(January 9, 2009—Vermilion, Alta.) The results are in and it’s good news. After an extensive review process and three months of waiting, Lakeland College’s interior design technology program has been granted accreditation for another five years from the National Kitchen and Bath Association (NKBA).
NKBA certification is the gold standard in the kitchen and bath industry. Lakeland’s two-year diploma program offered at the Vermilion campus received its first endorsement from the NKBA in 1999. To date, it is the only NKBA accredited program in Canada and is just one of 42 accredited programs in North America.
As part of the recent accreditation process, NKBA representatives Sherylin Doyle, manager and academic relations, Sofeeka Hasiuk, certified kitchen designer (CKD) from the Art Institute of Philadelphia, and Chris Salas, CKD independent designer from Calgary, traveled to the Vermilion campus this fall. During their visit, they interviewed college administration, faculty, students and graduates from the interior design technology program. They also reviewed curriculum and an extensive display of student work.
The continuing endorsement from the NKBA speaks volumes to the calibre and quality of the interior design technology program at Lakeland, says Bert Samuelson, dean of the college’s trades and technology programs.
“The interior design technology program has many unique characteristics. As noted in the final accreditation report, one of its strengths is the faculty’s commitment and ability to integrate NKBA principles into the curriculum,” says Samuelson. “Instructors Cindi Plant, Greg Plant and Fiona McLeod institute cross functional learning between many of the courses which helps promote student success both in the classroom and in the professional field.”
Several Lakeland students have earned top honours in national and international student design competitions every year for the past six years. In 2008, a Lakeland student claimed a $5,000 prize in a national competition hosted by the NKBA and supported by General Electric. In 2007, a Lakeland student won the $10,000 grand prize in the Best of Broan Kitchen Design Competition.
Other advantages cited in the final report from the NKBA are group cohesiveness among students, strong support from college administration, ongoing program funding, and learning environments and space conducive for project work and study.
|
