Art program receives first ‘seal of approval’

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By Ali Cicerchi

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After more than 30 years of talking about it, the UK Art Department received its first ever accreditation from the National Association of Schools of Art and Design.
The university’s art department is one of only three accredited in the state, and UK offers the only free-standing College of Fine Arts in Kentucky.
Provost Kumble Subbaswamy said voluntary accreditation programs like the department of art gained through NASDA are rare.
“It’s important to do it, if possible,” Subbaswamy said.

Many professions that involve professional degrees must have accreditation like medical degrees, architecture and engineering. In a way, accreditation is a “good housekeeping seal of approval,” Subbaswamy said.
The art department, which received accreditation in mid-October, began thinking of the idea in the 1970s and became closer to accreditation in the 1990s, but nothing became of that hope, said Department Chair Ben Withers.
Withers said through suggestions from the accreditation agency, the art department began to seriously try for accreditation, which included a proposal for renovations of the Reynolds Building.
Dean of the College of Fine Arts Robert Shay said the art department did the “lion’s share of the work.” Once the team made suggestions, he was then able to go to the administration and tell them what they needed.
“It was starting to be a little conspicuous that we were not on that list,” Shay said. “The university deserves more, and we are demanding more from faculty and students.”
Some students think the accreditation is a milestone for the department as well. Art studio senior Angie Shay said it is “a big step in the right direction,” and art studio junior Mike Ferrarell said he hopes the art department continues to get better.
“I think it’s good if we’re going to get better resources,” said Ferrarell, who admitted he didn’t think much about accreditation beforehand.
Withers said it does matter in some ways to be accredited.
“There are objective standards and this is showing you are meeting those standards,” he said.
Angie Shay said Withers always made sure the students knew their degrees were worth something with or without outside accreditation.
“It’s nice,” she said, “but I would have thought my degree was worth something without accreditation.”
While accreditation is not an option for some departments like history and English, Subbaswamy said students in accredited programs should care.
“When there is an agency accreditation, it matters to their employers when they go look for jobs,” Subbaswamy said.
The university has 42 undergraduate programs that are accredited by outside agencies. The university as a whole is accredited by the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools.

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