University of Indianapolis listed among top art and design schools

The Department of Art and Design at the University of Indianapolis has received accreditation from the National Association of Schools of Art and Design, placing the program among just nine in Indiana and approximately 260 nationwide with that distinction.

NASAD, established in 1944 to improve educational practices and maintain high professional standards, is the recognized national accrediting agency for art and design and related disciplines. “We are extremely pleased to be included in this elite group of art schools,” said Professor Dee Schaad, chair of the department.

Since joining the faculty 30 years ago, Schaad has seen enrollment grow from approximately 30 art and design majors to more than 100, and the faculty has grown from just three full-time members to six full-time and six part-time instructors. Course offerings have expanded dramatically.

In 2004, the art department co-hosted the annual conference of the National Council on Education for the Ceramic Arts, which brought 4,000 artists and educators to Indianapolis and was named the city’s top visual arts event for the year by the Indianapolis Star. “We have come from being a small liberal-arts program to a truly professional program,” Schaad said. “We want to be an arts player in this community, and we think we’re making real strides on that.”

The accreditation process includes a self-evaluation, an on-site review by outside evaluators and final judgment by a NASAD commission, considering such factors as educational quality and institutional integrity. Approval makes the University of Indianapolis a NASAD associate member for five years, after which another review is required to gain a 10-year full membership.

Other Indiana institutions accredited by NASAD are Ball State University, Herron School of Art and Design, Indiana State University, Indiana University, Saint Mary’s College, University of Notre Dame, University of Saint Francis and Vincennes University.

For more information on the Department of Art and Design at the University of Indianapolis, visit http://art.uindy.edu.