The Art Institutes to close 15 campuses

Los Angeles - The Art Institutes, which have various locations spread across the country, have announced that they are closing down 15 campuses over the next two years. The institutes have offered various courses in fashion, design, media and more with programs aimed at college students aiming to become professionals in the industry. Unfortunately as a result of the campus closures, the end result will ultimately lead to limited fashion choices for students.

Education Management Corp. (EDMC) made the announcement confirming that 15 of its Art Institute locations will close. The closures will happen over the next two years and will impact approximately 200 employees immediately, according to Pittsburgh Business Times. As reported by the publication however, EDMC’s headquarters, located in Pittsburgh, will not be directly affected. The decision came from a realignment strategy that will focus on reducing its 1.5 billion dollar debt. Ultimately, the goal is to re-focus on student and graduate programs for the Art Institutes.

EDMC plans to close 15 Art Institutes campuses in the next two years

Although the campuses have decided to close, most of the institutes are ensuring that their students will still receive their full education necessary to be successful. According to Deseret News, school spokesman Chris Hardman assured that the campuses will still remain open long enough for students to finish out their degrees. “We intend to fulfil our commitment to help our students achieve their education and career goals, putting them on the path to a life of creativity,” Hardman said in a statement. Currently, the amount of students at each location varies by city. One of the largest campuses to close will be the Art Institute of New York City, which has approximately 734 students, according to the Post Gazette. Other locations include campuses located in Washington, Pittsburgh, Decatur, Cincinnati, Atlanta, and more.

The closures come as somewhat as a surprise as the Art Institutes have continued to move forward with new programs. Just last year, the Art Institute system of schools had launched a new program entitled College Bound aimed for potential college students to pursue an education in the arts. “[The program] provides insight into how an engaging creative education can lead to a future in the design, media, [and] fashion [industries],” said Tim Moscato, chief operating officer of the Art Institutes. However, even though 15 campuses will close, there will still be 36 remaining Art Institutes open. As a result, the students will still have access to various creative students including fashion and design courses for the open campuses. The exact date of the campus closures is not yet stated, but by three years from 2016, it is expected that the 15 locations will shutter.

Photo: The Art Institutes