The Official Student News Media of Southeastern Louisiana University

The Lion's Roar

The Official Student News Media of Southeastern Louisiana University

The Lion's Roar

The Official Student News Media of Southeastern Louisiana University

The Lion's Roar

    Visual arts program receives accreditation

    animator of year toon

    Toon by Samantha Stephan

    The skills and academic performance of the visual arts program were put to the test and passed with flying colors when the program was accredited by the National Association of Schools of Art and Design.

    The accreditation of the visual arts program required that the program met specific national criteria, following the academic review and evaluation of peers. This process of certification is carried out by the organization NASAD. Founded in 1944, it has approximately 323 accredited institutional members. It establishes national standards for undergraduate, graduate degrees and other credentials in order to provide a higher standard for education.

    “Accreditation is a process by which an institution or disciplinary unit within an institution periodically evaluates its work and seeks an independent judgment by peers ,that it achieves substantially its own educational objectives and meets the established standards of the body from which it seeks accreditation,” said Dr. Kenneth Boulton, department head of fine and performing arts.

    As department head, Boulton was the designated NASAD Institutional Representative for the university. He was responsible for managing the self-study process, planning the on-site visit, coordinating any required follow-up correspondence and functioning as communicator between the university and NASAD officials.

    According to Boulton, it was no easy feat achieving the accreditation for the program. The process began as far back as 2008 when the university’s art and design program achieved Associate Member Accreditation status through the NASAD. 

    After this status was obtained, the program was required to undergo an accreditation review in 2014 for the purpose of achieving Full Member Accreditation status, per NASAD policy. 

    The process to become a full member took two and a half years of planning, execution and review.

    Boulton pointed out the program benefited the visual arts program because they were able to get objective feedback on areas needing further attention, as well as addition to assistance towards future development and growth.

    “The process was extremely thorough, and included a period of departmental self-study and subsequent evaluation by a team of outside reviewers who examined all aspects of our program and mission,” said Boulton. “Following this, the NASAD Commission undertook its study of all of materials and rendered a final decision.”

    The accreditation of the program will help students for future employment or graduate studies, giving them a leg up in the real world.

    “On the surface, the direct impact might seem somewhat minimal, since our faculty and students have always been a part of an extremely dynamic and productive program,” said Boulton. “However, what this demonstrates is that we are meeting, and in many cases exceeding expectations of educational quality according to nationally recognized standards. It will also assist our students in terms of future employment or graduate study, as most institutions require earned degrees from accredited programs.”

    As for the program itself, it offers degrees or concentrations in art education, art history, printmaking, sculpture, ceramics, graphic design, drawing, painting, photography and new media and animation.

    For more information on the university art program, contact the college of art and design at (985) 549-2193.

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