Anoka-Ramsey Community College is celebrating two major events: the renovation of its 40-year-old Music Building and the full accreditation of it associate in fine arts (AFA) in Music degree program. The public is invite to the free celebration, Monday, Jan. 23, 12:30 p.m., in the Coon Rapids Campus Rm. FA 115. Light refreshments will be provided.

The renovation of the Music Building is the second phase of a fine arts initiative intended to modernize and renew approximately 17,171 SF in the 40-year-old Fine Arts Building for Music programs to enhance the quality of the teaching and learning environment for music programs and courses.

The completed renovation will provide a larger and updated choir/recital classroom with seating for 100 students, an updated band room with 75 student capacity, new student collaboration spaces, new Institutional Advancement offices and conference room, a new small ensemble classroom and a new Mac/keyboard lab.

The project will eliminate $1 million of deferred maintenance and improve energy efficiency with the replacement of all major infrastructure with energy-efficient technology, including completion of the campus storm water management system, initiated during phase one.

Phase one of the fine arts initiative, funded in 2008 and completed in 2010, included the construction of a $3,800,000, 28,976 square foot Visual Arts Center to house glassblowing, photography and ceramics studios, computer labs and recital/gallery space that were previously in the space to be renovated.

The renovated Music Building will connect to the new Visual Arts Center via a new skyway.

Accreditation of Associate in Arts Degree in Music

To better serve students, the Music Faculty and numerous staff applied for and recently received full accreditation by the National Association of Schools of Music (NASM), for its associate in fine arts in Music degree program.

According to NASM, accreditation is a stamp of approval; a sign that an institution ascribes to, believes in, and has met an external set of basic criteria for the programs it offers. In some cases, accreditation assists in the transfer of credits from one institution to another. In all cases, it indicates that threshold standards are adhered to in a fashion that provides a base of academic strength and operational integrity.

Between 2000 and 2010, Anoka-Ramsey Music programming experienced a 198.1% increase in students. This renovation will help better serve all students, however, including those who take music as an elective area of study.

For more information about the Music Building renovation or the newly accredited associate in fine arts degree in Music, attend the Jan. 23 event at Anoka-Ramsey Community College, or visit www.AnokaRamsey.edu.