Summer@Cornish
Residency Program - REGISTRATION OPENS NOVEMBER 1ST
The Summer@Cornish Residency Program offers students ages 14–18 a four-week opportunity to live and learn in Seattle while developing their artistic skills. Students stay at Level Seattle, a modern high-rise located steps from their classes in South Lake Union.
Students experience Seattle’s arts and culture through organized outings while enjoying a supportive residential community led by Cornish’s dedicated team. Explore the questions below to learn about housing, daily life, and registration, or visit the Summer@Cornish FAQ for more information about classes.
Level Seattle Information
Where is housing located for Summer@Cornish?
Summer@Cornish partners with Level Seattle, located next to Cornish’s Main Campus Center (MCC) in South Lake Union. Students stay just steps from their classes, with access to amenities and spaces for residential activities.
Explore Level Seattle’s activities and resources.
What activities and attractions are nearby?
Nearby attractions include the Space Needle, SIFF, MOHAI, and MoPOP. The South Lake Union waterfront, Seattle Center, local galleries, and the Seattle Art Museum offer additional opportunities to experience the city through program outings.
Learn more about Seattle and South Lake Union activities and Level Seattle’s amenities.
Who manages residential life for Summer@Cornish students?
The residential program is managed by Michael Callaizakis, Director of Seattle U Extension Programs, including Cornish+. Michael has worked with Summer@Cornish for more than ten years.
He leads a team of Program Assistants (PAs) who live on-site and provide supervision, mentorship, and support. PAs help with daytime programming, evening activities, and weekend outings.
How are students supervised?
PAs live on-site with students and supervise organized evening and weekend activities. Students follow established residential boundaries and program expectations, which apply equally to all participants regardless of age.
Can students leave the building independently?
Students may not leave the residential building independently. Travel to classes and participation in outings follow program procedures and PA guidance. Information about residential boundaries and expectations is shared before arrival.
What are the room arrangements like?
Students share double-occupancy accommodations. All Summer@Cornish residents stay on the same designated floor, with two trained PAs living alongside them to provide guidance and support.
How are roommates assigned?
Before the program, students complete a housing survey about their living habits, preferences, and requirements. We use these responses to match roommates as thoughtfully as possible.
Students receive their roommate information before arrival and may contact one another ahead of the program if they choose.
When do students move in and out?
Move-in takes place the day before classes begin, during a designated check-in window of approximately three hours. Specific times and arrival instructions are shared before the program.
Checkout takes place on Saturday morning following Friday’s final performances, presentations, and gallery exhibition. Detailed checkout instructions are provided in advance.
What is the cost of housing and the program?
The four-week residential package costs $9,650 and includes tuition for a morning intensive and two afternoon electives, housing, and weekday meals. Students may also wish to bring spending money for personal purchases and weekend activities.
Need-based scholarships are available. Residential scholarship applications are due February 14. Apply here.
10. What activities are included outside of class?
Residential students participate in guided activities and outings throughout the program. These may include Pike Place Market and the waterfront, the Frye Art Museum, Salt & Straw, the SLU Saturday Market, the Center for Wooden Boats, the Seattle Art Museum, Alki Beach via Water Taxi, and MoPOP.
Evening programming may include movie nights, trivia, game nights, theater outings, and scheduled rehearsal or studio time. Organized evening and weekend activities are supervised by PAs.
What does a typical weekday look like?
Students attend classes Monday through Friday from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m., with lunch from noon to 1 p.m.
Outside of class, students have opportunities for evening and weekend studio access to continue their work. The residential schedule includes group activities and designated free time on several evenings each week.
How does the meal plan work?
Weekday meals are provided by Bon Appétit at Nellie’s Café inside the MCC.
Students arrange their own meals on weekends and may prepare food in the fully equipped kitchens in their accommodations. Whole Foods, other grocery options, and a variety of restaurants are nearby. Shopping and dining arrangements follow residential boundaries and program procedures.
Explore nearby dining options.
Can students fly alone as minors?
Students traveling independently must follow their airline’s age and unaccompanied-minor requirements. Summer@Cornish does not provide airline unaccompanied-minor assistance or airport pickup and drop-off.
Families should confirm airline requirements before booking. See Alaska Airlines’ information about children traveling alone for an example.
How do students get from the airport to housing?
Families are responsible for arranging transportation between the airport and Level Seattle. Students should arrive during the designated check-in window.
Options may include a family-arranged driver, taxi, or rideshare service that permits travel by students of their age. Link light rail also connects the airport with downtown Seattle. Families should consider the student’s luggage, comfort traveling independently, and the route to housing when making arrangements.
How do I register for the Summer@Cornish Residential Program?
Begin by completing the Residential Program application.
Once submitted, you will receive an email with a registration code and instructions for selecting your morning intensive and two afternoon electives. Entering the code at checkout applies the residential package, including housing and tuition.
You may pay a deposit or the full amount at registration to confirm your place.
Residential Program Registration
What is the cancellation and refund policy?
Residential program cancellations made on or before May 1 are eligible for a full refund. After May 1, residential registrations are noncancelable and nonrefundable.
Have more questions?
Contact Michael at mcallaizakis@seattleu.edu, or schedule a one-on-one conversation.
