JULY 14, 2009 (CALGARY, ALBERTA) - The Alberta College of Art + Design is pleased to announce that it has been granted National Association of Schools of Art and Design (NASAD) Foreign Equivalency Status designation. ACAD is one of two institutions outside the US to apply for substantial Equivalency Status, and the first institution of higher education in Canada to receive this distinction. By earning this designation, ACAD is recognized by NASAD as having met rigorous qualifications and standards related to educational quality and institutional integrity. For our students, ACAD's NASAD Foreign-Equivalency status will mean that our Bachelor of Fine Arts and Bachelor of Design degrees, and their individual class components, will be recognized as equivalent in post secondary institutions throughout North America. This important designation will ensure that ACAD artists and designers will be able to pursue graduate degrees internationally, and will become a crucial factor in our own imminent graduate program offering.
"ACAD has been working hard for many years to achieve this important designation, and we are very excited to be able to offer NASAD foreign equivalency to our student population. This recognition is a major milestone in the history of our institution and acquiring this status will be of enormous benefit to our students" explained ACAD President + CEO, Lance Carlson.
The National Association of Schools of Art + Design is an association of nearly 300 post-secondary level schools of art + design throughout North America. In 1944, NASAD was created to "to improve educational practices and maintain high professional standards in art and design education", and it serves as both an accrediting body, and a consulting organization focused on art + design education. It is the national accrediting agency in the United States for art and design education and art and design-related disciplines.
In order to gain foreign-equivalency, ACAD engaged in an exhaustive multi-year peer review study, which included a self-study of all academic practices at the College, as well as a site visit by NASAD representatives. The granting of Foreign Equivalency Status to our College indicates NASAD's recognition of the quality of art and design education ACAD offers to students, and the importance of our role as a critical centre for creativity within our community.
As ACAD Provost and Vice President for Research and Academic Affairs, Denise Mullen, shared; "Receiving this recognition places ACAD in the company of the most innovative and forward thinking institutions of higher education in North America in the field of art and design. Our current and prospective students can be assured that the education that they receive at ACAD will position them to be active contributors to their chosen fields whatever career paths they might choose in the future".
ACAD is a leading centre for education and research, and a catalyst for creative inquiry and cultural development. We engage the world and create possibilities.
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For more information or to arrange an interview:
AnneMarie Dorland
Director of Communications
t. 403.284.7656
c. 403.472.2322
e. AnneMarie.Dorland@acad.ca
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