Memorandum of Understanding Bachelor of Fine Arts-Interior Design The Art Institute of Houston and El Centro College of the Dallas County Community College District

The intent of this agreement between the Art Institute of Houston and El Centro College (ECC), of the Dallas County Community College District (DCCCD), is to increase the number and quality of students matriculating from ECC into interior design disciplines at the Art Institute of Houston.  Concomitantly, this agreement is designed to foster enhanced transfer processes for ECC students pursuing a bachelor degree in Fine Arts.

This agreement recognizes the following terms and conditions:

1. Representatives from the Art Institute of Houston and ECC admission’s staff, academic advisors, and the Interior Design department will collaborate to select students for the program and will provide advising to students in the program.
2. The Art Institute of Houston faculty and staff will provide support to the Interior Design faculty at ECC through the sharing of course syllabi and other pertinent material.
3. Students who successfully complete the ECC Associate in Applied Sciences program will be able to transfer a block of at least 78 credit hours into the Art Institute of Houston degree.  The transfer courses must meet the Art Institute of Houston required GPA and the minimum grade for transferring to the Art Institute of Houston.  The Art Institute of Houston will accept all courses as outlined in the Art Institute of Houston/ECC Transfer Guide.
4. ECC students successfully completing the Associate in Applied Sciences program according to the Art Institute of Houston/ECC Transfer Guide will gain automatic admission to the Art Institute of Houston.
5. The Art Institute of Houston/ECC Transfer Guide, attached hereto and incorporated herein by reference as Exhibit A, will be reviewed and updated by ECC and the Art Institute of Houston faculty and advisors at least annually.  The Office of Transfer Services/Articulation and University Relations at DCCCD, Dean of Fine Arts at ECC, and the Dean of the Interior Design department at the Art Institute of Houston will approve changes.
6. The progress of this program will be monitored by both the Art Institute of Houston and ECC and may be revised by mutual agreement at any time.  Either party may terminate this agreement at any time when the said party believes that termination is in the best interest of all parties concerned.  Those students already participating in the program at the time of termination will have their coursework honored.
7. A copy of the Memorandum of Understanding and Articulation Agreement along with the Art Institute of Houston/ECC Equivalency Transfer Guide will be kept in the Office of Transfer Services/Articulation and University Relations at DCCCD, the Fine Arts office at ECC, and the Office of the Dean of Interior Design at the Art Institute of Houston.
8. Annually, the Art Institute of Houston and ECC will share data related to the enrollment, scholastic progress, and academic performance of former and active cooperative students in order to evaluate opportunities for improvement and the overall status of this program.
9. The Art Institute of Houston and ECC will collaborate on the design of marketing materials, which will be distributed to current students, potential students, or the community at large to publicize this agreement.
10. The faculty and administrators from the Art Institute of Houston and ECC will meet annually to assess and develop program offerings; to schedule student and faculty class visits; and to explore potential joint grant funding. 

Longevity of the Agreement 

This MOU is in perpetuity or until it is discontinued by either educational partner by submitting written notification to the other partner one year prior to the identified cancellation date in order to protect all students transferring between these institutions.

Dallas County Community College District ______________________________________ Dr. Michael Jackson Interim President, El Centro College _________________________ (date)	The Art Institute of Houston: _____________________________________ Larry Horn President ________________________________ (date)
Contact Information at DCCCD: Gregg Williams Transfer Services/Articulation and University Relations Office 701 Elm Street Dallas, TX 75202 (Tel) 214-860-2185 or 214-860-2424 (Fax) 214-860-2677 g.williams@dcccd.edu	Contact Information at The Art Institute of Houston: John Willis Asst. Dean of Academic Affairs 1900 Yorktown Houston, TX 77056 (Tel) 713-353-4115 (Fax) 713-966-2786

Exhibit A The Art Institute of Houston - Bachelor of Fine Arts (Interior Design) DCCCD Associate in Applied Sciences (AAS) Interior Design 2006-2007  DCCCD Courses Hours The Art Institute of Houston General Education Core (24 hours) ENGL 1301 Composition I 3 ENGL 1301 Composition I ENGL 1302 Composition II 3 Humanities elective (English) SPCH  1315 3 SPCH 1315 Public Speaking MATH 2342 Intro Statistics or MATH 1332 College Mathematics I 3 MATH 1314 College Algebra PSYC 2302 Applied Psychology 3 PSYC 2301 General Psychology ARTS 1303 Survey of Art History ARTS 1304 Survey of Art History 6 ARTS 1303 Art History I ARTS 1304 Art History II Humanities/Fine Arts* 3 Humanities Elective (TBD) Courses for Major in Interior Design (48 hours) INDS 1341 Color Theory & Application 3 ART 114 Color Fundamentals INDS 1301 Basic Elements & Design 3 ID127 Design Basics 2D INDS 2313 Residential Design I 3 ID 220 Residential Design INDS 2321 Presentation Design I 3 ART 111 Perspective Drawing INDS 1319 Technical Drawing for Interior Designers 3 ID 125 Design Drafting II INDS 1315 Materials, Methods & Estimating 3 ID 253 Interior Products I INDS 2335 Residential Design II 3 ID 308 Interior Design Studio INDS 2317 Rendering Techniques 3 ID 129 Rendering & Sketching for Interior Design INDS 2307 Textiles for Interior Design 3 ID 133 Textiles for Interiors INDS 1370 Basic Computer-Aided Drafting for Interior Designers 3 ID 130 Intro to AutoCAD INDS 1351 History for Interiors I 3 ID 144 History of Architecture and Furniture I INDS 1345 Commercial Design I 3 ID 300 Commercial Design INDS 1352 History of Interiors II 3 ID 243 History of Architecture and Furniture II INDS 2315 Lighting for Interior Designers 3 ID 320 Lighting for Interiors INDS 2305 Interior Design Graphics 3 ID 135 Digital Presentation Techniques DFTG 1305 Technical Drafting 3 ID 103 Design Drafting I Courses needed for The Art Institute of Houston BFA - not required for AAS at DCCCD ARTS 1316 Drawing I 3 Art 108 Observational Drawing COSC 1300 or higher 3 CS 108 Computer Concepts Total credit hours taken at DCCCD 78   *Elective must be selected from any three-credit hour course in the DCCCD Core Curriculum for Humanities/Fine Arts.