American College of the Building Arts

What it reported doing in 2024

The American College of the Building Arts (hereinafter "ACBA or "the College") educates and trains artisans in the traditional building arts to foster exceptional craftsmanship and encourage the preservation, enrichment, and understanding of the world's architectural heritage through a liberal arts and sciences education. ACBA is a liberal arts & sciences institution is licensed to offer both Associate's (A. A. S.) and Bachelor's (B. A. S.) degrees. As a liberal arts & sciences institution, ACBA integrates general education and the craft specializations curricula, in order to produce the best educated and trained building artisans possible. The College seeks applicants who have a passion for the building arts, and have both the skill and academic background to succeed in the program. A diverse student body is sought from a national pool of candidates. The College is student-focused and provides a community in which the students can engage in creative and intellectual inquiry. In September 2018, ACBA earned national accreditation from the Accrediting Commission of Career Schools and Colleges. Vision of the College The American College of the Building Arts will be the leading resource in higher education dedicated to the innovative and continued practice, study and promotion of the Building Arts. To achieve ACBAs mission we will be governed by the following five strategic objectives: Life: Long-term success will be based upon the development of a committed and inspired community which is dedicated to fulfill the mission of the College. Achieve and Excel: Establish accredited academic programs that result in superior student competencies in a Liberal Arts and Building Arts major that affords our students a range of post-graduation options and offers exceptional opportunities for the Colleges broader constituents. Learning Objectives: Seek opportunities to create or establish successful educational learning outcomes. Outreach and Development of Educated Artisans: Inspire future students and supporters by encouraging and promoting the Building Arts in the United States and throughout the world. Resources: Identify, develop, and manage resources whether human, economic, or physical in order to meet the mission that ensures directed growth of the institution. College History American College of the Building Arts was founded in the aftermath of Hurricane Hugo, which struck the Southeastern coast of the United States in 1989. The devastating category four hurricane damaged or destroyed many historical coastal-Carolina buildings and left much of Charlestons iron, plaster and fine wood work in disrepair. It took ten years to rebuild and restore the citys damaged homes and historical buildings, in part, because of a shortage of skilled artisans. In 1999, in response to this gap in the building arts, a group of local movers and shakers planted the seeds that led to the founding of ACBA. Initially, classes and workshops that focused on the building arts were offered at a number of different Charleston area locations. However, the original educational model proved difficult to execute, and the college founders regrouped to establish a degree-granting college, integrating the American liberal arts degree model with the artisan teaching styles of Europe. In 2004, ACBA was licensed by the South Carolina Commission on Higher Education to recruit students for a Bachelor of Applied Science and an Associate of Applied Science in the building arts. In 2009 the college awarded its first degrees to seven students. During these same years, ACBA reconfigured its administration, hiring current president, Lt. Gen. (Ret.) Colby M. Broadwater III and other administrative team members with strong business experience. Campus History The first classes were offered at several different locations in and around the city of Charleston, including the Old Charleston District Jail, which became the colleges primary location for 17 years. Carpentry and forged architec

Financial Efficiency

• Mission deployment rate: 87.4%; rating input score 87
• Program expense ratio: 88.7%; rating input score 89
• Fundraising efficiency: $8.68 raised per $1 spent on fundraising; rating input score 33; 33rd percentile among comparable filings

Transparency & Controls

• Consistency checks: 100%; rating input score 100; 63rd percentile among comparable filings
• Pay-setting controls: Limited
• Foreign activity oversight: Limited
• Grant itemization coverage: 100%; rating input score 100; 72nd percentile among comparable filings
• Major donor itemization: Yes; rating input score 100
• Related-party transparency: Limited

Accountability

• Independent voting board: 100%; rating input score 100; 63rd percentile among comparable filings
• Governance controls: 8 of 9 controls in place; rating input score 89
  • Conflict-of-interest policy: Pass
  • Whistleblower policy: Pass
  • Document-retention policy: Pass
  • CEO compensation review process: Pass
  • Other executive compensation review process: Fail
  • Form 990 shared with the board: Pass
  • Board meeting minutes documented: Pass
  • Audit committee oversight: Pass
  • Independent financial-statement audit: Pass

Sustainability

• Operating margin: 3.4%; rating input score 46; 46th percentile among comparable filings
• Total-asset coverage ratio: 2.94; rating input score 73; 73rd percentile among comparable filings
• Liabilities to assets ratio: 0.46; rating input score 23; 23rd percentile among comparable filings
• Officer compensation ratio: 8.4%; rating input score 35; 35th percentile among comparable filings

Growth

• Program expense growth: 11.1% per year; rating input score 100; 68th percentile among comparable filings
• Revenue growth: 5.7% per year; rating input score 100; 46th percentile among comparable filings
• Asset growth: 9.8% per year; rating input score 100; 58th percentile among comparable filings