Art Institute of Boston Merging with Lesley College

Art Institute of Boston

Lesley College, Boston, MA

617.262.1223

Art Institute of Boston Merging with Lesley College

The Art Institute of Boston will become part of Lesley College, the two institutions announced October 7, 1998. Under a merger agreement approved by the boards of both schools, The Art Institute of Boston, one of the region's premiere private institutions providing professional education in the visual arts, will become a school within Cambridge-based Lesley. The merger is subject to regulatory approvals.

The Art Institute of Boston will retain its name, its current location in Boston's Kenmore Square, and its mission to provide comprehensive art education to students pursuing careers in the visual arts. The union will help each institution provide a broader spectrum of academic offerings to students, enable the establishment of new programs neither college could easily develop on its own, and permit operational efficiencies that will be used to increase investments in teaching, technology and facilities at AIB.

As a result of the merger, both institutions expect to increase future student enrollment and retention. "Joining with Lesley will enable us to raise an already strong visual arts program to the next level," said AIB President Stan Trecker. "We are choosing to affiliate with Lesley at this time from a position of strength. Our academic program is more competitive than ever, enrollment levels are at a 25-year high, and our financial health is robust.

"Combining forces will provide exciting opportunities for new majors and programs. Our students and faculty will see immediate and long-term educational benefits." Lesley President Margaret McKenna added: "AIB has a distinguished history and an even more promising future. AIB is now positioned to become one of the top arts colleges in the nation. By combining our strengths, Lesley and AIB will move in new directions for the benefit of our current and future students, and for the community as a whole."

Established in 1912, The Art Institute of Boston offers degree, diploma, certificate and continuing education programs in design, fine arts, illustration and photography. Its nearly 500 students are drawn from 33 states and 26 countries, The colleges' worldwide web sites can be found at www.lesley.edu and www.aiboston.edu.

This page was originally published 10/14/98 in Resource Library Magazine. Please see Resource Library's Overview section for more information. rev. 11/28/11

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