The Art Institute of Pittsburgh Earns Reaffirmation of Accreditation from Middle States Commission on Higher Education

PITTSBURGH, July 8, 2013 /PRNewswire/ -- The Art Institute of Pittsburgh Board of Trustees and President George W. Sebolt announced today that the school, one of Education Management Corporation's 110 locations (NASDAQ:EDMC), has been awarded a ten-year reaffirmation of accreditation by the Middle States Commission on Higher Education (MSCHE). Ten years is the maximum length of time awarded for reaffirmation. 

"This accreditation decision confirms that The Art Institute of Pittsburgh abides by the rigorous standards required by Middle States and fulfills its mission for graduate success," said President Sebolt.

The reaffirmation of accreditation marks the end of a two-year, substantive, college-wide self-study, which included an in-depth evaluation of the MSCHE's fourteen Characteristics of Excellence in Higher Education - which include leadership and governance, integrity, student support services, faculty, and assessment of student learning. The process culminated in a formal review by a nine-member peer visiting team from MSCHE.

The visiting team's commendations included:

• Excellent condition of the college's facilities, especially its classrooms, noting updates to ensure that the latest technology is made available to students.
• Evidence of conscientious dedicated structure and policies to create a parallel syllabi and learning experience for online and campus students.
• Impressive resources in the college library, most notably securing rights to significant digital resources that enhance the teaching and learning environment.
• The College's Pentagon Project and One Focus, which have improved remedial and entry-level math and science courses, are poised to impact retention and graduation rates.
• The Online Student and Faculty Commons -viewed as very helpful, impressive, and holistic support for online students.
• Documented use of student learning assessment information as part of institutional assessment.

"Middle States accreditation instills public confidence in an institution's mission, goals, performance, and resources through its rigorous accreditation standards and their enforcement," said Dr. Peter Giopulos, Chair of The Art Institute of Pittsburgh Board of Trustees and former professor and administrator of the Rochester Institute of Technology. "To be acknowledged in this way affirms the quality of education that students receive from The Art Institute of Pittsburgh."

The Art Institute of Pittsburgh was initially awarded Middle States accreditation* in 2008. The college also maintains programmatic accreditation with the American Culinary Federation (ACF) and the Council for Interior Design Accreditation (CIDA).

*The Art Institute of Pittsburgh is accredited by the Middle States Commission on Higher Education, 3624 Market Street, Philadelphia, PA 19104 (267-284-5000). The Middle States Commission on Higher Education is an institutional accrediting agency recognized by the U.S. Secretary of Education and the Council for Higher Education Accreditation.

About the Middle States Commission on Higher Education
The Middle States Commission on Higher Education (MSCHE) was established in 1919 and was formally incorporated under Pennsylvania Commonwealth law on March 1, 2013.

The Commission on Higher Education is recognized by the U.S. Secretary of Education to conduct accreditation and pre-accreditation (Candidacy status) activities for institutions of higher education in Delaware, the District of Columbia, Maryland, New Jersey, New York, Pennsylvania, Puerto Rico, and the U.S. Virgin Islands, including distance education and correspondence education programs offered at those institutions.

The Commission is a voluntary, non-governmental, membership association that defines, maintains, and promotes educational excellence across institutions with diverse missions, student populations, and resources.

About The Art Institute of Pittsburgh
The Art Institute of Pittsburgh is one of The Art Institutes (www.artinstitutes.edu), a system of more than 50 schools located throughout North America. The Art Institutes schools provide an important source of education for design, media arts, fashion and culinary professionals. Several institutions of The Art Institutes system are campuses of South University or Argosy University. The Art Institute of Pittsburgh is located at 420 Boulevard of the Allies, Pittsburgh, PA 15219. See aiprograms.info for program duration, tuition, fees, and other costs, median debt, federal salary data, alumni success, and other important info.

The Associate of Science degree in Culinary Arts and the Bachelor of Science in Culinary Management are accredited by The Accrediting Commission of the American Culinary Federation Education Foundation.

The Interior Design program leading to the Bachelor of Science degree is accredited by the Council for Interior Design Accreditation, www.accredit-id.org, 206 Grandville Ave., Ste. 350, Grand Rapids, MI 49503.

SOURCE The Art Institute of Pittsburgh.