Dear Parents and Guardians,

We hope summer has brought your student (and you!) some real rest. We know that even in the quiet months, CCA's closure is probably never far from your mind, so we wanted to check in with an update on where things stand.

First, the most important thing: planning is moving forward, and our focus hasn't wavered. Our job is to help every single student find the path that's right for them.

What We've Been Working On

Since announcing the closure, we've kept building out support for students and families. A few highlights from the past several weeks:

• We've finalized teach-out agreements with our partner schools (full list below).
• We launched a Teach-Out Resources webpage with FAQs and recordings of info sessions with our partner schools.
• We rolled out a Teach-Out Interest Form so we can connect students with the right support and be prepared to share records efficiently to streamline teach-out admissions.
• We've made sure updates reach students through every channel: email, the student portal, and conversations with faculty in the classroom.
• And we're continuing to work closely with our teach-out partners to make the transition as smooth as possible.

We'll have another update for students in July once we've finalized next steps, including details on early application opportunities with our teach-out partners.

Our teach-out partner institutions

Each partner page includes program-specific details for that institution. 

• Art Center College of Design (ArtCenter)
• California Institute of the Arts (CalArts)
• California State University, East Bay (CSU East Bay)
• Pratt Institute (Pratt)
• San Francisco State University (SF State)
• School of Visual Arts (SVA)
• University of Redlands, Los Angeles (formerly known as Woodbury University)
  
  

Understanding Your Student's Pathway Options

As your student thinks about next steps, it helps to understand the real difference between the two routes available to them.

Teach-out pathways (our recommendation). Teach-out is designed for students who plan to complete next year at CCA and transition to a partner institution after spring 2027. Think of this as the path where CCA has already done the heavy lifting. We've negotiated directly with each partner institution to help make the transition as seamless as possible. That can mean significantly enhanced financial support, greater recognition of CCA coursework, opportunities for students to continue alongside classmates, and a guided admissions process designed specifically for CCA students.

Standard transfer. Students are always free to apply to any institution at any time, including schools outside of CCA's teach-out network. However, this follows the institution's standard transfer process, where students independently navigate admissions, credit evaluation, tuition, and residency requirements without the benefits of a formal teach-out agreement.

A Note for International Students

As shared in April: CCA arranged for an AICAD partner school to take over SEVIS records for alumni on active OPT/STEM OPT at closure, with SEVP confirming work authorization will continue uninterrupted. International Student Services (ISS) remains your student's main contact through this transition—students who'd prefer not to transfer their SEVIS record should reach out directly.

• OPT Portal page
• Transition FAQs
• [email protected]
  
  

What Your Student Should Focus on This Summer

July is for exploring, not making every final decision. A good summer to-do list looks like:

• Completing the Teach-Out Interest form (student login required)
• Reviewing the Teach-Out Resources page
• Exploring the Teach-Out partner institutions they're curious about
• Starting conversations with admissions reps and advisors
• Staying engaged with Fall 2026 at CCA while keeping an eye on what's next

Doing both, preparing for fall and exploring options, keeps the doors open as more information comes in.

How You Can Support Your Student

Families play an important role in this process, and you know your student best. You can support your students by: 

• Checking in regularly about their plans and questions.
• Encouraging them to use CCA resources before making decisions.
• Talking through options together while keeping Fall 2026 at CCA as the current plan.
• Reminding them they don't need to have every answer today.
  
  

Questions to Consider as a Family

As you and your student begin planning for the year ahead, consider talking through these questions together:

What matters most to your student as they think about completing their degree? Whether it's affordability, academic fit, community, career preparation, location, or graduating alongside classmates, understanding what matters most can help guide future decisions.

How can we support our student without making decisions for them? College is a time for students to grow in confidence and independence. Consider how your family can encourage questions, provide perspective, and help them make informed decisions while allowing them to lead the process.

Resources & Support

• Teach-Out & Transition Resources
• Transition Support Hub
• Learning Resource Center
• Financial Aid Resources
  
  

Looking Ahead

We'll continue sharing updates as more details come into focus. Above all, we remain committed to supporting every student through this final year and helping them make confident, informed decisions about what's ahead.

Questions, anytime: [email protected].