University of the Arts

Phase: Formerly Accredited
Status: Accreditation Withdrawn Final
Accreditation Granted: January 1, 1969
Accreditation Ceased: July 19, 2024

On May 31, 2024, the Commission acted to take an immediate adverse action to withdraw accreditation from the University of the Arts, effective June 1, 2024. As the Commission did not receive the Acknowledgement of Adverse Action within the time period allowed by Commission policy and procedures, the adverse action became final and no longer subject to appeal in accordance with Appeals from Adverse Actions Procedures.

On June 20, 2024, the Commission acted to note the limited extension of the accreditation cease date to July 19, 2024, for the sole purpose of awarding earned academic credentials, executing any appropriate course substitutions, and for processing course grades. As of July 20, 2024, the University of the Arts is no longer accredited by the Middle States Commission on Higher Education www.msche.org.

The University of the Arts failed to inform the Commission of closure in a timely manner or to properly plan for closure with prior approval through substantive change.

The Middle States Commission on Higher Education has approved teach-out agreements with (1) Adelphi University, Garden City, NY; (2) Alfred University, Alfred, NY; (3) AMDA College of the Performing Arts, Los Angeles, CA; (4) Arcadia University, Glenside, PA; (5) Art Academy of Cincinnati, Cincinnati, OH; (6) Bennington College, Bennington, VT; (7) Cedar Crest College, Allentown, PA; (8) Drexel University, Philadelphia, PA; (9) Eastern University, St. Davids, PA; (10) Five Towns College, Dix Hills, NY; (11) Harcum College, Bryn Mawr, PA; (12) Maryland Institute College of Art, Baltimore, MD; (13) Marywood University, Scranton, PA; (14) Montclair State University, Upper Montclair, NJ; (15) Moore College of Art and Design, Philadelphia, PA; (16) Moravian University, Bethlehem, PA; (17) Niagara University, Niagara University, NY; (18) Point Park University, Pittsburgh, PA; (19) Rowan University, Glassboro, NJ; (20) School of Visual Arts, New York, NY; (21) Temple University, Philadelphia, PA; and (22) The New School, New York, NY.

For more information, including a listing of approved teach-out agreements, please refer to the University of the Arts FAQ.

Accreditation Actions

September 20, 2024
Staff acted on behalf of the Commission to approve the teach-out agreement with Caldwell University, Caldwell, NJ.
August 28, 2024
Staff acted on behalf of the Commission to approve the teach-out agreements with: (1) AMDA College of the Performing Arts, Los Angeles, CA; (2) Eastern University, St. Davids, PA; and (3) Moravian University, Bethlehem, PA.
July 1, 2024
Staff acted on behalf of the Commission to approve the teach-out agreements with: (1) Bennington College, Bennington, VT; (2) Five Towns College, Dix Hills, NY; and (3) Harcum College, Bryn Mawr, PA.
June 20, 2024
Staff acted on behalf of the Commission to approve the teach-out agreements with: (1) Alfred University, Alfred, NY; (2) Arcadia University, Glenside, PA; (3) Drexel University, Philadelphia, PA; (4) Maryland Institute College of Art, Baltimore, MD; (5) Montclair State University, Upper Montclair, NJ; (6) Moore College of Art and Design, Philadelphia, PA; (7) Point Park University, Pittsburgh, PA; (8) Temple University, Philadelphia, PA; and (9) The New School, New York, NY.
June 20, 2024
To note the limited extension of the accreditation cease date to July 19, 2024, for the sole purpose of awarding earned academic credentials, executing any appropriate course substitutions, and for processing course grades.
June 10, 2024
To note the institution received the notification of adverse action of May 31, 2024 and delivery of a hardcopy of the action notification was confirmed on Tuesday, June 4, 2024. To note that the Commission did not receive the Acknowledgement of Adverse Action within the time period allowed by Commission policy and procedures. To note that the adverse action is considered final and is no longer subject to appeal in accordance with Appeals from Adverse Actions Procedures.
May 31, 2024
To acknowledge receipt of the institution's notification on Wednesday, May 29, 2024, regarding the status of the institution and unplanned, imminent closure. To note that the institution failed to inform the Commission of closure in a timely manner or to properly plan for closure with prior approval through substantive change. To require immediate notification to the Commission verifying the date of closure of the institution by email to [email protected]. To take an immediate adverse action to withdraw accreditation from University of the Arts effective June 1, 2024. To note that the Commission has determined that an immediate adverse action is necessary because the institution has not complied with the Commission's procedures, requests for written reports, teach-out plan, or other information, specifically (1) the institution is not in compliance with Standard I (Mission and Goals), Standard II (Ethics and Integrity), Standard III (Design and Delivery of the Student Learning Experience), Standard IV (Support of the Student Experience), Standard V (Educational Effectiveness Assessment), Standard VI (Planning, Resources, and Institutional Improvement), Standard VII (Governance, Leadership, and Administration), and Requirement of Affiliation 2; (2) the institution has failed to ensure all communications with constituents, regulatory agencies, and the Commission comply with the Communication in the Accreditation Process Policy and Procedures; (3) the institution has failed to obtain prior approval for closure through the Substantive Change Policy and Procedures; (4) the institution has not met the requirements of the Commission's Public Disclosures Policy and Procedures; (5) the institution has failed to demonstrate that it can provide a quality student learning experience (Accreditation Actions Policy and Procedures); (6) the institution has failed to demonstrate the capacity to make required improvements (Accreditation Actions Policy and Procedures); (7) the institution has failed to demonstrate that it can sustain itself in the short or long term (Accreditation Actions Policy and Procedures); (8) the institution has failed to demonstrate that it has documented financial resources, funding base, and plans for financial development (Standard VI); and (9) the institution is in imminent danger of closing (Accreditation Actions Policy and Procedures). This decision is based on the institution's current non-compliance and accreditation activities, including the institution's notification of closure dated May 29, 2024; the supplemental information report submitted after the 12:00 p.m., May 30, 2024, deadline, and subsequent communications and correspondence of record between the institution and the Commission. These institutional reports and responses have failed to document that the institution has achieved and can sustain ongoing compliance with the Commission's standards for accreditation, requirements of affiliation, policies and procedures, and applicable federal regulatory requirements, including Standard I (Mission and Goals), Standard II (Ethics and Integrity), Standard III (Design and Delivery of the Student Learning Experience), Standard IV (Support of the Student Experience), Standard V (Educational Effectiveness Assessment), Standard VI (Planning, Resources, and Institutional Improvement), Standard VII (Governance, Leadership, and Administration), Requirement of Affiliation 2, Accreditation Actions Policy and Procedures, Communication in the Accreditation Process Policy and Procedures, Public Disclosures Policy and Procedures, Substantive Change Policy and Procedures, and Teach-Out Plans and Agreements Policy and Procedures. To note that any adverse action is subject to appeal in accordance with the Commission's Appeals from Adverse Actions Procedures. To direct the institution to immediately (1) notify all constituents of the immediate withdrawal of accreditation; (2) notify the University of the Arts community, including all governing board members, students, faculty, staff, and others with significant roles, of the status of the institution; (3) provide accurate information regarding the institution's accreditation status with MSCHE on its website and wherever accreditation is referenced on the institution's web pages, publications, announcements, and in all other appropriate places and venues; (4) complete and issue transcripts at no cost to all students wishing to transfer to another institution; (5) enter into signed teach-out agreements; (6) identify a repository for student and institutional records so that students and alumni will be able to obtain accurate and complete transcripts in the future; and (7) report accurate, fair, and complete information on all aspects of the institution and its operations in a manner that allows the Commission to carry out its accrediting responsibilities (Accreditation Actions Policy and Procedures, Communication in the Accreditation Process Policy and Procedures, Public Disclosures Policy and Procedures, Substantive Change Policy and Procedures, and Teach-Out Plans and Agreements Policy and Procedures). To remind the institution that it must complete and submit for approval, by June 7, 2024, a comprehensive, implementable teach-out plan and signed teach-out agreements with appropriate teach-out partner institutions (Teach-Out Plans and Agreements Policy and Procedures). The teach-out plan must include evidence that the institution immediately made required notifications and disclosures. To note that if the institution is not operational with students actively enrolled in its degree granting programs in violation of Requirement of Affiliation 2, the Commission will consider the institution closed and terminate any pending appeal. To note that if the Commission determines that the institution has violated any other Commission policies and procedures, standards for accreditation, requirements of affiliation, or applicable federal regulatory requirements, the Commission will take additional action. To note all final adverse actions are subject to the arbitration requirements in the Commission's Arbitration of Disputes Concerning Final Adverse Actions Procedures and federal regulation 34 CFR §602.20(e). To note that accreditation will cease on June 1, 2024.
May 30, 2024
Staff acted on behalf of the Commission to request a supplemental information report, due May 30, 2024, by 12:00 p.m. ET, providing an update on the status of the institution. To require that the institution complete and submit for approval, by June 7, 2024, a comprehensive, implementable teach-out plan and signed teach-out agreements with appropriate teach-out partner institutions (Teach-Out Plans and Agreements Policy and Procedures).  In accordance with Commission policy and federal regulations, the teach-out plan must provide for the equitable treatment of students to complete their education or transfer to another institution. To note the Commission may reject the teach-out plan and require resubmission if all of the required information is not provided. To remind the institution and the governing body of its obligation to inform the Commission immediately about any and all significant developments relevant to this action and to make freely available to the Commission accurate, fair, and complete information on all aspects of the institution and its operations to all constituents.
March 28, 2024
Staff acted on behalf of the Commission to acknowledge receipt of the supplemental information report requested by the Commission action of November 6, 2023, providing information on key data indicators (enrollment – FTE), as reported on the 2023 Annual Institutional Update (AIU) in accordance with federal regulation 34 CFR § 602.19(d). The next evaluation visit is scheduled for 2026-2027.
November 6, 2023
Staff acted on behalf of the Commission to request a supplemental information report, due December 13, 2023, providing information on key data indicators (enrollment – FTE) as reported on the 2023 Annual Institutional Update in accordance with federal regulation 34 CFR § 602.19 (d). The next evaluation date is scheduled for 2026-2027.