The interior design program at the University of Memphis has received a six-year accreditation from the Foundation for Interior Design Education Research (FIDER). This marks the first time the U of M interior design program has been accredited.
Founded in 1970, FIDER is an international non-profit organization that accredits post-secondary interior design education programs in the United States and Canada.
its primary purpose is to ensure a high level of quality in interior design in education to meet the needs of the students, the interior design profession and the society.
Accreditation is a process unique to the United States and Canada that replaces government regulation of education found in most other countries. It is a process of self-evaluation and peer review.
The accreditation process promotes achievement of high academic standards, while making education more responsive to the needs of the student and society. Standards developed by interior design practitioners and educators and concern for continued growth and development are central to accreditation.
“Standards for accreditation are revised as the profession evolves,” said Cynthia Mohr, assistant professor and coordinator of the interior design curriculum in a U of M press release.
The accreditation process begins with a comprehensive self-study by the program, followed by a series of evaluations and reviews by a FIDER visiting team, its Evaluation Committee, and finally the FIDER Accreditation Commission.
The Commission makes the final decision to award or deny accreditation. All evaluators are interior design practitioners and educators.
“Interior design professionals recognize that a FIDER-accredited program meets educational requirements for entry into the profession,” said Mohr. “It has caché with employers.”
