Academy of Art University

Short description: For-profit art school in San Francisco, USA

Academy of Art University (AAU or ART U)

Former name

| Academy of Advertising Art,
Richard Stephens Academy of Art,
Academy of Art College
Motto| Built by artists for artists
Type| Private for-profit art school
Established| 1929
President| Elisa Stephens

Academic staff

| 126 full-time
492 part-time
Students| 6,786
Undergraduates| 4,555[1]
Postgraduates| 2,231
Location|

San Francisco

California

United States

Campus| Urban and online
|u}}rs| Black and Red

Sporting affiliations

| NCAA Division II
Website| academyart.edu

The Academy of Art University (ART U), formerly Academy of Art College and Richard Stephens Academy of Art, is a private for-profit art school in San Francisco, California . It was founded as the Academy of Advertising Art by Richard S. Stephens in 1929.[2] 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.[3] 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.[4]

## Contents

* 1 History
* 2 Academics
* 3 Athletics
* 4 Notable alumni
* 5 Notable faculty
* 6 See also
* 7 References

## History

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,[8] led it until 1951 when his son Richard A. Stephens took over. In 1992, Stephens was replaced by his daughter, Elisa Stephens.[9][6] Under her presidency, student numbers increased to 18,000 by 2011.[10]

The university owns and operates the Academy of Art University Automobile Museum with 200 vintage cars, a collection that started in the 1990s.[11][12][13]

The school has been participating in the NY Fashion Week event bi-annually since 2005.[14][15][16] Every year, the university hosts a spring show that highlights student work from the school's 75 disciplines.[17]

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.[18][19][20][21][22] The former employees sued the school in U.S. District Court in Oakland in 2009.[20]

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.[20][22][23][24] 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.[25][26] In January 2020, the agreement was amended, requiring the Academy of Art University to pay $37.6 million to build affordable housing.[22][27]

## Academics

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.[20]

Academy of Art University received regional accreditation from the Western Association of Schools and Colleges (WASC) in 2007.[31] The WASC does not require schools to disclose job placement figures.[20] In interior architecture and design, the Bachelor of Fine Arts degree (taught or online) and Master of Fine Arts degree are accredited by the Council for Interior Design Accreditation.[32] The Master of Architecture degree has, since January 1, 2006, been accredited by the National Architectural Accrediting Board while the Bachelor of Architecture program was granted as of January 1, 2015.[33][34]

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.[19]

## Athletics

The school sports teams, the Urban Knights, compete as members of the Pacific West Conference in 14 sports in NCAA Division II.[37]

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]

## Notable alumni

* Mobolade Ajomale, Canadian Olympic sprinter[40]
* Henry Asencio, figurative painter[41]
* Rick Baker, winner of an Academy Award for Best Makeup and Hairstyling and special effects for An American Werewolf in London[42]
* Deanne Fitzmaurice, photographer and photojournalist, winner of a 2005 Pulitzer Prize[43][44]
* Vicky Jenson, film director[45]
* Kara Laricks, fashion designer[46][47]
* Bilal Lashari, Pakistani film director and cinematographer
* Cheol-ha Lee, film director[48]
* Chris Milk, music video director and photographer[43][49]
* Mark Newman, sculptor[50]
* Rodrigo Prieto, cinematographer[51]
* Jolene Marie Cholock-Rotinsulu, Indonesian actress, TV commercial model, singer, Puteri Indonesia 2019 and Miss International Indonesia 2019[52]
* Rudianto Soedjarwo, Indonesian film director, film and television movie producer, cinematographer, graphic designer and film maker[53]
* Raven-Symoné, actress and singer
* Agnieszka Pilat, artist

## Notable faculty

Past and present faculty of the school include:

* Diane Baker, actress[54]
* Tom Bertino, animator[55][56]
* Michael Brandt, co-founder of Nootrobox[57][58]
* James Claussen, lithographer and abstract painter[59]
* Richard Hart, journalist[60]
* Kamshad Kooshan, movie writer & director[61]
* Tim McGovern, Academy Award-winning visual effects director[62]
* Adam Savage, creator of Myth Busters[63]
* Peter Schifrin (born 1958), Olympic fencer and sculptor
* Art Spiegelman, cartoonist[64]
* Terryl Whitlatch, illustrator[65]
* Lindsey Yamasaki, basketball player[66]
* Jan Yanehiro, television journalist[67]
* Jana Sue Memel, film producer, director, & writer[68]
* Jack Perez, director and writer[69]

## See also

* List of colleges and universities in California

## References

1. ↑ 1.0 1.1 1.2 Academy of Art University. College Navigator. National Center for Education Statistics. Accessed October 2023.
2. ↑ "The Academy of Art University is a school with a soul". National Collegiate Athletic Association. http://fs.ncaa.org/Docs/NCAANewsArchive/2011/march/the+academy+of+art+university+is+a+school+with+a+souldf30.html.
3. ↑ "Who We Are". Academy of Art University website. http://www.academyart.edu/whoweare.html.
4. ↑ John Cote (November 15, 2010). "Academy of Art land use violations ignored". San Francisco Chronicle. http://www.sfgate.com/bayarea/article/Academy-of-Art-land-use-violations-ignored-4042626.php.
5. ↑ Cifuentes, Kevin (5 May 2022). "French-inspired "quintessential Woodside" estate of controversial former Academy of Art President asks $22.5 million". https://therealdeal.com/sanfrancisco/2022/05/05/ask-on-late-academy-of-art-university-presidents-woodside-estate-down-to-22-5m/.
6. ↑ 6.0 6.1 Brickman, Sophie (2011-05-22). "Elisa Stephens of Academy of Art University". San Francisco Chronicle. http://www.sfgate.com/style/objectsofaffection/article/Elisa-Stephens-of-Academy-of-Art-University-2370987.php.
7. ↑ Whiting, Sam (14 June 2017). "Richard Stephens, Academy of Art president, real estate mogul, dies". SFGATE. https://www.sfgate.com/bayarea/article/Richard-Stephens-Academy-of-Art-president-real-11220779.php.
8. ↑ "Our Leadership". https://www.academyart.edu/about-us/our-leadership/.
9. ↑ Savchuk, Katia. "Black Arts: The $800 Million Family Selling Art Degrees and False Hopes" (in en). Forbes. https://www.forbes.com/sites/katiasavchuk/2015/08/19/black-arts-the-800-million-family-selling-art-degrees-and-false-hopes/.
10. ↑ Lee Romney (July 9, 2012). "San Francisco rule would encourage building student housing". Los Angeles Times. http://articles.latimes.com/2012/jul/09/local/la-me-sf-student-housing-20120709.
11. ↑ Clark, Meaghan (12 March 2015). "Just How Much is Academy of Art's Vintage Car Collection Worth?". The Bold Italic. https://thebolditalic.com/just-how-much-is-academy-of-art-s-vintage-car-collection-worth-the-bold-italic-san-francisco-32cc8bfa70ac#.rvmgne6wx.
12. ↑ "Classic cars go on display at the Academy of Art University". ABC7 San Francisco. http://abc7news.com/archive/8450519/.
13. ↑ "Join the Chronicle VIP party at the 57th annual International Auto Show". San Francisco Chronicle. http://www.sfchronicle.com/promotions/article/Join-the-Chronicle-VIP-party-at-the-57th-annual-5837753.php.
14. ↑ "Mercedes-Benz Fashion Week". http://mbfashionweek.com/designers/academy-of-art-university.
15. ↑ "Academy of Art University (San Francisco, CA, United States)". Fashionista. 2016. http://fashionista.com/page/academy-of-art-university.
16. ↑ "FashionLedge.com". http://www.fashionledge.com/fashionweek/designer_profile?Designer=S06-24&season=83.
17. ↑ "The Academy of Art University's Spring Shows Keeps on Springing". September 9, 2020. https://www.juxtapoz.com/news/in-session/the-academy-of-art-spring-shows-keeps-on-springing/.
18. ↑ Asimov, Nanette (18 February 2020). "'It's ruined my life': Academy of Art ex-student owes $431,000 and has no job". San Francisco Chronicle. https://www.sfchronicle.com/bayarea/article/Ex-students-blame-for-profit-Academy-of-Art-15061438.php.
19. ↑ 19.0 19.1 "Academy of Art could face federal trial over fraud suit" (in en-US). 2018-02-11. https://www.sfchronicle.com/education/article/Academy-of-Art-could-face-federal-trial-over-12604377.php.
20. ↑ 20.0 20.1 20.2 20.3 20.4 Savchuk, Katia. "Black Arts: The $800 Million Family Selling Art Degrees and False Hopes" (in en). https://www.forbes.com/sites/katiasavchuk/2015/08/19/black-arts-the-800-million-family-selling-art-degrees-and-false-hopes/.
21. ↑ "Fact Sheet: Protecting Students from Abusive Career Colleges | U.S. Department of Education". https://www.ed.gov/news/press-releases/fact-sheet-protecting-students-abusive-career-colleges.
22. ↑ 22.0 22.1 22.2 "Academy of Art could face federal trial over fraud suit" (in en-US). 2018-02-11. https://www.sfchronicle.com/education/article/Academy-of-Art-could-face-federal-trial-over-12604377.php.
23. ↑ Vic Lee (May 6, 2016). SF suing Academy of Art University for alleged permit violations. ABC News. Accessed June 2016.
24. ↑ Lee, Vic. "SF suing Academy of Art University for alleged permit violations". ABC News. http://abc7news.com/politics/sf-suing-academy-of-art-for-alleged-permit-violations/1327752/.
25. ↑ Brinklow, Adam (19 December 2016). "Academy of Art settles with city, pays $20 million in fees". Curbed. http://sf.curbed.com/2016/12/19/14009204/academy-of-art-settles-lawsuit0sf.
26. ↑ "Academy of Art agrees to $60 million settlement of SF lawsuit". San Francisco Chronicle. 19 December 2016. https://www.sfchronicle.com/bayarea/matier-ross/article/Academy-of-Art-agrees-to-60-million-settlement-10804028.php.
27. ↑ "Academy of Art University will pay San Francisco for the affordable housing it eliminated". 2020-01-08. https://www.sfchronicle.com/bayarea/article/Academy-of-Art-University-will-pay-San-Francisco-14957492.php.
28. ↑ 28.0 28.1 28.2 28.3 Academy of Art University. Peterson's. Accessed January 2014.
29. ↑ Home: Graduate Schools: Academy of Art University. Peterson's. Accessed January 2014.
30. ↑ 30.0 30.1 30.2 Academy of Art University. U.S. News & World Report. Archived 28 August 2016.
31. ↑ "Statement of accreditation status: Academy of Art University.". Accrediting Commission for Senior Colleges and Universities, Western Association of Schools and Colleges. July 19, 2007. https://www.wascsenior.org/institutions/academy-art-university.
32. ↑ "Accredited Program History". Council for Interior Design Accreditation. http://www.accredit-id.org/program-accreditation-history#A.
33. ↑ "Architecture programs: Academy of Art University". National Architectural Accrediting Board. 2006. http://www.naab.org/school-view/?record_id=27315.
34. ↑ "School View". http://www.naab.org/school-view/?record_id=27315.
35. ↑ 35.0 35.1 Katia Savchuk (September 7, 2015). Black Arts: The $800 Million Family Selling Art Degrees and False Hopes. Forbes magazine. Archived August 19, 2015.
36. ↑ "College Navigator - Academy of Art University". U.S. Department of Education. https://nces.ed.gov/collegenavigator/?id=108232#retgrad.
37. ↑ "Academy of Art University". NCAA. https://www.ncaa.com/schools/academy-of-art.
38. ↑ 38.0 38.1 Garcia, Rob. "ART U Track & Field Announces New Coaching Staff". The PacWest. http://thepacwest.com/news/2015/8/11/MTRACK_0811150942.aspx.
39. ↑ Studholme, Billy (31 May 2023). "San Francisco Shock finds new home in Academy of Art University campus". https://esportsinsider.com/2023/05/san-francisco-shock-academy-of-art.
40. ↑ 2015 Universiade bio
41. ↑ "Artworks of Henry Asencio". Crown Thorn Publishing. http://www.crownthornpublishing.com/info.php?aid=1&page=.
42. ↑ "Legendary Star Wars Special Effects Makeup Artist Announces Retirement". Makeup Artist Edu. June 23, 2015. http://www.makeupartistedu.org/2015/06/legendary-star-wars-special-effects-makeup-artist-announces-retirement/.
43. ↑ 43.0 43.1 Katie Baker (November 17, 2009). "Ask The Appeal: Does Academy Of Art University Have Any Notable Alumni?". San Francisco Appeal. http://sfappeal.com/2009/11/ask-the-appeal-does-academy-of-art-university-have-any-notable-alumni/.
44. ↑ "The 2005 Pulitzer prize winners – feature photography: Deanne Fitzmaurice.". The Pulitzer Prizes, Columbia University. http://www.pulitzer.org/biography/2005-Feature-Photography.
45. ↑ Vicky Jenson. ACME Film Works. Accessed June 2016.
46. ↑ Dunhill, Heather. "Qs for Fashion Star's Kara Larick". Heather Dunhill's Fashion IQ. Sarasota Magazine. http://sarasotamagazine.com/Blogs/Fashion-IQ/Qs-for-KARA-LARICKS.aspx.
47. ↑ Sarah Gish (March 20, 2012). "My essentials: Kara Laricks of 'Fashion Star'". Ink Magazine. http://www.inkkc.com/content/my-essentials-fashion-stars-kara-laricks/.
48. ↑ "2009 Sonoma International Film Festival". ScreenDaily. http://www.screendaily.com/ScreenDailyArticle.aspx?intStoryID=43616&Category.
49. ↑ "Chris Milk Official Site". San Francisco Chronicle. http://www.chrismilk.com/moving/.
50. ↑ Pierce, Alison (October 11, 2015). "Academy of Art University News: A Passion for Sculpture". Academy of Art University. http://academyartunews.com/newspaper/2015/10/a_passion_for_sculpt.html. Retrieved November 23, 2016.
51. ↑ "Academy of Art's Epidemic Film Festival". San Francisco Chronicle. http://www.sfgate.com/movies/article/Academy-of-Art-s-Epidemic-Film-Festival-5478516.php.
52. ↑ "Jolene Marie Cholock Rotinsulu Kumparan Facts". Kumparan Magazine. June 20, 2019. https://www.instagram.com/p/By7sYYDhCx-/.
53. ↑ "Guess What?: Rudi Soedjarwo: Leaving the old rules of movie making behind". http://www.thejakartapost.com/news/2015/04/11/guess-what-rudi-soedjarwo-leaving-old-rules-movie-making-behind.html.
54. ↑ Susan King (August 26, 2009). "For Diane Baker, one scene leads to 50 years". Los Angeles Times. http://articles.latimes.com/2009/aug/26/entertainment/et-classic-hollywood26.
55. ↑ "Tom Bertino". Nova Online. 1997. https://www.pbs.org/wgbh/nova/specialfx2/bertino.html.
56. ↑ "The Animated Side of Star Wars: An Interview With Rob Coleman, The Film's Animation Director". Animated World Network. August 1999. http://www.awn.com/mag/issue4.05/4.05pages/cohenwars.php3.
57. ↑ "A Pair of Entrepreneurs Focuses on 'Nutrients for Your Brain'". WeWork. June 18, 2015. https://creator.wework.com/inspiration/a-pair-of-entrepreneurs-focuses-on-nutrients-for-your-brain/.
58. ↑ "This Twenty-Something Ditched His Dream Job At Google And Now He Has A Startup That Sells Brain-Enhancing Pills". August 6, 2014. http://www.businessinsider.com/former-google-apm-michael-brandt-2014-8.
59. ↑ . 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
60. ↑ "Q&A: "Evening Magazine" co-hosts Jan Yanehiro and Richard Hart". San Francisco Chronicle. July 22, 2010. http://blog.sfgate.com/parenting/2010/07/22/qa-evening-magazine-co-hosts-jan-yanehiro-and-richard-hart/.
61. ↑ "Sony Pictures to produce "Tehranis" by Director Kamshad Kushan". Payvand Iran News. http://www.payvand.com/news/11/jul/1310.html.
62. ↑ "Tim McGovern". Visual Effects Society. https://www.visualeffectssociety.com/users/tmcgovern.
63. ↑ "Jamie Hyneman and Adam Savage". Discovery. http://www.discovery.com/tv-shows/unchained-reaction/adam-and-jamie-bios/.
64. ↑ "Witzend - groundbreaking 1960s indy comic with art by Wallace Wood, Art Spiegelman, and Frank Frazetta". BoingBoing. August 13, 2014. http://boingboing.net/2014/08/13/witzend-groundbreaking-1960.html.
65. ↑ "Artist Interview with Terryl Whitlatch". Copic. March 15, 2011. http://www.copicmarker.com/concept-illustrator-terryl-whitlach.
66. ↑ Josh Flynn (December 28, 2010). "Ready to Win". Slam Online. http://www.slamonline.com/online/other-ballers/womens/2010/12/ready-to-win/.
67. ↑ Peter Hartlaub (July 22, 2010). "Yanehiro, Hart now at Academy of Art in S.F.". San Francisco Chronicle. http://www.sfgate.com/entertainment/article/Yanehiro-Hart-now-at-Academy-of-Art-in-S-F-3180526.php.
68. ↑ "Faculty". Academy of Art. https://www.academyart.edu/academics/motion-pictures-television/faculty/.
69. ↑ "Film Director Jack Perez on "Where's Roman"". Apple Podcasts. https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/film-director-jack-perez-on-wheres-roman/id1109083420?i=1000368403401.

* v
* t
* e

San Francisco schools

San Francisco USD

Comp. high schools|

* Balboa
* Burton
* Galileo Academy of Science and Technology
* Abraham Lincoln
* Marshall Academic
* Mission
* O'Connell of Technology
* Wallenberg Traditional
* George Washington

Alt/magnet high schools|

* Asawa School of the Arts
* Lowell

Charter high schools|

* Leadership

Elementary schools|

* Chinese Immersion School at De Avila

Superintendents|

* William Langdon
* Ramon C. Cortines
* Bill Rojas
* Richard Carranza

Independent schools

Secular private schools|

* La Scuola Int'l
* Bay
* Katherine Delmar Burke
* Chinese American Int'l
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* Int'l H.S. of S.F.
* Lycée Français
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* Town School for Boys

Religious private schools|

* Archbishop Riordan J.S.
* Cathedral School for Boys
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* Immaculate Conception Acad.
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* Sacred Heart Cathedral Prep.
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* Stuart Hall for Boys
* Stuart Hall H.S.

Tertiary education

Undergraduate|

* City College of S.F.
* Golden Gate U.
* S.F. State U.
* U. of San Francisco

Creative and
culinary arts|

* Academy of Art U
* American Conservatory Theater
* Art Institute of Calif. S.F.
* Calif. College of the Arts
* Calif. Culinary Acad.
* S.F. Conservatory of Music
* S.F. Art Institute

Graduate|

* Alliant Int'l U
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* Golden Gate U.
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* S.F. Law School
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* U. of Calif., S.F.
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Other

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Supplementary schools|

* Japanese School of San Francisco

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