2023-2024 Academic Catalog [ARCHIVED CATALOG]
2023-2024 Academic Catalog |
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Welcome to Rocky Mountain College of Art + Design
Rocky Mountain College of Art + Design (RMCAD) was established in 1963 by Philip J. Steele, who had a mission to provide students with a quality higher education in art and design. RMCAD has grown a great deal since its comparatively modest beginnings and now thrives with our largest student body in the history of the college. We welcome all students to visit, learn, and create whether they choose to do so in our engaging online environment or on our historic campus which includes more than 23 acres of land and 16 unique buildings.
As we approach our 60th anniversary, we are committed to advancing our mission, and we remain dedicated to expanding the possibilities in unique higher education offerings. We offer a rich and diverse selection of accredited degrees, and we have been pioneering the online learning environment for art and design since 2010. Our engaging environment brings students together from all over the world to work with our esteemed faculty.
For our campus students, we provide courses both in the classroom and through our Learning Management System to suit their scheduling needs and give them the best of online and on-campus course delivery. As students graduate from RMCAD, they enter the professional world with a robust portfolio that sets them apart from others in their field.
Our commitment to giving each student the dedicated, personal attention they require along with the foundational education they need to thrive in their careers is what keeps RMCAD the leader in art and design education. The RMCAD community is filled with creativity and enlightenment: a place where we will continue to nurture the individual talents of each student; to develop critical thinking and analysis to integrate into their artwork; and to productively contribute in socially responsible ways to local, global, and professional communities.
Where creativity comes to life!
Gracious welcome,
Brent Fitch,
RMCAD President
Mission Statement
Rocky Mountain College of Art + Design is an innovative, rigorous, and community-oriented global learning environment that inspires passion for critical thinking, preparing learners to be forces of change in their industries, communities, and the world.
Vision
RMCAD will be a major university known as a destination for a diverse student body that impacts the world.
Values
- Our students come first
- We are a campus of professionals, innovators, and educators
- We welcome individuality and self-reflection
- We appreciate and celebrate our community
- We communicate our campus pride and excitement
- We are committed to consistent business processes and systems while fostering innovation
- We work toward creating a financially sustainable model of higher education that considers the interests of our multiple stakeholders
- We embrace a culture of leadership, trust, and communication
- We understand the importance of risk-taking and being adaptable to change
- We value professionalism and role modeling
Diversity Statement
Rocky Mountain College of Art + Design (RMCAD) maintains a policy of inclusiveness that recognizes, values, and reflects the diversity of the community it serves. As an academic institution, the college fosters a dynamic learning and working environment that encourages multiple perspectives and the free exchange of ideas. Diversity encompasses multiple dimensions, including but not limited to race, culture, nationality, ethnicity, religion, ideas, beliefs, geographic origin, class, sexual orientation, gender, gender identity and expression, disability, and age. Rocky Mountain College of Art + Design continually strives to build an inclusive and welcoming community of individuals with diverse vision, talents, and skills. We welcome people from a multitude of backgrounds who are committed to creativity, academic excellence, societal and cultural evolution and betterment, civility, mutual respect, social justice, and the free and open exchange of ideas. Rocky Mountain College of Art + Design commits itself to these tenants of change, growth, and action, which embrace diversity as an integral part of the academic and professional community.
Accreditation
Rocky Mountain College of Art + Design is accredited by The Higher Learning Commission (HLC)
Chicago, IL 60602-2504
Telephone: 800.621.7440 or 312.263.0456
Fax: 312.263.7462
www.hlcommission.org
Rocky Mountain College of Art + Design is an accredited institutional member of the National Association of Schools of Art and Design (NASAD). RMCAD’s degree offerings in Art + Design are accredited by the National Association of Schools of Art and Design (NASAD).
11250 Roger Bacon Drive, Suite 21
Reston, VA 20190-5248
Telephone: 703.437.0700
Fax: 703.437.6312
Email: info@arts.accredit.org
The on-campus and online Interior Design Program leading to the BFA is accredited by Council for Interior Design Accreditation (CIDA).
206 Granville Avenue, Suite 350
Grand Rapids, MI 49503
Telephone: 616.458.0400
Fax: 616.458.0460
www.accredit-id.org
The Art Education Program leading to the BFA is approved by Colorado Commission on Higher Education (CCHE) and the Colorado Department of Education (CDE). RMCAD’s Art Education BFA only allows graduates to become licensed to teach Art in the state of Colorado. Students seeking licensure outside of Colorado should contact their Academic Advisor for assistance in identifying the correct educational state agency.
State Office Building
201 East Colfax Avenue
Denver, Colorado 80203-1799
CDE Main Phone: 303.866.6600
CDE Main Fax: 303.830.0793
www.cde.state.co.us
General Information
Rocky Mountain College of Art + Design is a private college approved by the Colorado Commission on Higher Education.
Rocky Mountain College of Art + Design is a for-profit institution that is owned by Rocky Mountain College LLC.
Rocky Mountain College of Art + Design does not discriminate or make admissions decisions on the basis of race, ethnicity, religion, national origin, sex, sexual orientation, age, veteran status, ability, or any other status protected by law or regulation.
Title IX Compliance Officer:
Neely Patton
Vice President of Institutional Effectiveness and Title IX Coordinator
1600 Pierce St.
Lakewood, CO 80214
720.556.0438
Website: www.rmcad.edu
Location
RMCAD is located on 23 acres at the foot of the Rocky Mountains in Lakewood, Colorado. Looking east from campus, one can see downtown Denver’s skyline, and looking west, the Rocky Mountains. With a population of around three million people, Metro Denver offers a multitude of ways to spend free time, including museums, concert halls, shopping centers, entertainment districts, and more.
Campus Map
College Facilities
RMCAD’s distinctive campus includes more than 16 historical buildings built in a variety of 20th-century architectural styles—comprising more than 150,000 square feet of learning and creative space. The fully wireless campus offers numerous workstations for student use, utilizing both Windows and Mac platforms. Several “compact labs” are department-specific. All labs are connected to print centers, scanners, and network storage. Most of RMCAD’s computer labs are designed for multi-use by all departments, with specific labs designated for 3D and 2D animation, video and sound, multimedia, computer-aided drafting, and advanced special effects.
Special learning facilities include two wood shops, a ceramics studio, FabLab, a photography lab, a sewing lab, an interior design resource library, an auditorium, galleries, large meeting rooms, and the Library/Resource Center. The Philip J. Steele Gallery features a rotating schedule of exhibitions that include a mix of student, faculty, and alumni work, as well as displays by community groups and exhibitions by well-known visiting artists. Students can relax or study in the student lounge, take a break between classes on the grassy lawns under 100-year-old trees, or shop at the Spectrum store and grab a cup of coffee from the café.
State Authorization
RMCAD is a member of the State Authorization Reciprocity Agreement (SARA) and is allowed to offer distance education in states other than Colorado through this membership. Refer to SARA’s website for a current list of participating states at: http://www.nc-sara.org/sara-states-institutions. SARA only applies to distance education offered across state lines.
SARA also acts as a consumer protection agency when complaints arise regarding an institution’s distance learning outside of Colorado. Complaints regarding an institution’s actions regarding distance learning in states other than Colorado must first be brought to the attention of the institution. If a resolution is not reached, the complaint can be appealed to the Colorado state portal site for SARA within two years from the date that the initial complaint was made to the institution.
Colorado’s SARA portal can be found at http://highered.colorado.gov/Academics/SARA/. SARA only addresses distance learning with states outside of Colorado; SARA does not resolve complaints about grades or conduct violations.
Registration of Out of State Institution
The State of California established the Student Tuition Recovery Fund (STRF) to relieve or mitigate economic loss suffered by a student in an educational program at a qualifying institution, who is or was a California resident while enrolled, or was enrolled in a residency program, if the student enrolled in the institution, prepaid tuition, and suffered an economic loss. Unless relieved of the obligation to do so, you must pay the state-imposed assessment for the STRF, or it must be paid on your behalf, if you are a student in an educational program, who is a California resident, or are enrolled in a residency program, and prepay all or part of your tuition.
You are not eligible for protection from the STRF and you are not required to pay the STRF assessment, if you are not a California resident, or are not enrolled in a residency program.
It is important that you keep copies of your enrollment agreement, financial aid documents, receipts, or any other information that documents the amount paid to the school. Questions regarding the STRF may be directed to the Bureau for Private Postsecondary Education, 1747 North Market Blvd., Suite 225, (916) 574-8900 or (888) 370-7589.
To be eligible for STRF, you must be a California resident or are enrolled in a residency program, prepaid tuition, paid or deemed to have paid the STRF assessment, and suffered an economic loss as a result of any of the following:
- The institution, a location of the institution, or an educational program offered by the institution was closed or discontinued, and you did not choose to participate in a teach-out plan approved by the Bureau or did not complete a chosen teach-out plan approved by the Bureau.
- You were enrolled at an institution or a location of the institution within the 120-day period before the closure of the institution or location of the institution or were enrolled in an educational program within the 120-day period before the program was discontinued.
- You were enrolled at an institution or a location of the institution more than 120 days before the closure of the institution or location of the institution, in an educational program offered by the institution as to which the Bureau determined there was a· significant decline in the quality or value of the program more than 120 days before closure.
- The institution has been ordered to pay a refund by the Bureau but has failed to do so.
- The institution has failed to pay or reimburse loan proceeds under a federal student loan program as required by law or has failed to pay or reimburse proceeds received by the institution in excess of tuition and other costs.
- You have been awarded restitution, a refund, or other monetary awards by an arbitrator or court, based on a violation of this chapter by an institution or representative of an institution, but have been unable to collect the award from the institution.
- You sought legal counsel that resulted in the cancellation of one or more of your student loans and have an invoice for services rendered and evidence of the cancellation of the student loan or loans.
To qualify for STRF reimbursement, the application must be received within four (4) years from the date of the action or event that made the student eligible for recovery from STRF.
A student whose loan is revived by a loan holder or debt collector after a period of non-collection may, at any time, file a written application for recovery from STRF for the debt that would have otherwise been eligible for recovery. If it has been more than four (4) years since the action or event that made the student eligible, the student must have filed a written application for recovery within the original four (4) year period, unless the period has been extended by another act of law.
However, no claim can be paid to any student without a social security number or a taxpayer identification number.
Document Purpose Statement
The purpose of this catalog is to set forth the current rules, regulations, and policies of Rocky Mountain College of Art + Design. This catalog is specific to each academic year, and the most current edition is available on the RMCAD website. Although this catalog was prepared using the best information available at the time and while the provisions it contains will normally be applied as stated, the degrees, programs, and policies are subject to change or correction by the college without prior notice or obligation. This publication is not intended to be a contract between the student and RMCAD. However, students are bound by the policies, procedures, standards, and requirements stated herein, so long as they are in effect.
More specific details regarding the procedures administered by these policies are located in the Student Policies + Procedures | Student Information section. Students are responsible for knowing and abiding by the policies and procedures set forth in the catalog.
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