Athens State University is pleased to announce that earlier today, at its Annual Meeting in Long Beach, California, the National Association of Schools of Art and Design (NASAD) granted Athens State University institutional membership and full accreditation of its undergraduate and graduate degree programs in Art: the Bachelor of Art with a minor in Art Education, the BFA in Art, and the MFA in Integrative Art.
The National Association of Schools of Art and Design is an organization of schools, conservatories, colleges, and universities which establishes rigorous national standards for undergraduate and graduate education in art and design. Athens State will join a network of 321 colleges, universities, and conservatories across the nation who enjoy the distinction of accreditation and institutional membership with NASAD.
Professor Pamela Keller, Division Head for the Arts and Humanities within the College of Art and Sciences, led the three- year accreditation journey with crucial contributions from Professors Jamie Adams, Jessica Spowart, Mary Beth Johns, and David Ragsdale, Dean of Colleges. The accreditation process included rigorous reporting, a comprehensive self-study, and a thorough site visit by NASAD officials who reviewed classrooms, student work, degree requirements, student exhibitions, and faculty credentials.
NASAD accreditation greatly enhances the value of every art student’s degree, giving their credentials national recognition and reinforcing the program’s reputation. Accreditation is a sign that an institution ascribes to, believes in, and has met an external set of criteria for the programs it offers. It indicates that threshold standards are adhered to in a fashion that provides academic strength and operational integrity.
“This milestone is not a one-time achievement; it is a long-term commitment to quality that will benefit every future graduate of Athens State University,” said Professor Pamela Keller.
The Art Department at Athens State is housed at the Alabama Center for the Arts (ACA) in Decatur, Alabama. The ACA is the region’s premier art center and degree program and represents a unique and dynamic partnership between Calhoun Community College and Athens State University.
