The Academy of Art University (AAU, or ART U), formerly Academy of Art College and Richard Stephens Academy of Art, is a privatefor-profitart school in San Francisco, California. It was founded as the Academy of Advertising Art by Richard S. Stephens in 1929.[2] 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.[3]
Academy of Art University
Former name
Académie of Advertising Art, Academy of Advertising Art, Richard Stephens Academy of Art, Academy of Art College
In fall 2023, it had 126 full-time teachers, 492 part-time teaching staff, and 6,786 students;[1] it claims to be the largest privately owned art and design school in the United States.[4]
Historyedit
It was founded in 1929 as Académie of Advertising Art,[5] a school for advertising art, at 215 Kearny Street.[6] The founder, Richard S. Stephens,[7] 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.[8][6] Under her presidency, student numbers increased to 18,000 by 2011.[9]
The school has been participating in the NY Fashion Week event bi-annually since 2005.[13][14][15] Every year, the university hosts a spring show that highlights student work from the school's 75 disciplines.[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][19][20][21] 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.[19][21][22][23] 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.[24][25] In January 2020, the agreement was amended, requiring the Academy of Art University to pay $37.6 million to build affordable housing.[21][26]
In 2023, ten architecture and landscape projects by AAU students were featured in Dezeen magazine.[27]
Academicsedit
The school offers associate, bachelor's[28] and master's degrees[29] in about twenty-two subjects.[28] Some courses are offered online.[28][30] 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.[19]
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").[1] For online-only students, the 6-year graduation rate was 6% and 3% for part-time students in mid-2015.[35] Approximately 35% of all students were online-only in 2015.[35] In 2016, roughly 7% of students completed a four-year degree within the allotted time.[30]
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%.[36] The school has open admissions and an admission acceptance rate of 100%.[28][30] In 2016, its accreditor expressed concern over low graduation rates; 37% of students who enrolled in 2010 graduated by 2017.[18]
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.[38] 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.[38]
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.[39]
^ abcAcademy of Art University. College Navigator. National Center for Education Statistics. Accessed October 2023.
^"The Academy of Art University is a school with a soul". National Collegiate Athletic Association. Retrieved May 22, 2016.
^John Cote (November 15, 2010). "Academy of Art land use violations ignored". San Francisco Chronicle. Retrieved October 16, 2013.
^"Who We Are". Academy of Art University website. Retrieved October 16, 2013.
^Cifuentes, Kevin (May 5, 2022). "French-inspired "quintessential Woodside" estate of controversial former Academy of Art President asks $22.5 million". The Real Deal San Francisco. Retrieved August 8, 2022.
^ abBrickman, Sophie (May 22, 2011). "Elisa Stephens of Academy of Art University". SFGate. The San Francisco Chronicle. Retrieved September 5, 2016.
^Whiting, Sam (June 14, 2017). "Richard Stephens, Academy of Art president, real estate mogul, dies". SFGATE. Retrieved August 8, 2022.
^Savchuk, Katia. "Black Arts: The $800 Million Family Selling Art Degrees and False Hopes". Forbes. Retrieved August 8, 2022.
^Lee Romney (July 9, 2012). "San Francisco rule would encourage building student housing". Los Angeles Times. Retrieved September 5, 2016.
^Clark, Meaghan (March 12, 2015). "Just How Much is Academy of Art's Vintage Car Collection Worth?". TheBoldItalic.com. The Bold Italic. Retrieved December 5, 2016.
^"Classic cars go on display at the Academy of Art University". ABC 7 San Francisco. Retrieved December 5, 2016.
^"Join the Chronicle VIP party at the 57th annual International Auto Show". The San Francisco Chronicle. ISSN 1932-8672. Retrieved December 5, 2016.
^"Mercedes-Benz Fashion Week". mbfashionweek.com. Archived from the original on June 3, 2016. Retrieved December 11, 2016.
^"Academy of Art University (San Francisco, CA, United States)". Fashionista. 2016. Retrieved December 11, 2016.
^"FashionLedge.com". www.fashionledge.com. Archived from the original on December 20, 2016. Retrieved December 11, 2016.
^"The Academy of Art University's Spring Shows Keeps on Springing". Juxtapoz. September 9, 2020.
^Asimov, Nanette (February 18, 2020). "'It's ruined my life': Academy of Art ex-student owes $431,000 and has no job". San Francisco Chronicle. Retrieved August 8, 2022.
^ ab"Academy of Art could face federal trial over fraud suit". The San Francisco Chronicle. February 11, 2018. ISSN 1932-8672. Retrieved June 20, 2020.
^ abcdeSavchuk, Katia. "Black Arts: The $800 Million Family Selling Art Degrees and False Hopes". Forbes. Retrieved June 19, 2020.
^"Fact Sheet: Protecting Students from Abusive Career Colleges | U.S. Department of Education". www.ed.gov. Retrieved June 19, 2020.
^ abcAsimov, Nanette (February 11, 2018). "Academy of Art could face federal trial over fraud suit". The San Francisco Chronicle. ISSN 1932-8672. Retrieved June 19, 2020.
^Vic Lee (May 6, 2016). SF suing Academy of Art University for alleged permit violations. ABC 7 News. Accessed June 2016.
^Lee, Vic (May 6, 2016). "SF suing Academy of Art University for alleged permit violations". ABC 7 News. Retrieved June 23, 2016.
^Brinklow, Adam (December 19, 2016). "Academy of Art settles with city, pays $20 million in fees". Curbed. Retrieved December 21, 2016.
^Phillip Matier; Andrew Ross (December 19, 2016). "Academy of Art agrees to $60 million settlement of SF lawsuit". The San Francisco Chronicle. ISSN 1932-8672.
^"Academy of Art University will pay San Francisco for the affordable housing it eliminated". The San Francisco Chronicle. January 8, 2020. ISSN 1932-8672. Retrieved January 16, 2020.
^"Ten architecture and landscape projects by Academy of Art University". Dezeen. November 23, 2023.
^ abcdAcademy of Art University. Peterson's. Accessed January 2014.
^Home: Graduate Schools: Academy of Art University. Peterson's. Accessed January 2014.
^ abcAcademy of Art University. U.S. News & World Report. Archived 28 August 2016.
^"Statement of accreditation status: Academy of Art University". Accrediting Commission for Senior Colleges and Universities, Western Association of Schools and Colleges. July 19, 2007. Retrieved October 9, 2016.
^"Accredited Program History". Council for Interior Design Accreditation. Retrieved July 15, 2012.
^"Architecture programs: Academy of Art University". National Architectural Accrediting Board. 2006. Retrieved October 9, 2016.
^"School View". www.naab.org. Retrieved December 7, 2016.
^ abKatia Savchuk (September 7, 2015). Black Arts: The $800 Million Family Selling Art Degrees and False Hopes. Forbes magazine. Archived August 19, 2015.
^"College Navigator - Academy of Art University". nces.ed.gov. U.S. Department of Education. Retrieved August 20, 2020.
^"Academy of Art University". NCAA. Retrieved May 11, 2016.
^ abGarcia, Rob. "ART U Track & Field Announces New Coaching Staff". The PacWest. Retrieved May 22, 2016.
^Studholme, Billy (May 31, 2023). "San Francisco Shock finds new home in Academy of Art University campus". Esports Insider.
^2015 Universiade bio Archived April 6, 2016, at the Wayback Machine
^"Artworks of Henry Asencio". Crown Thorn Publishing. Retrieved January 24, 2013.
^"Legendary Star Wars Special Effects Makeup Artist Announces Retirement". Makeup Artist Edu. June 23, 2015. Retrieved May 22, 2016.
^ abKatie Baker (November 17, 2009). "Ask The Appeal: Does Academy Of Art University Have Any Notable Alumni?". San Francisco Appeal. Retrieved October 16, 2013.
^"The 2005 Pulitzer prize winners – feature photography: Deanne Fitzmaurice". The Pulitzer Prizes, Columbia University. Retrieved December 17, 2006.
^Vicky Jenson. ACME Film Works. Accessed June 2016.
^Dunhill, Heather. "Qs for Fashion Star's Kara Larick". Heather Dunhill's Fashion IQ. Sarasota Magazine. Archived from the original on August 23, 2012. Retrieved May 17, 2012.
^Sarah Gish (March 20, 2012). "My essentials: Kara Laricks of 'Fashion Star'". Ink Magazine. Retrieved October 16, 2013.
^"2009 Sonoma International Film Festival". ScreenDaily. Archived from the original on August 18, 2018. Retrieved March 28, 2009.
^Pierce, Alison (October 11, 2015). "Academy of Art University News: A Passion for Sculpture". academyartunews.com. Academy of Art University. Retrieved November 23, 2016.
^"Academy of Art's Epidemic Film Festival". San Francisco Chronicle. Retrieved September 2, 2014.
^"Jolene Marie Cholock Rotinsulu Kumparan Facts". Kumparan Magazine. June 20, 2019.
^"Guess What?: Rudi Soedjarwo: Leaving the old rules of movie making behind". Retrieved September 21, 2015.
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^. 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
^"Q&A: "Evening Magazine" co-hosts Jan Yanehiro and Richard Hart". San Francisco Chronicle. July 22, 2010. Retrieved September 2, 2014.
^"Sony Pictures to produce "Tehranis" by Director Kamshad Kushan". Payvand Iran News. Retrieved June 13, 2016.
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^"Witzend - groundbreaking 1960s indy comic with art by Wallace Wood, Art Spiegelman, and Frank Frazetta". BoingBoing. August 13, 2014. Retrieved September 2, 2014.
^"Artist Interview with Terryl Whitlatch". Copic. March 15, 2011. Archived from the original on December 12, 2013. Retrieved October 16, 2013.
^Josh Flynn (December 28, 2010). "Ready to Win". Slam Online. Retrieved October 16, 2013.
^Peter Hartlaub (July 22, 2010). "Yanehiro, Hart now at Academy of Art in S.F." San Francisco Chronicle. Retrieved October 16, 2013.