Academy of Art University explained

Academy of Art University should not be confused with San Francisco Art Institute.

Academy of Art University
Former Name:Académie of Advertising Art,
Academy of Advertising Art,
Richard Stephens Academy of Art,
Academy of Art College
Motto:Built by artists for artists
Established:1929
Country:United States
Faculty:126 full-time
492 part-time
Students:6,786
Undergrad:4,555
Postgrad:2,231

The Academy of Art University (AAU, or ART U), formerly Academy of Art College and Richard Stephens Academy of Art, is a private for-profit art school in San Francisco, California. It was founded as the Academy of Advertising Art by Richard S. Stephens in 1929.[1] The school is one of the largest property owners in San Francisco, with the main campus located on New Montgomery Street in the South of Market district.[2]

In fall 2023, it had 126 full-time teachers, 492 part-time teaching staff, and 6,786 students; it claims to be the largest privately owned art and design school in the United States.[3]

History

It was founded in 1929 as Académie of Advertising Art,[4] a school for advertising art, at 215 Kearny Street.[5] The founder, Richard S. Stephens,[6] a painter and editor for Sunset Magazine, led it until 1951 when his son Richard A. Stephens took over. In 1992, Stephens was replaced by his daughter, Elisa Stephens.[7] Under her presidency, student numbers increased to 18,000 by 2011.[8]

The university owns and operates the Academy of Art University Automobile Museum which has a collection of 200 vintage cars going back to the 1990s.[9] [10] [11]

The school has been participating in the NY Fashion Week event bi-annually since 2005.[12] [13] [14] Every year, the university hosts a spring show that highlights student work from the school's 75 disciplines.[15]

In 2006, AAU acquired the Commodore Hotel for approximately $15.7 million; the building was then converted into co-ed student housing, called "Commodore Hall."[16]

In 2009, four former admission officers alleged that the school had compensated them based on how many students they could enroll, which was an incentive-based recruitment technique.[17] [18] The former employees sued the school in U.S. District Court in Oakland in 2009.[19]

In May 2016, the city of San Francisco brought a lawsuit against Academy of Art University after possible violations of city land-use laws, including the unauthorized conversion of rent-controlled housing to academic use.[20] [21] In December 2016, the school was ordered pay the city $20 million in fees and $40 million in housing concessions, such as providing low-income housing for seniors.[22] [23] In January 2020, the agreement was amended, requiring the Academy of Art University to pay $37.6 million to build affordable housing.[24]

In 2023, ten architecture and landscape projects by AAU students were featured in Dezeen magazine.[25]

In 2024, AAU sold the Da Vinci Villa, a 153-unit student housing complex in Russian Hill, for $16.5 million.[26] It was also announced that AAU plans to sell the 114-unit Commodore student dorm building and restore its former use as a hotel. The university currently lists student housing options at 560 Powell St.; 620 Sutter St.; 680 Sutter St.; 1080 Bush St.; and 655 Sutter St.[16]

Academics

The school offers associate, bachelor's[27] and master's degrees[28] in about twenty-two subjects. Some courses are offered online.[29] As of 2015, the school had not published job placement rates since 2006, and was disagreeing with the US Department of Education over whether it is required to do so.

Academy of Art University received regional accreditation from the Western Association of Schools and Colleges (WASC) in 2007.[30] In interior architecture and design, the Bachelor of Fine Arts degree (taught or online) and Master of Fine Arts degree are accredited by the Council for Interior Design Accreditation.[31] The Master of Architecture degree has, since January 1, 2006, been accredited by the National Architectural Accrediting Board while the Bachelor of Architecture program was granted as of January 1, 2015.[32] [33]

According to the National Center for Education Statistics, 45% of students who began their studies in fall 2013 completed a four-year degree within 150% of that time (the "6-year graduation rate"). For online-only students, the 6-year graduation rate was 6% and 3% for part-time students in mid-2015. Approximately 35% of all students were online-only in 2015. In 2016, roughly 7% of students completed a four-year degree within the allotted time.

According to data from the National Center for Education Statistics in 2019, the school's graduation rate for "full-time, first-time" students was 45%.[34] The school has open admissions and an admission acceptance rate of 100%. In 2016, its accreditor expressed concern over low graduation rates; 37% of students who enrolled in 2010 graduated by 2017.[35]

Athletics

See main article: Academy of Art Urban Knights. The school sports teams, the Urban Knights, compete as members of the Pacific West Conference in 14 sports in NCAA Division II.[36]

In the 2014 - 2015 season, the men's cross country team had a second-place finish and the women's team had a record fourth-place finish, earned at the Pacific West Conference Championships. Valentin Pepiot, their third NCAA Nationals individual qualifier, was one of the top finishers from the PacWest in the postseason finale.[37] Academy of Art earned a record 10 PacWest postseason honors. For the 2015 indoor and outdoor track and field seasons, they had seven All-American honors and one NCAA individual champion in Jordan Edwards.

In May 2023, the San Francisco Shock announced a partnership with Academy of Art University for its 2023 OWL season. The university's campus will be the official home of the Shock, allowing access to its facilities and housing.[38]

Notable faculty

Past and present faculty of the school include:

See also

Notes and References

  1. Web site: The Academy of Art University is a school with a soul . National Collegiate Athletic Association. May 22, 2016.
  2. News: John Cote . November 15, 2010 . Academy of Art land use violations ignored . October 16, 2013 . San Francisco Chronicle.
  3. Web site: Who We Are . October 16, 2013 . Academy of Art University website.
  4. Web site: Cifuentes . Kevin . French-inspired "quintessential Woodside" estate of controversial former Academy of Art President asks $22.5 million . The Real Deal San Francisco . 8 August 2022 . 5 May 2022.
  5. Web site: Brickman . Sophie . 2011-05-22 . Elisa Stephens of Academy of Art University . 2016-09-05 . . The San Francisco Chronicle.
  6. News: Whiting . Sam . Richard Stephens, Academy of Art president, real estate mogul, dies . 8 August 2022 . . 14 June 2017.
  7. News: Savchuk . Katia . Black Arts: The $800 Million Family Selling Art Degrees and False Hopes . 8 August 2022 . Forbes . en.
  8. News: Lee Romney. July 9, 2012. San Francisco rule would encourage building student housing. Los Angeles Times. September 5, 2016.
  9. Web site: Clark. Meaghan. 12 March 2015. Just How Much is Academy of Art's Vintage Car Collection Worth?. 5 December 2016. TheBoldItalic.com. The Bold Italic.
  10. News: Classic cars go on display at the Academy of Art University. ABC 7 San Francisco. 2016-12-05.
  11. News: Join the Chronicle VIP party at the 57th annual International Auto Show . 2016-12-05 . . 1932-8672.
  12. Web site: Mercedes-Benz Fashion Week. mbfashionweek.com. 2016-12-11. https://web.archive.org/web/20160603203808/http://mbfashionweek.com/designers/academy-of-art-university. June 3, 2016. dead. mdy-all.
  13. Web site: Academy of Art University (San Francisco, CA, United States). 2016. Fashionista. 11 December 2016.
  14. Web site: FashionLedge.com. www.fashionledge.com. 2016-12-11. December 20, 2016. https://web.archive.org/web/20161220091701/http://www.fashionledge.com/fashionweek/designer_profile?Designer=S06-24&season=83. dead.
  15. Web site: The Academy of Art University's Spring Shows Keeps on Springing. Juxtapoz. September 9, 2020.
  16. Web site: Academy of Art University to sell student dorm for apparent restoration as hotel. Barreira . Alex. 1 April 2024. San Francisco Business Times.
  17. News: Asimov . Nanette . 'It's ruined my life': Academy of Art ex-student owes $431,000 and has no job . 8 August 2022 . . 18 February 2020.
  18. Web site: Fact Sheet: Protecting Students from Abusive Career Colleges U.S. Department of Education. 2020-06-19. www.ed.gov.
  19. Web site: Savchuk. Katia. Black Arts: The $800 Million Family Selling Art Degrees and False Hopes. 2020-06-19. Forbes. en.
  20. Web site: Asimov . Nanette . 2018-02-11 . Academy of Art could face federal trial over fraud suit . 2020-06-19 . . 1932-8672.
  21. Web site: Lee . Vic . May 6, 2016 . SF suing Academy of Art University for alleged permit violations . June 23, 2016 . ABC 7 News.
  22. News: Academy of Art settles with city, pays $20 million in fees. 19 December 2016. Curbed. Brinklow. Adam. 21 December 2016.
  23. Web site: Phillip Matier . Andrew Ross . 19 December 2016 . Academy of Art agrees to $60 million settlement of SF lawsuit . . 1932-8672.
  24. Web site: 2020-01-08 . Academy of Art University will pay San Francisco for the affordable housing it eliminated . 2020-01-16 . . 1932-8672.
  25. Web site: Ten architecture and landscape projects by Academy of Art University. 23 November 2023. Dezeen.
  26. Web site: Academy of Art University sells Russian Hill housing for $16.5M. Bautista. Christian. 10 June 2024. Real Deal.
  27. http://www.petersons.com/college-search/academy-of-art-university-000_10000202.aspx Academy of Art University
  28. http://www.petersons.com/graduate-schools/academy-of-art-university-000_10013456.aspx Home: Graduate Schools: Academy of Art University
  29. https://web.archive.org/web/20160928083149/http://colleges.usnews.rankingsandreviews.com/best-colleges/academy-art-7531 Academy of Art University
  30. Web site: Statement of accreditation status: Academy of Art University. . July 19, 2007 . Accrediting Commission for Senior Colleges and Universities, Western Association of Schools and Colleges . 9 October 2016.
  31. Web site: Accredited Program History . Council for Interior Design Accreditation . July 15, 2012.
  32. Web site: Architecture programs: Academy of Art University . 2006 . National Architectural Accrediting Board . 9 October 2016.
  33. Web site: School View. www.naab.org. 2016-12-07.
  34. Web site: College Navigator - Academy of Art University. 2020-08-20. nces.ed.gov. U.S. Department of Education.
  35. Web site: 2018-02-11 . Academy of Art could face federal trial over fraud suit . 2020-06-20 . . 1932-8672.
  36. Web site: Academy of Art University. NCAA. May 11, 2016.
  37. Web site: Garcia. Rob. ART U Track & Field Announces New Coaching Staff. The PacWest. May 22, 2016.
  38. Web site: San Francisco Shock finds new home in Academy of Art University campus. Studholme. Billy. 31 May 2023. Esports Insider.
  39. News: For Diane Baker, one scene leads to 50 years . Susan King . August 26, 2009 . October 16, 2013 . Los Angeles Times.
  40. Web site: Tom Bertino . 1997 . Nova Online . September 2, 2014.
  41. Web site: The Animated Side of Star Wars: An Interview With Rob Coleman, The Film's Animation Director . August 1999 . Animated World Network . September 2, 2014 . https://web.archive.org/web/20140905220232/http://www.awn.com/mag/issue4.05/4.05pages/cohenwars.php3 . September 5, 2014 . dead.
  42. . Academy of Art University, Board of Directors, Administrators and Faculty, accessed January 25, 2019 https://www.academyart.edu/wp-content/uploads/board-of-directors-administrators-faculty.pdf
  43. News: Q&A: "Evening Magazine" co-hosts Jan Yanehiro and Richard Hart . July 22, 2010 . San Francisco Chronicle . September 2, 2014.
  44. Web site: Sony Pictures to produce "Tehranis" by Director Kamshad Kushan. Payvand Iran News. June 13, 2016.
  45. Web site: Tim McGovern. Visual Effects Society. June 13, 2016.
  46. Web site: Faculty. Academy of Art.
  47. Web site: Film Director Jack Perez on "Where's Roman". Apple Podcasts.
  48. Web site: Jamie Hyneman and Adam Savage. Discovery. June 13, 2016.
  49. Web site: Faculty . 2024-09-12 . Academy of Art University . en-US.
  50. Web site: Doug Siebum Sound Department, Actor, Additional Crew . 2024-09-12 . IMDb . en-US.
  51. Web site: Witzend - groundbreaking 1960s indy comic with art by Wallace Wood, Art Spiegelman, and Frank Frazetta . August 13, 2014 . BoingBoing . September 2, 2014.
  52. Web site: Artist Interview with Terryl Whitlatch . March 15, 2011 . Copic . October 16, 2013 . https://web.archive.org/web/20131212193411/http://www.copicmarker.com/concept-illustrator-terryl-whitlach . December 12, 2013 . dead.
  53. Web site: Ready to Win . October 16, 2013 . Slam Online . December 28, 2010 . Josh Flynn.
  54. News: Yanehiro, Hart now at Academy of Art in S.F. . July 22, 2010 . October 16, 2013 . . Peter Hartlaub.

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