National Association of Schools of Art and Design Self-Study reports

National Association of Schools of Art and Design (NASAD), founded in 1944, is an organization of schools, colleges, and universities. The Association's main role is that of a specialized, professional accrediting agency. It has approximately 339 accredited institutional members. It establishes national standards for undergraduate and graduate degrees and other credentials. It is the national accrediting agency for art and design and art and design-related disciplines, and NASAD provides information to potential students and parents, consultations, statistical information, professional development; and policy analysis.

Accreditation is a process by which an institution or disciplinary unit within an institution periodically evaluates its work and seeks an independent judgment by peers that it achieves substantially its own educational objectives and meets the established standards of the body from which it seeks accreditation. Typically, the accreditation process includes 1) a self-evaluative description (self-study) of the institution or unit, 2) an on-site review by a team of evaluators, and 3) judgment by an accreditation decision-making body, normally called a Commission. Accreditation reviews focus on educational quality, institutional integrity, and educational improvements.