Advanced Studio Practice

Temporary Pause of Advanced Studio Practice for Strategic Review

May 15, 2025

New Brunswick College of Craft and Design (NBCCD) is temporarily pausing its Advanced Studio Practice (ASP) certificate program for the 2025–2026 academic year to complete a comprehensive review and restructuring.

The decision follows expanding curriculum overlap with diploma programming and feedback from students, alumni, faculty, and external reviewers from both academia and industry, highlighting a need for clearer focus. A preliminary program review, completed in April 2024, identified key challenges and opportunities for revitalizing the post-diploma certificate. NBCCD will take the next 12–24 months to:

1. Redefine the program’s focus, outcomes, and audience;
2. Eliminate curriculum overlap with diploma programs while enhancing value-added content;
3. Explore new models that reflect the evolving needs of emerging creative professionals;
4. Continue to engage experts and industry partners to align the program with real-world opportunities.

About Advanced Studio Practice

In March 2025, Jean Rooney, Studio Head of the ASP program, departed NBCCD. Jean played a pivotal role at the college for over 13 years, making significant contributions to the program. Among her many achievements, she developed the ASP Guest Lecture Series into a signature initiative, bringing more than fifty visiting artists, designers, and craft practitioners to speak with students. This series enriched the student experience by exposing learners to a broad range of professional practices and career pathways.

Conceived as a bridge for students transitioning from diploma studies to professional careers in the visual arts, ASP aims to blend studio practice, business acumen, and career development. The program’s success over the years (80% of ASP graduates are in a career directly related to their program of study, 4% are in a creative career outside of their area of study, and 6% are in other careers) will be preserved as we launch a more focused program.

We thank Jean, our students, alumni, faculty, staff, and community partners for their continued support and insights. Your voices are essential as we reimagine the future of the ASP program, and we look forward to sharing updates as this important work unfolds.

“We remain committed to preserving what has worked well in the ASP program while embracing the changes needed to ensure its long-term success,” said Anna Mathis, Academic Dean. “Our goal is to relaunch a stronger, more responsive ASP that offers graduates a holistic pathway to artistic and professional achievement.”