“Faculty in the Department of Art and Design did a wonderful job preparing for the CIDA visit and the hundreds of artifacts and documents presented to the team,” said Rhonda Weller-Stilson, dean of the Holland College of Arts and Media. “Achieving this accreditation speaks to the high level of instruction students in interior design receive at Southeast. We are very proud of our interior design faculty and students.” 

The accreditation comes after an application process, self-study, program analysis report, and site visit by CIDA. Accreditation affirms Southeast's program to be nationally recognized, meeting the highest standards for interior design education. 

“Maintaining Council for Interior Design Accreditation is essential to our program,” said Michelle Brune, professor and interior design program coordinator. “Employers want to hire graduates from CIDA-accredited programs. The majority of our students are hired by architectural and interior design firms immediately upon graduation.”

CIDA, an international non-profit organization that accredits programs in the United States and Canada, uses internationally recognized educational standards to review programs.

Southeast’s interior design program prepares graduates who will create healthy and safe environments to enhance the quality of life. The program strives to develop  interior design professionals who critically apply core design and technical knowledge that reflect global and sustainable perspectives within the build environment. Students graduating with degrees from the Department of Art and Design have a 95% successful outcomes rate, meaning graduates were employed or furthering their education six months after graduation.  

Southeast's interior design program is one of four programs in Missouri accredited by CIDA. In addition to CIDA, Southeast's interior design program is also accredited by the National Kitchen and Bath Association (NKBA). 

CIDA-accredited programs and institutions meet 16 standard requirements broadly addressing the evolving elements of student preparation for interior design practice. These elements include critical thinking, professional values, and processes as well as core technical knowledge of interior design. CIDA accreditation standards also address the university systems, structures, and resources fundamental to providing an effective higher education learning environment for interior design study.

“Faculty and students work very hard to maintain the standards for accreditation,” said Brune. “It is a significant amount of work, but it is well worth it. Our graduates have successful careers in residential, healthcare, hospitality, education, and corporate office design within the region and across the country.”