SCHOOL OVERVIEW

The School of Art & Design (A&D) has the good fortune to be among the 19 schools and colleges at the University of Michigan, a world-renowned research university. One of the youngest academic units on campus, A&D’s reach and influence have steadily grown since being established as an independent unit in 1974.

A&D’s current academic programs and projects focus on generating new creative work, integrating the cultures of art and design, and engaging with the University, region, and national and international communities. Exemplary faculty and staff and a commitment to joint academic programs and joint faculty appointments with units on campus and state-of-the-art facilities support these objectives.

Undergraduate Educational Programs

The School offers four undergraduate programs: Our anchor undergraduate offering, the BFA in Art & Design, a BA in Art & Design for more academically focused students who also want to maintain a strong engagement with creative studio work, Dual Admission / Double Degree Programs with eight other university schools and colleges, and the new Interarts Performance BFA, jointly offered with the Department of Theatre and Drama. The School also offers a minor in Art and Design.

Graduate Educational Programs

The School offers three graduate level degrees: a three-year MFA in Art & Design that emphasizes developing robust, formal engagements with one or more academic fields outside of A&D, a PhD in Design Science offered cooperatively by the School of Art & Design, the Department of Mechanical Engineering, the Ross School of Business, and the Department of Psychology, and a MFA in Art & Design / MBA in Business Dual Degree Program. Two additional degree programs, MFA in Art & Design / MSI in Information Science Dual Degree Program and MFA in Art & Design / PhD in Design Science Dual Degree Program, are expected to be approved in late 2009.

Middle- and High-School Educational Programs

The School of Art & Design offers summer programs for middle school and high school students. Included in the A&D offerings are BFA Prep and Portfolio Prep residential programs for high school students, Summer Portfolio Day for students who have completed their junior year of high school, and a week-long Day Camp for regional middle school students.

Exhibition / Performance / Distribution of Creative Work

A&D maintains four galleries for the presentation of creative work by students, faculty, staff, and the larger community of artist/designers, including an online gallery space devoted to time-based work.

Lecture and Visitors Program

A&D offers two visitors programs – the Penny W. Stamps Distinguished Visitors Series and the Roman J. Witt Visitors Program. Both are funded through the generosity of Penny W. and E. Roe Stamps. These programs bring to campus an extraordinary range of creators with fresh ideas, perspectives, and insights from around the world.

Students

The A&D student population includes ~500 undergraduate and 30 graduate students. The diverse student body consists of 40 percent Michigan residents, with others coming from across the U.S. and around the world.

Faculty

The ~40 fulltime faculty are highly accomplished critical thinkers and versatile makers of creative work. Fifteen of the fulltime faculty hold dual appointments in A&D and another discipline at the University. Another 15 faculty, based in University disciplines outside of A&D, are jointly appointed in A&D.

Staff

Some 40 administrative and technical staff support the School’s programs. A number of staff have advanced degrees and maintain professional creative practices.

Studio and Classroom Facilities

Main Building: A&D’s 70,000 sq. ft. main facility is located on the University’s North Campus, along with the School of Music, Theatre & Dance; the Taubman College of Architecture & Urban Planning; the College of Engineering; the Duderstadt Center, and Pierpont Commons. The main facility includes well-equipped studios in clay, electromechanical work, fibers, hot and cold metals, painting, drawing, physical computing, print media (digital/hand/photographic), sculpture, metals, video and wood.

Undergraduate Studios: Individual undergraduate studios in the A&D main facility are assigned to all seniors in the School’s BFA program

Faculty Studios: Full time faculty members have off-campus studio facilities in a 12,000 sq.ft. industrial building.

Graduate Student Studios: Graduate students are provided with individual studios in an 11,000 sq.ft. off-site industrial building.

Information Technology

Information technology and digital media are integral to A&D educational programs, research/creative work, and administrative activities. All faculty, staff and students share a common computing platform - the Mac Laptop – facilitating both teaching and learning.

International Engagement

With the recent approval of a new requirement, all undergraduates entering in fall 2010 or later will engage in a substantive international experience. A growing list of 20+ exchange partners throughout the world supports this enterprise.

All fulltime faculty are strongly encouraged to pursue international engagement through their creative work. All graduate students are required to design and carry out a significant international experience.

Local and Regional Engagement

Public engagement is central to art and design practice. A&D students, faculty, and staff are intentionally and directly engaged with public issues. This outreach effort is imbedded in the undergraduate BFA program through a curriculum requirement mandating that all students complete at least one “engagement studio” working directly with individuals or groups in Southeastern Michigan.

Alumni

Over 7000 living A&D alumni of the School form a vital part of the A&D community. Active efforts to connect with alumni include the quarterly publication, Emergence, which carries A&D and alumni news; an annual alumni exhibition; numerous regional alumni gatherings throughout the U.S.; and an alumni mentoring program for current students.

Accreditation

A&D is fully accredited by the National Association of School’s of Art & Design (NASAD).
The University of Michigan is also fully accredited by the Higher Learning Commission (HLC), an independent corporation that holds membership in the North Central Association of Colleges and Schools (NCA). The NCA is one of six regional agencies that provide institutional accreditation on a geographical basis as part of a national accreditation structure in which non-governmental agencies accredit institutions of higher education.