Personal Property Successfully Completes Inaugural POV Program with New University Partner

The American Society of Appraisers’ newest university partner, the Massachusetts College of Art and Design (MassArt) in Boston, has successfully completed its inaugural four-course ASA POV program for personal property appraisers. On November 5, Personal Property and MassArt wrapped up their first season together with USPAP. Starting with POV 201 back in January and ending with USPAP this past weekend, students from the Boston area and beyond learned together both in and out of the classroom, taking advantage of MassArt’s location in the heart of the city.

MassArt is the nation’s first independent public college of art and design, and was the first art college in the United States to grant a degree. Students found it to be a convenient venue, with nonstop arts activities and a plethora of historical and cultural attractions—such as the famous Quincy Market, Boston Public Garden, Boston Public Library, and Boston Ballet—as well as countless shops and restaurants—all just minutes away. An easy walk from the classroom, The Museum of Fine Arts proved to be the perfect spot for lunch, and students had plenty of time to visit the collections as well.

Students found the four POV classes to be helpful whether they were just beginning to explore the appraisal profession or advancing their careers. The instructors, all accredited senior appraisers with ASA, were not only knowledgeable, they were also extremely generous with their time before, during, and after classes.

While most of the students were from the Boston area, some came from Washington, DC, and other places on the east coast, and as far away as Michigan and Colorado. Most of the core cohort were collectors or art “appreciators” in some way—commercial photographers, individuals trying to get a gallery up off the ground, or people working for an auction house.

One member of the first MassArt cohort says, “We were very lucky to have such a great group—everyone was highly supportive of each other and worked well together to work through appraisal problems. We would often get off onto a tangent with some of the more complex concepts, but I think we got so much more out of the classes because of it.”

ASA and MassArt look forward to continued success working together to help prospective and current appraisers meet the public’s increasingly rigorous expectations.