Dear CCA Community,

As we come to the close of the semester and look ahead to celebrating our 119th graduating class, I wanted to take a moment to reflect and share a few thoughts.

First, I want to acknowledge the weight of this moment in CCA’s history, and most importantly, acknowledge all of you. When I committed to CCA, I did so with open eyes, an open mind, and an open heart, never imagining that we would be facing the closure of such an extraordinary institution. While the future I once envisioned for CCA has changed, what has become even clearer to me is the strength and resilience of this community. Though our doors will close in June 2027, the creativity, impact, and spirit of CCA will continue through each of you.

To our graduating students: this semester may have been shaped by uncertainty, but you remained focused, committed, and deeply engaged in your work. I am proud of all you have accomplished and look forward to celebrating you and your achievements at commencement.

To our continuing students and the Class of 2027, we are grateful for your patience and trust. We recognize the weight of this moment and the difficult decisions many of you have had to make about your futures. Our dedicated Academic Affairs and Enrollment Management/Enrollment Services team are doing exceptional work on our teach-out partnerships, and we now have agreements with seven schools: ArtCenter, CalArts, CSU East Bay, Pratt, San Francisco State University, School of the Visual Arts, and Woodbury. These agreements provide our students with clarity about how their credits will carry over as well as expectations in terms of tuition and financial aid, and with better packages than students would likely receive through a general transfer process. For the most up-to-date details, please visit portal.cca.edu/teach-out.

To our faculty and staff: I know that right now, words of gratitude may feel hollow, given the closure and the state of our resources. I want to acknowledge that directly. While we navigate the difficult realities of this transition, I see the weight that you are carrying. Despite the uncertainty, your commitment to ensuring students are supported, informed, and still able to learn, create, and find moments of joy is extraordinary.

A few other news updates to share. Thanks to the advocacy and leadership of MFA Chair Christine Wang, I am excited that the Barclay Simpson Master of Fine Arts Award will be extended for another year, so that we can give this honor to an MFA student who graduates in Spring 2027. More than 100 CCA students have received this award since 1987, and I am grateful to Sharon Simpson for her commitment to CCA and willingness to extend their support for this honor for an additional year.

I also have an update on our planning work for the CCA Legacy Institute and the Legacy Committee: Dean Curtis Arima, Annemarie Haar, and Taro Hattori will serve as the Co-Chairs of the Legacy Committee. I want to thank these members of our community for their commitment and for sharing their time, knowledge, and perspective as we work to honor the legacy of CCA. The Co-Chairs will be in touch with the community soon regarding the full committee membership and our next steps forward.

As we move into commencement, I hope we can come together to celebrate not only our graduates but the enduring legacy of CCA that lies within each of you. I continue to be in awe of this community and remain deeply proud to be part of it.

With gratitude,
President Howse