Metro State recently earned accreditation from the National Association of Schools of Art and Design (NASAD), making it the only public institution in Colorado with this accreditation.

NASAD, an organization of 240 accredited institutional members, granted Metro associate membership for five years in recognition of the bachelor of science in industrial design and the two degrees offered by the Art Department: a bachelor of arts in art history, art theory/criticism and a bachelor of fine arts in studio art (10 concentrations - ceramics, communication design, computer imaging, drawing, jewelry design and metalsmithing, painting, photography, printmaking, sculpture and art education).

The accreditation is the result of a collaboration between the School of Professional Studies (Industrial Design) and the School of Letters, Arts and Sciences (Art).

"Accreditation is important because there are so few (industrial design) programs in the country," said John Schmidt, chair of the Department of Industrial Design and Engineering Technology. There are only 57 industrial design programs in the U.S., he added. "Students were asking if we were accredited."

Schmidt also noted the accreditation was essential for Metro's industrial design program because the Industrial Design Society of America (IDSA) has implemented a new policy that any college that does not have national accreditation will not be recognized or supported by IDSA.

"This accreditation validates for students the quality of the education they're getting here," said Greg Watts, Art Department chair.

NASAD establishes national standards for undergraduate and graduate degrees, as well as other credentials. The accreditation process allows an institution to periodically evaluate its work and seek an independent judgment by peers that it achieves its educational objectives and meets the established standards of the accrediting body.

The three-year application process included a self-evaluation by Metro and an on-site review by a team of evaluators. NASAD membership requires Metro to maintain established standards and will involve periodic site visits by evaluators to check on the institution's adherence.