New York Film Academy Receives Regional Accreditation from WASC Senior College and University Commission

NEW YORK, July 26, 2019 /PRNewswire-PRWeb/ -- On June 28, 2019, New York Film Academy received accreditation from the WASC Senior College and University Commission (WSCUC). This accreditation applies to the institution as a whole, and covers its campuses in New York, Los Angeles and Miami, Fl.

WSCUC has been recognized by the U.S. Department of Education and by the Council for Higher Education Accreditation as a reliable authority concerning the quality of education provided by member institutions of higher education offering the associate degree, baccalaureate degree, and post-baccalaureate degrees.

WSCUC accreditation is the latest achievement for New York Film Academy (NYFA), which was founded in 1992 by producer Jerry Sherlock. Sherlock's vision was a school created for filmmakers by filmmakers, and he assembled a small group of young, talented artists--including current NYFA president Michael Young--to design the Academy and its curricula and faculty from the ground up into an institute whose mission was simple and clear: to help students make films.

"I am thrilled to see NYFA receive recognition for the unwavering efforts our dedicated staff and faculty have made throughout the years," NYFA's President, Michael Young, said of the recent WSCUC accreditation. "Our goal is and always has been to improve every day and we seek new ways to empower our students as visual storytellers and performing artists."

Originally located in the Tribeca Film Center, NYFA's first class had fifty students from across the globe; since then, NYFA has graduated thousands of visual and performing artists, and has maintained its diverse, international student body.

NYFA grew steadily in size and scope throughout the nineties and early part of the 21st century, expanding its campuses to Los Angeles; South Beach, Miami; and Australia, while also offering various programs in Europe, China, India, and the Middle East. In addition to short-term workshops across disciplines--including filmmaking, acting, photography, game design, and several others--NYFA has extended its curricula to summer camps, conservatories, and degree offerings for students looking to obtain associate, bachelor's, and master's degrees.

NYFA adds WSCUC to its existing accreditation through the National Association of Schools of Art and Design (NASAD). NASAD is the only specialized accrediting body for the field of art and design recognized by the U.S. Secretary of Education. WSCUC is one of seven regional accrediting agencies. Regional accreditation serves to assure the educational community, parents, students, employers, policymakers, and the public that an accredited institution has met high standards of quality and effectiveness. Students attending accredited institutions may be eligible to apply for U.S. federal financial aid. Accreditation also helps ensure that credits and degrees are generally recognized for purposes of transfer, admission to other institutions, and employment.

The overriding purpose of WSCUC accreditation is to assure stakeholders that a WSCUC-accredited institution has been rigorously evaluated and that it meets or exceeds the criteria required to maintain accreditation. In addition, the accreditation process is designed to build a culture of evidence, promote a commitment to institutional improvement, validate institutional integrity, and provide feedback that improves the accreditation process itself.

Review teams comprising experts and representatives from similar institutions evaluate an institution for initial or reaffirmation of accreditation. No institution in the U.S. is required to seek accreditation, but because of the recognized benefits of the process, most eligible institutions have sought to become accredited.

In taking this action to grant Initial Accreditation, the Commission confirms that New York Film Academy has addressed the three Core Commitments and has successfully completed the institutional review process for Initial Accreditation conducted under the 2013 Standards of Accreditation. The Core Commitments are to:

• Student Learning and Success
• Quality and Improvement
• Institutional Integrity, Sustainability, and Accountability

Accredited institutions recognize that the public has entrusted them with the critical responsibilities of upholding the values of higher education and contributing to the public good. They engage in sound business practices, demonstrate institutional integrity, operate in a transparent manner, and adapt to changing conditions.

Throughout its evolution, NYFA has attracted an unparalleled faculty of working, award-winning professionals, including Matthew Modine, Bill Duke, Lynda Goodfriend, Kristy Cates, Adam Nimoy, and Anthony B. Richmond, BSC, ASC, as well as a profusion of guest speakers and master class instructors like Steven Spielberg, Al Pacino, Glenn Close, Faye Dunaway, and countless others. With its commitment to first class education with state-of-the-art equipment, numerous NYFA alumni have gone on to great success, including Aubrey Plaza, Bill Hader, Issa Rae, Lana Condor, and Manuel Garcia-Rulfo.

About New York Film Academy
New York Film Academy (NYFA) is a leading visual and performing arts college that offers hands-on intensive programs across 15 areas of study in New York City, Los Angeles, South Beach/Miami, Gold Coast (Australia), Florence (Italy), and more. Degrees are offered at all three U.S. campuses. Thousands of aspiring artists come to study at the New York Film Academy each year from over 120 countries. For more information, please visit nyfa.edu.

SOURCE New York Film Academy