Virginia Marti College Of Art And Design Changes Name

LAKEWOOD, OH — The Virginia Marti College of Art and Design is changing its name. The institution will now be known as The North Coast College, a change effective on June 28, 2018.

The college's president, Milan Milasinovic, said the decision to change names is part of a new strategic direction for the school. North Coast College will look to provide a broader base of education to students.

"The new economy requires a well-rounded education that provides the necessary skills for jobs, but it also requires sufficient academic preparation. We have redefined the education model and introduced our Convergence Curriculum to close the gap between career and liberal arts education," Milasinovic said.

Milasinovic took on the role of president in June 2015. Since then, he and his leadership team have drastically changed the course of the college. Prior to the name change, Virginia Marti was implementing the aforementioned Convergence Curriculum — which looks to create a more pragmatic and creative student, according to a press release. How does that actually happen? For one, students are taking general education courses with a creative bent — classes like Physics and Art, The Neuroscience of Creativity, History of Revolutionary Ideas and Verbal Communication of Visual Concepts.

In June 2017, the then-Virginia Marti College announced it was exploring a merger with the New England Culinary Institute, a school acquired by Milasinovic. He also serves as president of that institution. Culinary programs could soon be offered The North Coast College.

"Given the thriving restaurant and hospitality industry in Northeast Ohio, I believe that NECI's established programs would be well-received,"Milasinovic said in a press release.

To commemorate the name change, The North Coast College will hold a ribbon cutting ceremony on June 28.

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