WELCOME TO OUR NEW SITE
On This Site:
Due to unresolved air-conditioning and heat pump problems, The Academies building is temporarily closed. For the comfort and safety of our students, all on-site classes are cancelled for the remainder of 2008 as it is unlikely that this issue will be resolved in a timely manner.
A Word from the Director and Head Instructor
Dear Visitor:
Welcome to our website.
As the only "academies" in the world that teaches the different aspects of forensic facial reconstruction, I hope you enjoy your visit here. We strive to provide our students with the very best instruction they can find anywhere.
We are happy that on June 29, 2006, the International Association for Identification (IAI) modified the section of the Forensic Art Certification to read, "The IAI currently only certifies in the area of Composite Art although possible expansion of certification into other aspects of Forensic Art is being considered." This is the same idea I have been teaching in my classes for the past 4 years and we applied that idea to the Academies in March, 2006 when we opened our doors. It is a good thing for all forensic facial reconstructionists that the IAI is also interested in moving forward out of the stale status quo.
We do not yet offer a "certification", but we do offer certificate programs.
A "certification" often means that a person or organization has been certified by a body and meets certain criteria. It is traditional that certification is offered by associations and not by colleges or universities, although there is no regulation about who can offer a certification. A certification can be equivalent to a certificate program in terms of curriculum, rigor and examination. However, the requirements for a certification are usually far less than a certificate.
On the other hand, a certificate program is a program of study that is intensive and comprehensive in nature and leads to a wide base of knowledge skills. The certificate program is more than a course and less than a degree. It can be comprised of one intensive thorough curriculum or comprised of a subset of three to five short courses. It is highly specialized with all courses relating to each other and all relevant for a particular skill or knowledge area. An intensive final exam must be passed before a certificate is awarded, and completion of the courses that make up the certificate program must be sufficient to award the certificate. In short, a certificate program is a recognition of your knowledge skills and learning.
The Academy of Forensic Facial Reconstruction offers a carefully constructed CERTIFICATE PROGRAM as a Forensic Facial Reconstruction Specialist Certificate which is more intensive and encompassing that those certification programs currently offered in Forensic Art (Composite Drawing).
Ann C. Morland
