Graduate and Fifth Year students who have previously been cleared for access may apply to use the Media 100 and graduate darkrooms during winter and summer breaks.

Mac Lab (x3871)
Students must have a computer account in order to access the Mac Lab. Accounts are automatically created for all day students and Continuing Education students enrolled in computer classes. Students who have not been assigned an account may apply for a computer account at the Mac Lab office. Students in a computer class have priority during class time. There is no overnight access to the Mac Lab. Students are allowed access to the Lab throughout the academic year and summer term; the Lab closes during winter, spring and summer breaks for repairs and upgrades to equipment; closure notices are posted on the outer door of the Lab. There is no access unless a lab monitor is present.

Sound (x3538)
Access to the Sound studios is granted to students enrolled in Sound area courses. Attendance and participation policies, as stated in each syllabus, must be met to ensure access. Pro-Arts Consortium students, Tufts students, third-year graduate students, and Fifth Year students wishing to audit may do so by permission of the instructor, subject to space limitations. Priority is given to advanced students who have previously been granted access. Individuals who have successfully completed Sound I may apply for continued access to Sound area equipment in the Media Stockroom without being currently enrolled in a class (subject to equipment limitations). Project proposals must be reviewed and approved by the faculty. The area is open one evening per week to Sound area students for basic sound help. The Studio Manager will be available via e-mail or phone for appointments on weekdays when school is in session. Access to the equipment is restricted to times when the technician is present. Overnight access is available during the dates listed above for those with access privileges.

Graduate students who meet the access requirements can apply for access to equipment in the Media Stockroom and to the studios during the times when the Studio Manager is present.

Advanced Text and Image Arts (TIA) Studio
A student must have a computer account and be enrolled in a TIA course in order to access the Advanced TIA Studio. In addition, your name must be on a list of advanced students approved to check out the key from the Media Stockroom. Access is also dependent upon students adhering to TIA area guidelines regarding access, which includes regular class attendance.

Video (x3672)
A student must be registered for a Video area class or have completed a project-specific proposal for instructor approval in order to be granted access to video equipment. Introductory students may work in the area only when a monitor is present. Attendance requirements must be met as stated in the Course Registration Guide. Approved undergraduate students may work in the area from 9–11 pm. Graduate students who have been trained in the use of the equipment may be granted overnight access on a buddy system with permission of an instructor. Digital storage drives are provided specifically for graduate student projects. Time-out periods will be announced for system maintenance.

Summer Access
A student may apply for access to selected studios and facilities, including the Mission Hill building, during the summer. Fees will be charged based on the equipment and time period requested. Some areas may be unavailable or available only on a limited basis. In some areas, only graduate students will be allowed summer access.

Summer Access forms are available by mid-April in the Academic Affairs Office. This form lists the available areas, required fees, and prerequisite training required. Students enrolled in summer classes have priority for access during class times, and summer building hours govern access at all other times. No overnights are permitted during the summer.

General access for matriculated students who are not enrolled in summer Continuing Education courses or renting studio space is limited to the following: administrative offices, Mac Lab, W. Van Alan Clark Jr. Library, Artist Resource Center and the MFA. Studio classrooms are not open for use by matriculated students over the summer months; occasionally short term access will be allowed in special circumstances with permission of all of the following individuals: faculty area representatives, dean of faculty, and dean of students. Summer access for students in Continuing Education courses and/or those students renting studio spaces ends with the last day of classes or on the final date of the studio rental contract.  

Contact the Academic Affairs Office for more information on summer studio rentals.