The Art Institute of Fort Lauderdale

The Art Institute of Fort Lauderdale is a former for-profit art and culinary school in Fort Lauderdale, Florida which closed in 2018. The school was one of a number of Art Institutes, a franchise of for-profit art colleges with many branches in North America, owned and operated by Education Management Corporation. EDMC owned the college from 1973 until 2017, when, facing declining enrollment and accreditation issues at some of its schools, the company sold the Art Institute of Fort Lauderdale, along with other properties, to Dream Center Education, a Los Angeles-based Pentecostal organization.[1][2][3] Dream Center Education planned to operate the school, along with others it acquired, as a non-profit. The plan proved unsustainable, with Dream Center permanently closing 18 Art Institute schools, including Art Institute of Fort Lauderdale, at the end of 2018.[4]

The Art Institute of Fort Lauderdale
The universal Art Institute logo
Active1968–2018
FounderMark. K. Wheeler
Academic staff
113
Administrative staff
100+
Students1,000+
Undergraduates1,000+
Location
Fort Lauderdale
,
Florida
,
United States

26.100°N 80.122°W / 26.100; -80.122
ColorsRed and Black          
AffiliationsThe Art Institutes
ACF
ACICS
Websitewww.artinstitutes.edu/fort-lauderdale
Building

History

Beginning

The Art Institute of Fort Lauderdale was realized by Mark K. Wheeler and officially opened for admission in September 1968 in eastern Las Olas Boulevard, Fort Lauderdale. It would be the second Art Institute establishment following the Art Institute of Pittsburgh, founded in 1921; initially only offering diplomas in Commercial Art, Interior Design, and Fashion Illustration and remaining unaccredited. This status would span a duration of 18 months until in April 1971 when the college would be granted accreditation by the Accrediting Commission for Trade and Technical Schools of the Career College Association. Two years later, in November 1973, the school was purchased from Wheeler by the Education Management Corporation.[5]

Growth

In February 1975, two years after its purchase by the EDMC, the school became licensed by the State Board of Independent Postsecondary Vocational, Technical, Trade, and Business Schools. It wouldn't be for another four years in 1979, however, that the State of Florida officially recognized the school and gave it authorization to award Associate of Science degrees. For the next seven years, the college did not see any significant changes, until in May 1986 when the decision was made to relocate the school from Las Olas Boulevard to 1799 SE 17th Street. The following year, the State Board of Independent Colleges and Universities granted the school authorization to award Bachelor degrees and in 1989, the college broadened its facilities at 1650 SE 17 Street; establishing the modern campus it had until closing.[5]

Campus

The Art Institute of Fort Lauderdale campus offered programs in Design, Media Arts, Culinary and Fashion, and had a student-run restaurant the Chef's Palette. The school's library was the Nevin C. Meinhardt Memorial Library and its gallery, which was open to the public, is named after the school's founder, Mark K. Wheeler.

Student activities

Student government

The Art Institute of Fort Lauderdale offered student government participation and voting rights to all enrolled students at the college. Students were given the opportunity to help the faculty plan and organize social activities and events for recreational or educational purposes.[6]

Radio station

There has been no station for over 10 years. WAiF was the college's radio station for The Art Institute of Fort Lauderdale run by the students and faculty of the broadcasting department.[7]

Accreditation and licensing

Institutional accreditation

"The Art Institute of Fort Lauderdale is a senior college accredited by the Accrediting Council for Independent Colleges and Schools to award diplomas, associate’s degrees, and bachelor’s degrees." [8]

Programmatic accreditation

Notable alumni
  • David Diaz (illustrator) – children's book illustrator.
  • Tony DiTerlizzi – fantasy artist known for his work in the Spiderwick Chronicles.
  • Sam Fogarino – drummer of Interpol.
  • Carol Guzy – four-time Pulitzer Prize-winning photojournalist.
  • Elia Locardi – Travel photographer.
  • Roy Rossello - former member of Latin Boy Band Menudo, Singer, Actor, Host and Businessman.
  • Lisa Pickens Quinn – actress, author and set designer.
  • Venus Williams – fashion designer and professional tennis player.

See also

References
  1. Douglas-Gabriel, Danielle (3 March 2017). "Art Institute campuses to be sold to foundation". Retrieved 9 June 2018 – via www.washingtonpost.com.
  2. "Inside Higher Ed's News". www.insidehighered.com. Retrieved 9 June 2018.
  3. Moore, Daniel. "EDMC completes sale of schools to Dream Center". Pittsburgh Post-Gazette. Retrieved 2017-10-21.
  4. Sweeny, Dan (28 November 2018). "Whatever happened to the Art Institute of Fort Lauderdale?". South Florida Sun Sentinel. Retrieved 16 August 2019.
  5. History Archived 2006-05-24 at the Wayback Machine. https://www.artinstitutes.edu/fort-lauderdale. Retrieved 08-14-2008
  6. Student Government Archived 2008-07-20 at the Wayback Machine. aifl.edu. Retrieved 08-14-2008
  7. The WAiF. aiflradio.com. Retrieved 08-14-2008
  8. Accreditation Archived 2008-08-28 at the Wayback Machine. aifl.edu. Retrieved 08-14-2008
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