Jump to content

Rocky Mountain College of Art and Design: Difference between revisions

Edit links
Coordinates: 39°44′37″N 105°4′12″W / 39.74361°N 105.07000°W / 39.74361; -105.07000
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Browse history interactively
← Previous editNext edit →
Content deleted Content added
VisualWikitext
Jrubald (talk | contribs)
8 edits
Updated by marketing manager.
Tags: Reverted Visual edit
Jrubald (talk | contribs)
8 edits
No edit summary
Tags: Reverted Visual edit
Line 1: Line 1:
{{Short description|For-profit art school in Lakewood, Colorado}}
{{Short description|For-profit art school in Lakewood, Colorado}}
[[File:RMCAD Campus 024.jpg|left|341x341px|Image of the RMCAD Student Learning Center (SLC) and water-tower on the campus quad.]]
{{Infobox university
{{Infobox university
|name = Rocky Mountain College of Art + Design
|name = Rocky Mountain College of Art + Design
Line 29: Line 30:
|website = {{url|www.rmcad.edu}}
|website = {{url|www.rmcad.edu}}
}}
}}
[[File:RMCAD Night.jpg|thumb|RMCAD's Lakewood, Colorado Campus at night]]

Founded in 1963 by Denver-based artist [[Philip J. Steele]], Rocky Mountain College of Art + Design (RMCAD)<ref>{{Cite web |title=History |url=https://www.rmcad.edu/get-to-know-us/about-us/history/ |access-date=2023-12-01 |website=RMCAD |language=en-US}}</ref> is an accredited institution of higher education that offers degree programs focused on the [[Art school|arts]], design, education, technology, and business. RMCAD serves its students from a 23-acre campus in [[Lakewood, Colorado]]<ref>{{Cite web |title=Campus Map |url=https://www.rmcad.edu/get-to-know-us/campus-map/ |access-date=2023-12-01 |website=RMCAD |language=en-US}}</ref>, but also virtually, as a leader in online education for more than a decade. RMCAD offers courses taught by practicing industry professionals; an intimate learning environment; multimedia-rich online classes; and a beautiful historic campus. The school strives to allow artists and designers to find their voices, discover their paths, and thrive as professionals.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Academics - Rocky Mountain College of Art and Design |url=https://www.rmcad.edu/academics/ |access-date=2023-12-01 |website=RMCAD |language=en-US}}</ref>
Founded in 1963 by Denver-based artist [[Philip J. Steele]], Rocky Mountain College of Art + Design (RMCAD)<ref>{{Cite web |title=History |url=https://www.rmcad.edu/get-to-know-us/about-us/history/ |access-date=2023-12-01 |website=RMCAD |language=en-US}}</ref> is an accredited institution of higher education that offers degree programs focused on the [[Art school|arts]], design, education, technology, and business. RMCAD serves its students from a 23-acre campus in [[Lakewood, Colorado]]<ref>{{Cite web |title=Campus Map |url=https://www.rmcad.edu/get-to-know-us/campus-map/ |access-date=2023-12-01 |website=RMCAD |language=en-US}}</ref>, but also virtually, as a leader in online education for more than a decade. RMCAD offers courses taught by practicing industry professionals; an intimate learning environment; multimedia-rich online classes; and a beautiful historic campus. The school strives to allow artists and designers to find their voices, discover their paths, and thrive as professionals.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Academics - Rocky Mountain College of Art and Design |url=https://www.rmcad.edu/academics/ |access-date=2023-12-01 |website=RMCAD |language=en-US}}</ref>


Line 36: Line 35:


== History ==
== History ==
[[File:PhilipClass-2 swRevised (1).jpg|alt=RMCAD's founder Philip J. Steele teaching a class.|thumb|357x357px|RMCAD's founder Philip J. Steele teaching a class.]]
RMCAD was established in 1963 by [[Philip J. Steele]], an artist and educator. Steele was a lifelong artist and respected painter who was passionate about education. In January 1963, Philip J. Steele purchased the Art for All Studios school from Dorothea Seeley Shulenburg (1901-1975)<ref>{{Cite journal |date=1980-05-01 |title=Fill a Staff Position on Capitol Hill |url=http://dx.doi.org/10.1021/ac50056a807 |journal=Analytical Chemistry |volume=52 |issue=6 |pages=696A–696A |doi=10.1021/ac50056a807 |issn=0003-2700}}</ref>. Steele renamed the school "Rocky Mountain School of Art" as a proprietorship and later incorporated the school on September 11, 1972.<ref>{{Cite web |title=1972 RMSA Incorporation.pdf |url=https://drive.google.com/file/d/1SQYw6ti5O79YcmSUNywIQszA-IqCxmAM/view?usp=embed_facebook |access-date=2023-12-01 |website=Google Docs}}</ref>
RMCAD was established in 1963 by [[Philip J. Steele]], an artist and educator. Steele was a lifelong artist and respected painter who was passionate about education. In January 1963, Philip J. Steele purchased the Art for All Studios school from Dorothea Seeley Shulenburg (1901-1975)<ref>{{Cite journal |date=1980-05-01 |title=Fill a Staff Position on Capitol Hill |url=http://dx.doi.org/10.1021/ac50056a807 |journal=Analytical Chemistry |volume=52 |issue=6 |pages=696A–696A |doi=10.1021/ac50056a807 |issn=0003-2700}}</ref>. Steele renamed the school "Rocky Mountain School of Art" as a proprietorship and later incorporated the school on September 11, 1972.<ref>{{Cite web |title=1972 RMSA Incorporation.pdf |url=https://drive.google.com/file/d/1SQYw6ti5O79YcmSUNywIQszA-IqCxmAM/view?usp=embed_facebook |access-date=2023-12-01 |website=Google Docs}}</ref>


Line 83: Line 83:


== Campus ==
== Campus ==
[[File:RMCAD Campus 030.jpg|alt=Image of the RMCAD campus quad.|left|thumb|342x342px|Image of the RMCAD campus quad.]]
The Rocky Mountain College of Art + Design campus comprises 23 acres (9.3 ha). The campus is located in the 40 West Arts District close to [[Casa Bonita]]<ref>{{Cite web |title=Community Involvement |url=https://www.rmcad.edu/get-to-know-us/community-involvement/ |access-date=2023-12-01 |website=RMCAD |language=en-US}}</ref> in the city of [[Lakewood, Colorado]] which is between the city of [[Denver]] and the foothills of Colorado's [[Front Range]] mountains.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Lakewood |url=https://www.colorado.com/cities-and-towns/lakewood |access-date=2023-12-01 |website=Colorado.com |language=en}}</ref>
The Rocky Mountain College of Art + Design campus comprises 23 acres (9.3 ha). The campus is located in the 40 West Arts District close to [[Casa Bonita]]<ref>{{Cite web |title=Community Involvement |url=https://www.rmcad.edu/get-to-know-us/community-involvement/ |access-date=2023-12-01 |website=RMCAD |language=en-US}}</ref> in the city of [[Lakewood, Colorado]] which is between the city of [[Denver]] and the foothills of Colorado's [[Front Range]] mountains.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Lakewood |url=https://www.colorado.com/cities-and-towns/lakewood |access-date=2023-12-01 |website=Colorado.com |language=en}}</ref>


Revision as of 20:46, 1 December 2023

Image of the RMCAD Student Learning Center (SLC) and water-tower on the campus quad.
Image of the RMCAD Student Learning Center (SLC) and water-tower on the campus quad.
Rocky Mountain College of Art + Design
TypePrivate for-profit art school
Established1963
PresidentBrent Fitch
Academic staff
73 fulltime
Administrative staff
150
Location
Lakewood, Colorado
,
U.S.

39°44′37″N 105°4′12″W / 39.74361°N 105.07000°W / 39.74361; -105.07000
CampusUrban, 23 acres (9.3 ha)
ColorsOrange and black
NicknameRMCAD
Websitewww.rmcad.edu

Founded in 1963 by Denver-based artist Philip J. Steele, Rocky Mountain College of Art + Design (RMCAD)[1] is an accredited institution of higher education that offers degree programs focused on the arts, design, education, technology, and business. RMCAD serves its students from a 23-acre campus in Lakewood, Colorado[2], but also virtually, as a leader in online education for more than a decade. RMCAD offers courses taught by practicing industry professionals; an intimate learning environment; multimedia-rich online classes; and a beautiful historic campus. The school strives to allow artists and designers to find their voices, discover their paths, and thrive as professionals.[3]

RMCAD’s mission is to be “an innovative, rigorous, and community-oriented global learning environment that inspires the passion for critical thinking, preparing learners to be forces of change in their industries, communities, and the world.”[4]

History

RMCAD's founder Philip J. Steele teaching a class.
RMCAD's founder Philip J. Steele teaching a class.

RMCAD was established in 1963 by Philip J. Steele, an artist and educator. Steele was a lifelong artist and respected painter who was passionate about education. In January 1963, Philip J. Steele purchased the Art for All Studios school from Dorothea Seeley Shulenburg (1901-1975)[5]. Steele renamed the school "Rocky Mountain School of Art" as a proprietorship and later incorporated the school on September 11, 1972.[6]

The college relocated several times as it increased enrollment. Relocating from downtown Denver to 6875 East Evans Avenue in southeast Denver. In 1983, the “Rocky Mountain School of Art” changed its name to the “Rocky Mountain College of Art + Design.” In 1990, RMCAD received accreditation from Colorado’s Degree Authorization Act as a “Private College or University,” and began conferring baccalaureate degrees to graduating students[7]. RMCAD is now located on a historic campus at 1600 Pierce Street in Lakewood, Colorado, where it has been since 2003. [8]

Academics

RMCAD offers online and in-person modalities for students with 10 online and 10 in-person bachelor’s programs[9], as well as one 18-credit certificate in Digital Photography[10], available in both modalities. RMCAD follows a term schedule comprising six, eight-week-long terms that are either A or B terms of Spring, Summer, or Fall.

The following programs are available on campus and online unless otherwise noted:

  • Animation - RMCAD offers a Bachelor's of Fine Arts (BFA) for both 2D and 3D animation. Each path educates students on character design, rigging, modeling, lighting, and environmental design.[11]
  • Art Education - AE students receive a BFA that prioritizes the skills of creativity, leadership, and student evaluation. Art education students can choose between four concentrations: animation, fine arts, graphic design, or illustration.[12]
  • Fashion Design - Graduates of this program will be proficient in draping, fashion illustration, and computer-aided design skills.
  • Fine Arts (campus-only) - The Fine Arts program is available only to in-person students, where they can study printmaking, ceramics, painting, and more.[13]
  • Game Art - Students with a BFA in game art learn how to create the visual assets necessary to create the look and feel of a video game, such as texture mapping, lighting, and rigging.[14]
  • Graphic Design - This BFA in graphic design teaches students how to solve design-based problems in the working world with skills such as UX/UI, typography, and visual storytelling.[15]
  • Illustration - Students receive an in-depth look into the world of hand and digital drawing and may choose an emphasis in children’s book art, concept art, or sequential art.[16]
  • Illustrative Design - Combining illustration and graphic design, this BFA focuses on typography, layout, and design systems. [17]
  • Interior Design - Interior Design students have the choice of pursuing an environmental design concentration from RMCAD’s BFA that is accredited by CIDA.[18]
  • Music Production (online-only) - The Music Production program is offered exclusively online and offers a space for students to experiment with cutting-edge DAWs and learn about music history and music business ethics.[19]
  • Photography - RMCAD offers a Bachelor of Fine Arts in Photography and a certificate in Digital Photography, giving students a fantastic starting point in their photography careers. Highlights of the BFA include cinematography, post-production, visual storytelling, and lighting design.[20]

Modalities

Campus

RMCAD’s campus is located In Lakewood, Colorado. When they’re not devoting time toward art and design projects, many students work nearby, and most spend their free time enjoying the cultural and recreational opportunities around Denver. Blended learning experience encourages on-campus students to take online classes as well, ensuring that all students have access to the tools and technology they need to succeed. Additionally, students get involved by attending on-campus or virtual events, joining clubs and organizations, or participating in the Explore Colorado program.

Online Learning

RMCAD is proud of its commitment to online learning and has spent more than a decade ensuring its students are set up for success, no matter where they live in the world. Online students have just as much access to RMCAD resources as on-campus students, so it’s easy to stay connected and get involved through class discussions, virtual events, digital library files, and the mobile RMCAD app to stay connected with their peers.

Students

Student Life

RMCAD has a strong community of students both on campus and online. As the student body has grown, so has its clubs + organizations. RMCAD is home to multiple student organizations, including a hiking club, comics club, and PRISM an LGBTQ+ safe space. The school also offers chapters of the American Society of Interior Designers and the American Institute of Graphic Arts. With such a high population of online students, almost all RMCAD clubs are hybrid, encouraging student involvement from both modalities.[21]

When RMCAD students were asked to describe RMCAD in a phrase: 30% said “Unique”, 28% said “Out of the box thinkers”, and 11% said “Artsy.”[22]

Student Support Services

Campus administration has made student satisfaction a top priority at RMCAD. As such, students have many resources available to them.

  • The Palette is a one-stop-shop for students looking to get financial aid, advising, and enrollment questions answered.
  • The Mine is a free on-campus food bank for students who may be facing food insecurity. [23]
  • The Health + Wellness Center pairs both online and on-campus students with licensed healthcare professionals for mental health support. [24]
  • The Spectrum store provides students quick access to art supplies and RMCAD-branded merchandise on-campus and online. [25]
  • Transportation is also available to on-campus students for pick up at predetermined locations, as well as an RTD transit card.[26]
  • RMCAD’s Student Ambassadors are full-time students from both online and campus modalities who build community as peer mentors and event hosts.[27]

Campus

Image of the RMCAD campus quad.
Image of the RMCAD campus quad.

The Rocky Mountain College of Art + Design campus comprises 23 acres (9.3 ha). The campus is located in the 40 West Arts District close to Casa Bonita[28] in the city of Lakewood, Colorado which is between the city of Denver and the foothills of Colorado's Front Range mountains.[29]

Formerly the campus for the Jewish Consumptives' Relief Society (JCRS) and its successor organization, the American Medical Center, RMCAD’s campus houses multiple buildings from the early 20th century[30] and is a designated National Historic District. It is included in the National Register of Historic Places listings in Jefferson County, Colorado[31]. Currently, the campus has 17 structures, 11 of which are devoted to classrooms, common areas, and other support spaces, including four galleries and studio spaces.

Spivak Student Studios

Named after the Jewish Consumptives' Relief Society's founder Dr. Charles Spivak, the Spivak Student Studios are a space for RMCAD’s upperclassmen to explore and create their unique artwork and designs. Comprising 12 spaces, this studio can house up to 24 artists at one time[32]. The Spivak Studios encourage healthy competition by opening applications each term (six times a year) for students to earn one of the coveted on-campus studios that allow them to have a designated space to create.

Classroom Studios

RMCAD houses three working facilities available to students, including the Carpenter Woodshop, Neusteter Ceramics Studio, and the RMCAD FabLab (pictured above with students and faculty utilizing the Vacuform). These facilities offer instructional spaces and provide students with unique tools likely not available at home. From circular saws to pottery wheels, 3D printers, and laser cutters, these tools prepare graduating students for the working world with today’s cutting-edge technology.

Student Learning Commons

The Student Learning Commons (SLC) is housed in the Triboro building. The SLC houses The Hugh Thurlow Memorial Library and 14,000 titles[33]. Resources are made available with both physical and digital copies that students may reserve, as well as peer tutors that offer assistance to students struggling with classroom material.

Mary Harris Auditorium

The Mary Harris Auditorium is a small venue that hosts several events throughout the academic year, such as RMCAD’s Visiting Artist, Scholar & Designer Program (VASD), Design Slam, and so much more. This building also holds both the east and west wings of the Philip J. Steele Gallery.

RMCAD Sculpture Garden

Not all of RMCAD’s art is indoors! The RMCAD sculpture garden is comprised of multiple works from both fine arts faculty and alumni. These sculptures are on display and free to view publicly during campus hours.

Galleries

The campus has three main galleries: the Philip J. Steele Gallery, the Rude Gallery, and the Rotunda Gallery[34]. The Philip J. Steele Gallery is the largest on campus and is named after the college's founder, The Rude Gallery is a more intimate space, and the Rotunda is a mid-sized gallery with great natural light! There are two rotating on-campus student galleries, one in the EPiC building, and another in the Spivak Student Studios. Additionally, the RMCAD website houses two online galleries—the Focal Point Gallery and the Graphite Gallery. Both showcase student work and are accessible around the world.

Notable Alumni

Over the last 60 years, RMCAD alumni have gone on to influence dozens of industries with their creativity. With the RMCAD Renew program, all alumni are invited back to RMCAD to audit classes in their original degree program to ensure they stay on the cutting edge of their industry.  Notable alumni who have graduated from the Rocky Mountain College of Art + Design include:

  • Xi Zhang, Fine Arts (2008)
  • Luke Flowers, Illustration (2000)
  • Paul Trani, Illustration (1995)
  • Jenny Morgan, Fine Arts + Illustration (2003)

Notable Events

The Rocky Mountain College of Art + Design hosts multiple recurring events each year, which include the following.[35]

  • Visiting Artist Scholar & Designer Program (VASD) - Artists, scholars, and designers from around the globe are welcomed to RMCAD to share their cutting-edge techniques and philosophies with RMCAD students.
  • Radiance Awards - Distinguished RMCAD alumni who have contributed significantly to their creative industry since graduating are honored at this biannual awards show.
  • Explore Colorado - Designed to allow students to explore together off campus, this program takes students to events throughout the city of Denver and beyond. Ranging from hockey games and ballets, to ski days and ghost tours, Explore Colorado has something for everyone.
  • Artist Alley - Designed to give students experience in selling their original work, Artist Alley is a tri-annual market where students sell their unique creations.
  • RMCAD Day of Service - Each year, RMCAD gives back to the community by volunteering at multiple locations throughout the city, all in one day!
  • RMCAD Fashion Show - Each fall, fashion design students exhibit their work at an off-campus fashion show. Open to the community, students display their garments on the runway.
  • Red Shoe Guild Awards- The Illustration department awards students who submit original works for exhibition each year. The winning illustrations are not only displayed on-campus but are selected to compete against one another for titles such as “Best of Show,” “Best Storytelling,” and “Best Use of Media.”
  • Design Slam- Design Slam is a live event where students from multiple regional schools compete head-to-head at solving visual problems under pressure. Competitors face off in front of a live audience with just 15 minutes to create a design that satisfies the initial prompt. A panel of judges then assesses the fundamentals of design in each of the works before selecting a winner!

Accreditations

Rocky Mountain College of Art + Design is institutionally accredited by the Higher Learning Commission (HLC) and is a member of the North Central Association of Colleges and Schools (NCA)[36]. RMCAD is an accredited institutional member of the National Association of Schools of Art and Design (NASAD)[37] and a member of the National Council for State Authorization Reciprocity Agreements (NC-SARA). [38]

Interior Design

The Interior Design program is accredited by the Council for Interior Design Accreditation (CIDA). [39]

The CIDA-accredited program prepares students for entry-level interior design practice, advanced study, and to apply for membership in professional interior design organizations. To view student achievement data, click here.

RMCAD’s  Bachelor of Fine Arts in Interior Design  meets the educational requirement for eligibility to sit for the National Council for Interior Design Qualification Examination (NCIDQ Exam).

Art Education

RMCAD’s Art Education program is accredited by the Colorado Commission on Higher Education and the Colorado Department of Education.

Military Affiliation

RMCAD is approved by the Colorado Office of Veterans Education & Training, an organization governed by the State Board for Community Colleges and Occupational Education (SBCCOE).

RMCAD is approved for Army, Air Force, Coast Guard, Marine Corps, Navy, and U.S. government tuition assistance through the DODMOU, ID #00764900.[40]

References

  1. ^ "History". RMCAD. Retrieved 2023-12-01.
  2. ^ "Campus Map". RMCAD. Retrieved 2023-12-01.
  3. ^ "Academics - Rocky Mountain College of Art and Design". RMCAD. Retrieved 2023-12-01.
  4. ^ "Mission + Values". RMCAD. Retrieved 2023-12-01.
  5. ^ "Fill a Staff Position on Capitol Hill". Analytical Chemistry. 52 (6): 696A–696A. 1980-05-01. doi:10.1021/ac50056a807. ISSN 0003-2700.
  6. ^ "1972 RMSA Incorporation.pdf". Google Docs. Retrieved 2023-12-01.
  7. ^ "Accreditation". RMCAD. Retrieved 2023-12-01.
  8. ^ "History". RMCAD. Retrieved 2023-12-01.
  9. ^ "Academics - Rocky Mountain College of Art and Design". RMCAD. Retrieved 2023-12-01.
  10. ^ "Digital Photography Certificate - RMCAD.edu". RMCAD. Retrieved 2023-12-01.
  11. ^ "Animation - Simplified - Rocky Mountain College of Art and Design". RMCAD. Retrieved 2023-12-01.
  12. ^ "Art Education Degree | Learn to Teach Art K-12 at RMCAD". RMCAD. Retrieved 2023-12-01.
  13. ^ "Fine Arts Degree - Rocky Mountain College of Art and Design". RMCAD. Retrieved 2023-12-01.
  14. ^ "Game Design School | Game Design and Development at RMCAD". RMCAD. Retrieved 2023-12-01.
  15. ^ "Graphic Design Degree - Rocky Mountain College of Art and Design". RMCAD. Retrieved 2023-12-01.
  16. ^ "Bachelor Of Fine Arts in Illustration | RMCAD School of Arts". RMCAD. Retrieved 2023-12-01.
  17. ^ "Illustrative Design - Simplified - Rocky Mountain College of Art and Design". RMCAD. Retrieved 2023-12-01.
  18. ^ "Interior Design - Simplified Program - Rocky Mountain College of Art and Design". RMCAD. Retrieved 2023-12-01.
  19. ^ "Music Production Online - Simplified". RMCAD. Retrieved 2023-12-01.
  20. ^ "Photography - Simplified - Rocky Mountain College of Art and Design". RMCAD. Retrieved 2023-12-01.
  21. ^ "Clubs + Organizations". RMCAD. Retrieved 2023-12-01.
  22. ^ "Rocky Mountain College of Art & Design Student Life". Niche. Retrieved 2023-12-01.
  23. ^ "Student Resources". RMCAD. Retrieved 2023-12-01.
  24. ^ "Health + Wellness Center". RMCAD. Retrieved 2023-12-01.
  25. ^ "Student Resources". RMCAD. Retrieved 2023-12-01.
  26. ^ "RTD Pass". RMCAD. Retrieved 2023-12-01.
  27. ^ "Student Ambassadors". RMCAD. Retrieved 2023-12-01.
  28. ^ "Community Involvement". RMCAD. Retrieved 2023-12-01.
  29. ^ "Lakewood". Colorado.com. Retrieved 2023-12-01.
  30. ^ "Collection: Jewish Consumptives' Relief Society Records | Archives @ DU Catalog". duarchives.coalliance.org. Retrieved 2023-12-01.
  31. ^ "NPGallery Digital Asset Managment System".
  32. ^ "Spivak Student Studios". RMCAD. Retrieved 2023-12-01.
  33. ^ "Learning Commons". RMCAD. Retrieved 2023-12-01.
  34. ^ "Galleries". RMCAD. Retrieved 2023-12-01.
  35. ^ "Events Archive". RMCAD. 2023-12. Retrieved 2023-12-01. {{cite web}}: Check date values in: |date= (help)
  36. ^ "Higher Learning Commission". www.hlcommission.org. Retrieved 2023-12-01.
  37. ^ "Accredited Institutions Search". National Association of Schools of Art and Design. Retrieved 2023-12-01.
  38. ^ "NC-Sara Directory | NC-SARA". nc-sara.org. Retrieved 2023-12-01.
  39. ^ "Accredited Programs". CIDA. Retrieved 2023-12-01.
  40. ^ "Participating Institutions". www.dodmou.com. Retrieved 2023-12-01.
Wikimedia Commons has media related to Rocky Mountain College of Art and Design.
Retrieved from "https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Rocky_Mountain_College_of_Art_and_Design&oldid=1187850766"