Mission & Accreditation
Mission
Paris College of Art’s mission is to prepare the next generation of creative professionals to be globally aware, engaged and open-minded citizens with the critical thinking and creative skills required to tackle complex problems. In an evolving world, we fulfill this mission by:
- providing the highest international standard of art and design education taught within an American higher education paradigm, that emphasizes the need to think critically about the present, and design the future through open and honest debate that considers contradictory viewpoints;
- bridging cultures, being informed and drawing from our European environment to opening up educational opportunities to students from around the world;
- facilitating mentorship and opportunities for students’ creative growth in their chosen field, while promoting an awareness of global issues
Vision
Paris College of Art serves a multi-national student body that enriches the educational experience by bringing the values and experiences of their respective traditions to the studio / classroom and assures that each graduate will understand themselves in a global context and be prepared for the contemporary professional marketplace in art and design.
American Accreditation
National Association of Schools of Art and Design (NASAD)
Paris College of Art is accredited by the National Association of Schools of Art and Design (NASAD). NASAD, an association of approximately 322 schools of art and design, is the US national accrediting agency for art and design and art and design-related disciplines.
The major responsibility of the National Association of Schools of Art and Design is the accreditation of education programs in art and design, including the establishment of curricular standards and guidelines for specific degrees and credentials.
The Association also provides counsel and assistance to established and developing institutions and programs. NASAD is recognized by the United States Department of Education as the agency responsible for the accreditation of all art and design curricula.
Accreditation, in practical terms, is a stamp of approval, a sign that an institution ascribes to, believes in, and has met an external set of basic criteria for the programs it offers. In some cases, accreditation assists in the transfer of credits from one institution to another. In all cases, it indicates that threshold standards are adhered to in a fashion that provides a base of academic strength and operational integrity.1
1 From http://nasad.arts-accredit.org/ viewed on September 25, 2010
Department of Education of the State of Delaware
Paris College of Art holds degree granting authority from the State of Delaware’s Department of Education, allowing it to offer courses, programs of courses, and degrees. The degree granting authority is contingent upon continued accreditation by the National Association of Schools of Art and Design (NASAD).
New England Commission for Higher Education (NECHE)
Paris College of Art has been granted candidate for accreditation status by the New England Commission of Higher Education. Candidacy is not accreditation nor does it assure eventual accreditation. Candidacy is a formal affiliation with the New England Commission of Higher Education. It indicates that the institution has achieved initial recognition and is progressing toward accreditation. Inquiries regarding an institution’s affiliation status with the Commission should be directed to: The New England Commission of Higher Education 3 Burlington Woods Drive, Suite 100 Burlington, MA 01803, U.S.A. Direct line to Commission offices: (781) 425-7785 E-mail: [email protected] Website: www.neche.org
Academic and Professional Affiliation
Cumulus, the only global association to serve art and design education and research, is a forum for partnership and transfer of knowledge and best practices. Membership is restricted to schools and institutions that have past through a rigorous application procedure and have been recommended and reviewed by a board of member schools. Paris College of Art was sponsored for membership by Domus Academy, University of Art and Design Helsinki TaiK (Aalto University 1/9/2009), Unitec, and Hongik University.
AACRAO American Association of Collegiate Registrars
APUAF Association des Programmes Universitaires en France
ELIA European League of Institutes of the Arts
FATE Foundations in Art: Theory and Education
FNEP Fédération Nationale de l’Enseignement Privé
NPDA National Portfolio Day Association
French Accreditation
Rectorat de Paris
Paris College of Art (PCA) is recognized by the French Ministry of Education as a Private Establishment of Higher Education (Etablissement d’Enseignement Supérieur Privé) and as is listed with the Rector of Paris under establishment code 075 45 87 D as such.