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Statement of Accreditation Status

Art Institute of Philadelphia, The

  • Phase: Formerly Accredited
  • Status: Institutional Closure
  • Candidacy Granted: January 1, 2007
  • Accreditation Granted: June 28, 2012
  • Accreditation Ceased: December 28, 2018
The Middle States Commission on Higher Education is unable to confirm the status of the teach-out plan for The Art Institute of Philadelphia, which closed on December 28, 2018. The Commission continues to request information from the court appointed federal equity receiver in an effort to provide useful information for the benefit of students impacted by the closure of the institution. Until that information is received, the Commission directs constituents to the federal equity receiver and any information that may be available online: https://www.artinstitutes.edu/closed-school-information-page. Please note that the Commission has been unable to confirm the accuracy of information posted at the Closed School Information Page. Other online resources include: (1) https://www.dottoreco.com/dream-center-education-holdings and (2) https://www.education.pa.gov/Postsecondary-Adult/College%20and%20Career%20Education/Pages/default.aspx. To note that accreditation ceased on December 28, 2018. As of December 29, 2018, The Art Institute of Philadelphia is no longer accredited by the Middle States Commission on Higher Education (267-284-5011) www.msche.org. For more information, please see the Commission's Teach-Out Plans and Agreements Policy and Procedures.
  • April 18, 2019
    To note that the supplemental information report due on March 15, 2019, was not received and that the federal equity receiver, custodian, and liquidator, after repeated requests, has failed to confirm the status of the teach-out plan and teach-out agreements for The Art Institute of Philadelphia. The institution closed on December 28, 2018, and accreditation ceased effective December 29, 2018.
  • February 14, 2019
    To acknowledge receipt of the supplemental information report. To remind the institution of the Commission’s actions on November 15, 2018. To note the institution closed on December 28, 2018, and that accreditation ceased effective December 29, 2018.
  • February 14, 2019
    To acknowledge receipt of the updated teach-out plan and teach-out agreements. To remind the institution of the Commission's actions on November 15, 2018. To note the institution closed on December 28, 2018, and that accreditation ceased effective December 29, 2018. To further note the United States District Court, Northern District of Ohio, Eastern Division, has appointed a federal equity receiver, custodian, and liquidator for the institution on January 18, 2019. To request a supplemental information report, due March 15, 2019, from the court-appointed federal equity receiver documenting how any and all recent changes relating to the Dream Center Education Holdings, the related entity of the institution, have impacted the December 14, 2018, teach-out plan and teach-out agreements submitted by the institution, including but not limited to evidence of: (1) the arrangements for the retention and preservation of records so that students and alumni will be able to obtain accurate and complete transcripts and other educational records in the future; (2) provisions for career services being made available to students for six months following graduation; (3) the awarding of tuition grants to support students' completion of their studies; (4) the public disclosure of updated information, including the online Closed School Information Page; (5) the arrangements for the retention and preservation of employee records; and (6) any and all changes that have impacted the teach-out plan or teach-out agreements. To remind the institution, related entity, and federal equity receiver of the Commission's right to rescind approval of the teach-out plan if any developments reveal additional information that may have affected the Commission's decision.
  • November 15, 2018
    To acknowledge receipt of the show cause report. To note the visit by the Commission's representatives. To note the institution will close while on show cause. To note that the institution will close all locations on December 28, 2018. To note the institution remains accredited while on show cause, and to note that the accreditation of The Art Institute of Philadelphia will cease effective December 29, 2018. To request a supplemental information report, due December 15, 2018, documenting evidence of: (1) official notification of the Commission's action to The Art Institute of Philadelphia community, including all governing board members, students, faculty, and staff, and others with significant roles; (2) notification to current and prospective students that the institution's accreditation will cease effective December 29, 2018, and (3) public disclosure regarding the institution's accreditation status provided wherever the institution's web pages, publications, and announcements make reference to accreditation and in all other appropriate places and venues.
  • November 15, 2018
    To acknowledge receipt of the teach-out plan and teach-out agreements. To approve the teach-out plan and teach-out agreements with Academy of Art University, Atlantic Cape Community College, Columbia College of Hollywood, Community College of Philadelphia, Delaware County Community College, DeVry University, Douglas Education Center, East Stroudsburg University, Full Sail University, Harcum College, Harrisburg University of Science and Technology, Hussian College, JNA Institute of Culinary Arts, Montgomery County Community College, Rocky Mountain College of Art & Design, Rowan College at Burlington County, Trident University International, Stevenson University, The University of the Arts, and Thomas Edison State University. To require an updated teach-out plan with teach-out agreements, due December 15, 2018, with (1) signed copies of teach-out agreements, including any documentation supporting the agreements; (2) the status of the implementation of the teach-out plan and teach-out agreements; (3) arrangements for the permanent disposition of student records so that students and alumni will be able to obtain accurate and complete transcripts in the future; and (4) evidence of the issuance of transcripts for any students wishing to transfer to another institution. To require notification to the Commission verifying the closure of the institution on December 28, 2018. To note the institution will close while on show cause. To note the institution remains accredited while on show cause, and to note that the accreditation of The Art Institute of Philadelphia will cease effective December 29, 2018.
  • November 15, 2018
    To acknowledge receipt of the substantive change request. To note the institution will close while on show cause. To note that the institution will close all locations on December 28, 2018. To note the institution remains accredited while on show cause, and to note that the accreditation of The Art Institute of Philadelphia will cease effective December 29, 2018.
  • July 18, 2018
    To note that on July 5, 2018, the institution informed the Commission that it ceased new enrollments as of July 2, 2018, and will close. To remind the institution of its obligation to seek prior approval, in accordance with Commission policy, of planned institutional closure. To further note that the institution failed to inform the Commission about any and all developments relevant to the terms of the change in ownership and legal status as directed in the Commission action of November 16, 2017. To require the institution to show cause, by August 31, 2018, as to why its accreditation should not be withdrawn. To note that the institution remains accredited while on show cause. The institution is required to present its case for continued accreditation by means of a show cause report, in lieu of the formerly requested monitoring report. To request that the show cause report include (1) submission of a substantive change request for approval of planned institutional closure (Standard II; Substantive Change Policy; Merging or Closing a Postsecondary Institution or Program Site Policy); (2) evidence of adequate financial resources, funding base, and plans for financial development adequate to support the institution and ensure orderly closure and the continued delivery of a quality learning environment and education experience (Standards III, IV, VI, Requirement of Affiliation 11); and (3) evidence of the institution operating as an academic institution with a chief executive officer with appropriate credentials and experience, administrative members with appropriate credentials and experience, and appropriate autonomy (Standard VII). To require that the institution resubmit certification by the related entities, Dream Center Foundation and Dream Center Education Holdings (DCEH), that they recognize the Commission's compliance requirements and will ensure that responsibilities of the related entities are fulfilled, including making freely available to the Commission accurate, fair, and complete information through disclosure of information required by the Commission to carry out its accrediting responsibilities (Related Entities Policy; Requirement of Affiliation 14). To note that the evidence provided must include a comprehensive, implementable teach-out plan with detailed descriptions of how, if the Commission withdraws accreditation or the institution closes, all students including any student requiring access to Title IV funding will be accommodated. In accordance with Commission policy and federal regulations, the teach-out plan must provide for equitable treatment of students to complete their education and include signed teach-out agreements that the institution has entered into with another institution. Approvals from any licensing or other legal entities as may be necessary must also be provided. To direct a prompt liaison guidance visit to discuss Commission expectations. An on-site evaluation will follow submission of the report. The purpose of the on-site evaluation is to verify the information provided in the show cause report and the institution's ongoing and sustainable compliance with the Commission's Requirements of Affiliation, accreditation standards, and policies. To note that the institution will be invited to appear before the Commission when it meets to consider the institution's show cause report.
  • June 21, 2018
    To note the visit by the Commission's representative.
  • June 21, 2018
    To accept the focused report, note the visit by the Commission's representatives, and postpone a decision on accreditation. To remind the institution of the Commission's action of June 22, 2017, warning the institution that its accreditation may be in jeopardy because of insufficient evidence that it is currently in compliance with Requirement of Affiliation 11 and Standard VI (Institutional Resources). To request that the monitoring report due September 1, 2018, further document evidence (1) of the breadth of the relationships involving the related entities, Dream Center Foundation and Dream Center Education Holdings (DCEH), including the identification of contractual relationships, employment, and family or financial interests that could pose or be perceived as conflicts of interest (Standard II and Standard VII; Requirement of Affiliation 12 and 13; Related Entities Policy); (2) of certification by the related entities that it recognizes the Commission's compliance requirements and will ensure that responsibilities of the related entities are fulfilled, including making freely available to the Commission accurate, fair, and complete information through disclosure of information required by the Commission to carry out its accrediting responsibilities (Related Entities Policy; Requirement of Affiliation 14); and (3) that the institution operates as an academic institution with appropriate autonomy (Standard VII). To note that the date of the next evaluation visit will be determined when accreditation is reaffirmed and early self-study will not be required at this time.
  • March 15, 2018
    To note the liaison guidance consultation by the Commission's representative.