Art Institute stops accepting new students
The decades-old Art Institute of Fort Lauderdale, which has trained thousands in applied and creative arts since the 1970s, has stopped accepting students.
But the decision is for new students only, according to a memo to employees of the school’s parent, Dream Center Education Holdings. “Current, active students should continue to attend class as scheduled.”
The announcement came after the parent company examined its system’s finances and halted the application process at 30 of its schools nationwide. The company operates The Art Institutes, Argosy University and South University.
“Since acquiring these schools in late 2017, we have been undergoing an ongoing process of evaluating the viability of certain campus based programs relative to student needs and preferences in order to best support our stu--
dents, both present and future,” according to the memo, which appears on the company’s website. “As a result of that examination, we have made the decision to cease new enrollments for a number of schools within The Art Institutes, Argosy University, and South University systems.”
What remains unclear is the long-term future of the local school. Last month, The Art Institute of Fort Lauderdale conducted its 49th commencement ceremony, conferring degrees to more than 170 graduates. Shortly after the commencement, the school posted a note atop its website, declaring: “The Art Institute of Fort Lauderdale is currently not accepting new students.”
The note went on to refer would-be applicants to two affiliates: the Miami International University of Art & Design, and The Art Institute of Tampa, which is a branch of the Miami school. The site also gave applicants an option to contact the online division of The Art Institute of Pittsburgh.
Dream Center Education Holdings on Tuesday did not respond to questions submitted by email from the Sun Sentinel. A phone message left with the Art Institute’s registrar office was not returned.
“While we actively work with our accreditors and regulators to assess the viability of our current offerings at these locations, DCEH remains steadfast in our mission to provide students with accessible, affordable, relevant, and purposeful education aligned with market demands,” the memo said.