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Press Room
Brookline-Based College Transitions to a New Accrediting Commission
- (December 7, 2004 )
The New England Institute of Art today announced that it has been granted initial accreditation by The New England Association of Schools and Colleges, Inc., (NEASC) Commission on Institutions of Higher Education. The College was formerly accredited by NEASC's Commission on Technical and Career Institutions
The Brookline Village-based College underwent an intensive self-study last spring that included a site visit by eight NEASC evaluators, who analyzed the College and made their determinations based on The New England Institute of Art's own assessment and its strategic plan for the future.
"The self-study was a rewarding experience for us," says Stacy Sweeney, The New England Institute of Art President. "It helped us identify those areas where we are strong and a few areas where we need to improve. We are grateful to NEASC for the opportunity and are pleased that they have approved our initial accreditation and saw fit to transition the College to the Commission on Institutions of Higher Education."
NEASC referred to The New England Institute of Art in its notification letter as "well positioned for future growth" and as a College with "a clear, distinctive mission that informs planning and program development."
About The New England Institute of Art
The New England Institute of Art was founded in 1952 by Norm Prescott, a local radio personality, as the Norm Prescott School of Broadcasting. The school was sold in 1962 and was renamed The Northeast Broadcasting School.
In 1988, it was purchased by The Northeast Company, Inc. and offered a single Radio and Television Broadcasting diploma program. A second diploma program in the Recording Arts was added in 1991.
In September 1995, the school was granted authority to award the Associate in Science degree in Broadcasting and the Associate in Science degree in Recording Arts and to change its name to The Northeast College of Communications, Inc. The school was renamed Massachusetts Communications College in 1997. A year later, it was granted authority to award three degrees; the Associate in Science in Communications, Multimedia Communications and in Internet Communications and Technology.
In 1999, the College became part of The Art Institutes International system when it was purchased by The Art Institute's parent company, Education Management Corporation (EDMC), a provider of proprietary postsecondary education.
In June 2000, Massachusetts Communications College was authorized to award the Associate in Science degree in Graphic Design. Later that year, it was granted approval to retitle the associate's in Recording Arts to the Associate in Science in Audio Production and the associate's program in Multimedia Technology to Multimedia and Web Design.
The Massachusetts Board of Higher Education approved the request for a name change from Massachusetts Communications College to The New England Institute of Art & Communications in July 2001.
In December 2001, NEiAC gained approval to offer the Bachelor of Science in Graphic Design and the Bachelor of Science in Multimedia and Web Design. The Board approved the Institute's petition to award a third baccalaureate degree, the Bachelor of Science in Audio and Media Technology, in March 2003.
In 2002, the College opened its Center for Professional Development, offering certificate programs in Digital Graphic Design and Web site development. A certificate of completion was subsequently offered in Digital Audio Production and a Digital Video Production certificate program began in 2004.
In May 2003, the Board approved the Institute's request to change its name to New England Institute of Art (NEiA). "This final name change better reflects NEiA's commitment to all types of art, from communication arts to design," says President Sweeney.
In 2004, three additional Bachelor of Science degree programs were approved; Media Arts & Animation, Digital Filmmaking & Video Production and Interior Design.
About the Art Institutes
The New England Institute of Art is one of The Art Institutes (www.artinstitutes.edu), with 31 education institutions located throughout North America, providing an important source of design, media arts, fashion and culinary professionals. The parent company of The Art Institutes, Education Management Corporation (www.edmc.com) is among the largest providers of private post-secondary education in North America, based on student enrollment and revenue. Student enrollment exceeded 66,000 as of fall 2004. EDMC has 67 primary campus locations in 24 states and two Canadian provinces. EDMC's education institutions offer a broad range of academic programs concentrated in the media arts, design, fashion, culinary arts, behavioral sciences, health sciences, education, information technology and business fields, culminating in the award of associate's through doctoral degrees. EDMC has provided career-oriented education for over 40 years.
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