San Diego—March 10, 2014—NewSchool of Architecture & Design (NewSchool) is pleased to announce it has been granted initial accreditation by the Western Association of Schools and Colleges (WASC) Senior College and University Commission.

WASC accreditation indicates that NewSchool has met its rigorous standards for quality, institutional capacity, and educational effectiveness. This is the latest accreditation achieved by the school, which currently holds institutional accreditation from the Accrediting Council for Independent Colleges and Schools (ACICS) and programmatic accreditation for its professional architecture programs through the National Architectural Accrediting Board (NAAB).

“We are thrilled to receive this affirmation of NewSchool’s academic excellence and its ongoing commitment to high quality education for its students,” said Gregory J. Marick, president of NewSchool. “We are dedicated to being a global leader in design education and to providing an outstanding academic experience that prepares students for professional success.”

WASC is one of six regional associations that accredit public and private schools, colleges and universities in the United States. Through its review processes, WASC confirms that an institution has the resources, policies and practices in place to achieve its educational goals. As an example, WASC’s final letter to NewSchool recognized NewSchool’s focus on and understanding of student learning, success and outcomes.

The WASC visiting team commended NewSchool “for its ongoing development from being a single-purpose institution to a multi-focus architecture and design school as it adds new design programs”. NewSchool now offers product design, interior design, game art, game programming and animation programs that have been developed in collaboration with two highly-regarded design schools—Domus Academy in Milan, Italy, and Media Design School in Auckland, New Zealand. These programs contribute to the school’s unique mission to offer students a range of interdisciplinary and global experiences.