Welcome to The Art Institute of Pittsburgh!

I hope you will enjoy reviewing the programs of study offered at The Art Institute of Pittsburgh. As you browse the courses you’ll take and prepare to invest in your future, remember that, for every acclaimed career success, there was a very beginning. We’re here to help you get there.

Without question… the most valuable part of The Art Institute of Pittsburgh’s history is the people who make up this creative, exciting, nurturing community. The Art Institute of Pittsburgh is a place where creative minds come together to learn new ways to develop personal talent, energy and skill in a whole new world of opportunity. In fact, more than 3000 students come together from many states and many nations, rural towns and urban centers. Our online community consists of nearly 10,000 more students all over the world. Students converge at The Art Institute of Pittsburgh with goals just as diverse as the places from which they’ve come, but with one common idea… to begin a path toward a creative career.

You’ll meet faculty and alumni who have worked to define the industries they serve. At The Art Institute of Pittsburgh, you are surrounded by people who know exactly why you’re here and work each day to help you prepare for your future.

Our staff of financial aid officers, job advisors, and counselors is committed to providing you with individualized service. Confidential counseling is available when academic or personal problems create roadblocks to success. You’ll be encouraged to join one of many school organizations or student professional chapters, gain experience while in school, and try to attain freelance opportunities and participate in community service projects supported or co-sponsored by The Art Institute. A team of experienced career advisors works closely with graduating students to assist in an aggressive plan designed to help each student define and meet their individual career goals.

Explore the academic programs and career possibilities available with a degree from The Art Institute of Pittsburgh. Browse our catalog to learn about our bachelor’s, associate’s or diploma programs, our personality and our creative culture. When you visit, we think you’ll find a place with distinct character and limitless possibilities… all about people just like you.

I look forward to personally welcoming you on your Orientation Day. I wish you the very best as you begin to invest in your future as a student at The Art Institute of Pittsburgh. I ask you to work hard, make discoveries, enjoy yourself and take advantage of the opportunities that surround you. If you keep your goals in sight, I’ll meet you on a stage one day soon to confer your degree or diploma, shake your hand and proudly acknowledge you as a graduate of The Art Institute of Pittsburgh.

Sincerely,

George L. Pry
President
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ACCREDITATION

The Art Institute of Pittsburgh Announces Middle States Accreditation

The Art Institute of Pittsburgh is proud to announce that the College has been granted accreditation by The Middle States Commission on Higher Education. Middle States accreditation marks the culmination of The Art Institutes’ academic transition, beginning in 2000, when the college received authorization by the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania to award baccalaureate degrees.

The Associate of Science in Culinary Arts degree is accredited by the American Culinary Federation, Inc. Accrediting Commission. The campus-based Interior Design program leading to the Bachelor of Science degree is accredited by the Council for Interior Design Accreditation.

“This is a significant and defining chapter of The Art Institute of Pittsburgh’s history and our process of redefining our mission as an academic institution. The recognition of the Middle States Commission is an important validation of how we have woven academic rigor into our core mission of graduate career preparedness. The Art Institute has always placed great importance on accreditation and its value on a student’s investment.”

George L. Pry, President
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MISSION STATEMENT

The Mission of The Art Institute of Pittsburgh is to provide distinctive creative and collegiate education, based on a foundation of exemplary learning-centered practices, endowing graduates with skills, abilities, and competencies that enable them to achieve personal and professional success in an evolving global market. Our mission drives The Art Institute’s programs and practices and serves as the foundation for evaluating our college’s effectiveness.

Goals

Programs of study provide students with technologically rich, industry-ready skills; promote ethical practices and moral understanding; and contribute to their being responsible, productive members of society in their respective fields.

Faculty, many of whom are active and productive in industry-related careers, establish a learning environment that encourages freedom of expression, leadership and responsible decision making.

The faculty, administration and staff of The Art Institute of Pittsburgh provide quality programs and services in an environment that embraces civility and collaboration and fosters development of each student’s worth and potential, as each seeks to achieve personal and professional goals.

Objectives

We achieve institutional goals through the following objectives:

• Working with industry professionals, curricula will be developed and revised by faculty to provide students with career-specific skills and abilities, as well as the knowledge and tools for communication, critical thinking, and human relations;
• Innovation and market needs will drive the development of new programs and services to be delivered or provided via the distance learning modality or by other non-traditional modes of delivery;
• The environment will support policies recommended by faculty, staff, and students to assure freedom of expression, encourage responsible decision making, and foster collegiality for faculty and students, while remaining conducive to innovation and positive thinking;
• Students will be assisted in obtaining their first jobs in the field through introductions to working professionals via internships and community service opportunities, as well as through Program Advisory Councils (PACs), and through dedicated personnel in career services;
• Promotion of employee involvement, teamwork and professional development: employees will be provided with activities and educational opportunities in support of this objective;
• Updating and reviewing long range institutional development plans will occur annually and will be revised based on significant developments both within and external to the Institute’s culture. These and other plans, including budgeting and assessment plans, will be used to effectively allocate resources;
• And, we will maintain our reputation for quality and integrity among our faculty, administration, staff, students, and the external community through the education we offer and the community interaction we have historically sought within the region.
  

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STRATEGIC INITIATIVES

The Art Institute of Pittsburgh has adopted the following four initiatives to guide the institution through 2011:

• Academic and Professional Excellence
• Growth Management
• Regional and Global Partnerships
• Operational Effectiveness

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LICENSING, ACCREDITATION AND MEMBERSHIPS

The Art Institute of Pittsburgh is accredited by the Middle States Commission on Higher Education, 3624 Market Street, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania 19104. Telephone: 1(267) 284-5000. Approval to offer distance education is included in the scope of this accreditation. 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.

The Art Institute of Pittsburgh is authorized by the Pennsylvania Department of Education to confer the Bachelor of Science degrees, Associate of Science degrees and diplomas to graduates of approved programs, approved for the training of veterans and eligible veterans’ dependents, and authorized under federal law to enroll non-immigrant alien students. The Art Institute of Pittsburgh is also authorized to offer degrees and diplomas through the online delivery modality. The Department of Education can be reached by writing to the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania, Department of Education Office of Postsecondary and Higher Education, 333 Market Street, Harrisburg, Pennsylvania 17126, or by telephone at 1(717) 783-6788.

The Associate of Science degree in Culinary Arts is accredited by the American Culinary Federation Foundation Accrediting Commission. The American Culinary Federation (ACF) may be reached by writing to 180 Center Place Way, St. Augustine, Florida 32095, or by telephone at 1(800) 624-9458.

The Interior Design program leading to the Bachelor of Science in Interior Design is accredited by the Council for Interior Design Accreditation (CIDA), www.accredit-id.org, 146 Monroe Center NW, Suite 1318, Grand Rapids, Michigan 49503-2822. Telephone: 1(616) 458-0400. CIDA accreditation is designed to provide assurance that a college’s program meets educational standards and positively positions graduates for entry-level employment with future growth potential in the interior design industry. Completion of a CIDA-accredited degree program may also provide (but does not ensure) an easier professional certification process in many states, as well as favorable status for (but does not guarantee) graduate school admission. The Art Institute of Pittsburgh administration and Interior Design department value CIDA accreditation not only as an important recognition of the quality of our academic program, but also as an essential collaboration of leaders committed to advancing the standards of the interior design profession. In order to graduate from The Art Institute of Pittsburgh’s Interior Design program as a “CIDA Accredited Program”, a student must complete a minimum of 151 credits in campus-based courses out of the possible 180 earned credits. At this time, the online delivery of this program is not eligible for CIDA accreditation.

The Art Institute of Pittsburgh is a member of the American Council of Education, the American Association for Higher Education, the Allegheny Counselors Association, the Career Colleges Association, the Pennsylvania Association of Private School Administrators, the Pennsylvania Association of College Admissions Counselors, the American Association of Collegiate Registrars and Admissions Officers, the National Art Education Association, the Ohio Council of Private Colleges and Schools, and the Ohio Association for College Admission Counseling.

THE ART INSTITUTE OF PITTSBURGH LEADERSHIP

All operations are governed by The Art Institute of Pittsburgh Board of Trustees, and The Art Institute of Pittsburgh Executive Committee. The Board of Trustees includes the following members: Dr. Marylouise Fennell, Chair, Higher Education Consultant; Jennifer D. DeMay, Vice President of Regulatory Affairs and Compliance, Education Management Corp.; George L. Pry (ex officio member), President, The Art Institute of Pittsburgh; Peter Giopulos, Former Professor / Dean at the College of Fine Arts, Rochester Institute of Technology; Cheryl B. Stevens, Vice President, Career Services, Education Management Corp.; Tina Benavides, Vice President, Creative Division, American Greetings Corporation; and I.N. Rendall Harper, Jr., President, American Micrographics Company, Inc.

The Art Institute of Pittsburgh Executive Committee consists of an eight-member board including George L. Pry, President; Cynthia Pierce Liefeld, Ph.D., Vice President of Academic Affairs; Melanie Gibson, Senior Director of Admissions; Jan Vucic, Vice President, Director of Administrative and Financial Services; Anthony J. Corasaniti, Vice President, Director of Career Services; Malinda Hallett, Vice President, Director of Human Resources; Nadine Josephs, Vice President, Dean of Student Affairs; and Jenna Templeton, Director of Academic and Support Services Online. All members are located at 420 Boulevard of the Allies, Pittsburgh, PA 15219.

Education Management Corporation

Education Management LLC (http://www.edmc.com), with 110,800 students (as of October 2008), is among the largest providers of post-secondary education in North America, based on student enrollment and revenue. Education Management has 88 locations in 28 U.S. states and in Canada. Education Management's educational institutions offer a broad range of academic programs concentrated in the media arts, design, fashion, culinary arts, behavioral sciences, health sciences, education, information technology, legal studies and business fields, culminating in the award of associate's through doctoral degrees. Education Management has provided career-oriented education for over 40 years. EDMC is located at 210 Sixth Avenue, 33rd Floor, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania 15222.

Education Management Corporation Board of Directors

The Education Management Corporation is governed by the EDMC Board of Directors. The members are Adrian M. Jones, Managing Director, Principal Investment Area, Goldman, Sachs & Co.; Jeffrey T. Leeds, President, Leeds Equity Partners, LLC.; John R. McKernan, Jr., Executive Chairman, EDMC; Leo F. Mullin, (retired), Chief Executive Officer, Delta Airlines; Todd S. Nelson, Chief Executive Officer and President, EDMC; Paul J. Salem, Sr., Managing Director and co-founder, Providence Equity Partners; and Peter O. Wilde, Managing Director, Providence Equity.