Rocky Mountain College of Art + Design (RMCAD)

Historic Foundations For The Art Of Tomorrow. 

In 1963, philip j. Steele founded rocky mountain school of art as a private, for-profit institution in the foothills of Colorado. 

Already a well-known illustrator and educator himself, Phil wanted to develop an art training program based on the traditional, academic method of drawing and painting that dates back to the Renaissance.

His mission was to make RMCAD a ‘community of creatives’ that would instill in all students a passion for creativity, innovation, and a desire for lifelong learning—both in the fine arts and applied arts. He sought to nurture the individual talents of each student, to integrate critical thinking and analysis into their skills, and to contribute in socially responsible ways to the local, global, and professional communities.

What do we stand for? 

RMCAD Mission: Rocky Mountain College of Art + Design is an innovative, rigorous and community-oriented global learning environment that inspires passion for critical thinking, preparing learners to be forces of change in their industries, communities and the world.

Our ten value statements guide us in achieving our mission:

• Our students come first

• We are a campus of professionals, innovators and educators

• We welcome individuality and self-reflection

• We appreciate and celebrate our community

• We communicate our campus pride and excitement

• We are committed to consistent business processes and systems while fostering innovation

• We work toward creating a financially sustainable model of higher education that considers the interests of our multiple stakeholders

• We embrace a culture of leadership, trust, and communication

• We understand the importance of taking risks and being adaptable to change

• We value professionalism and role modeling