Expression College for Digital Arts Awarded National Accreditation

Expression College for Digital Arts, the premier school of its kind in the United States, today announced that it has been awarded National Accreditation by the ACCSCT (Accrediting Commission of Career Schools and Colleges of Technology). Accreditation is a means of assisting private career schools and colleges to become stronger and better institutions by setting standards of educational quality. Accreditation supports the efforts of institutions to achieve maximum educational effectiveness for students, employers and the public. Federally funded financial aid is not yet available. Please see your admissions representative for information about third party student loan opportunities.

Expression College’s national accreditation is the culmination of a three year process consisting of a comprehensive review of all academic and ancillary activities and resources that support an institution’s educational objectives and the programs it offers.

Expression’s CEO, Peter Laanen helped spearhead the process. “We’re delighted to have achieved this milestone. This Accreditation provides us with a ‘stamp of approval’ by the ACCSCT, signifying that we comply with the institutional standards of performance that are considered essential to a high-quality student education.”

The twelve major components of the accreditation process are the institution’s commitment and compliance with the ACCSCT standards, policies, and procedures which include:

* Program Length
* Instructional materials and equipment
* A Program Advisory Committee
* A Library/Resource Center
* Specific requirements of the Bachelor Degree Program
* Faculty qualifications
* Enrollment procedures
* College catalog
* Student Services
* Academic Satisfactory Progress
* Completion and Placement rates
* Financial Stability

In related news, Expression College has announced that a number of recent graduates have begun working in top Entertainment, Arts and Technology Industry positions. Recent placements include:

Sound Arts Students:

* Intern and Sound Designer, Sony Computer Entertainment of America
* Assistant Engineer, Media City Sound
* Polk Street Studios, Recording Engineer
* Gracenote, Program Manager
* Electronic Arts, Interns, Sound Designer, Assistant Engineer, Musical Director
* Mzmeriq, Studio Manager, Assistant Engineer
* Zoetrope Aubry Productions, Head Engineer
* Interactual, Quality Assurance Technician
* Mi Casa Multimedia, Assistant Engineer
* Sonic Solutions, Quality Assurance Technician, DVD Author
* Vision Audio, Assistant Engineer
* Soundelux, Post Production Intern

Digital Graphic Design Students:

* Chris Beckett, Video Editor, Electronic Arts
* Alexis Kershner, Graphic Designer, Think Twice Inc.
* Nat Kidder, Graphic Designer, Hub Strategy
* Claron Werner, Video Editor, Pearson Foundation
* Bryan Kohl, Graphic Designer, PRN
* Marisol Baltierra, Graphic Designer, Project Intern, Thrasher Magazine
* Rich Cabatic, Freelance Contractor, CBS News
* Jeff Castellana and Yung Ke Ton, Project Interns, Collaborate SF

Digital Visual Media:

* Hollin Calloway, Lighting, Palma vfx
* Salvador Ruiz, Mocap Animator, Stanford’s Medical Imaging
* Jill Warren, Production, Rearden Studios
* Brian Burke, Animator, Acuitus
* Tom del Campo, Apprentice, Rhythm & Hues
* Billy Shih, Paul Nguyen & Basel Bazlamit, Project Interns, Pixar
* Jeremy Bolan and Mike Leonard, WETA
* Chris Santeramo, Jamie Huey and 8 others, New Pencil

About the ACCSCT
The ACCSCT is a private, nonprofit, independent accrediting agency whose goal is maintaining educational quality in the career schools and colleges it accredits by striving to assure academic excellence and ethical practices. The ACCSCT is dedicated to the more than 360,000 students who annually pursue career education at its accredited institutions.

As an accrediting agency, the ACCSCT is responsible for assuring that member institutions and their educational programs are capable of preparing students for their chosen careers. The accrediting process also assures students and the public that high standards of career education are being met.

About Expression College for Digital Arts
Founded in 1999, Expression is a unique, fully licensed digital arts college. Expression College for Digital Arts teaches and grants Bachelor degrees in three programs: Sound Arts; Digital Visual Media (comprising 3DAnimation and Visual Effects); and Digital Graphic Design (emphasizing Broadcast Design and Motion Graphics.) Expression utilizes a professional accelerated program and students live and learn in the culture of digital arts for approximately 2.5 years. Each class is limited to a small number of students to insure excellent and hands-on learning and the student to computer ratio is one-to-one. Students are taught by and work with the best practitioners and equipment that the industry can offer. Expression’s close ties to top industry professionals provide students with real-world client projects, mentorship and internship opportunities and a top-rated career development track that has resulted in a 80+% placement rate for graduates. When graduates leave their Expression family behind, they are prepared to assume sought-after jobs in Silicon Valley, Hollywood, and other art and high technology centers around the world. Expression College is accredited by the Accrediting Commission for Career Schools and Colleges of Technology, (ACCSCT).

Expression College for Digital Arts’ campus is located in an imagination-inspiring 85,000-square-foot building, at 6601 Shellmound St. in Emeryville, Calif., just across the Bay Bridge from San Francisco. For more information, please visit Expression’s Website at: www.expression.edu.

Contact:
Karen Wertman, Director of Marketing
Expression College for Digital Arts