Architecture Program Report Tulane University New Orleans ...

personnel, who believe their economic progress to be severely limited. *
7. Location
Noted as a 'strength' in this analysis, it should also be said that the City of New Orleans
is chronically plagued with economic and social problems. Though characterized as a
splendid environment to attend school, these economic and social issues are also
serious disincentives to students—and some faculty. While conditions have indeed
improved under the city's new administration, the reversal of civic progress over the past
several decades seriously threaten student enrollment and the attraction and retention of
highly qualified faculty and staff.
C. Opportunities
There are several areas of opportunity that the School of Architecture can aggressively
explore to increase enrollment and achieve national distinction.
1. Tulane City Center (Downtown Center)
One of the new initiatives under development is a Tulane City Center (Downtown
Center). This Center will house several components of the School of Architecture,
including Historic Preservation, the Tulane Regional Urban Design Center (TRUDC), the
projected Leisure Institute and the New Orleans Urban Design Center. As a satellite of
the program, the Tulane City Center would locate projects that serve local and regional
communities. It would also establish a strong presence for Tulane in the city. This Center
is specifically called for in the Tulane Renewal Plan and will provide an excellent
foundation for the future of the School in the post-Katrina environment.
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2. Service Learning Enhancements
The expansion of Service Learning opportunities, a longstanding tradition within the
study and practice of architecture.
3. Promotion of a new approach to 'diversity' planning.
With the Tulane/Xavier/Dillard project, the School of Architecture can begin to make
headway into a difficult aspect of the discipline and practice of architecture: its lack of
diversity, particularly racial and ethnic diversity.
4. Foreign Study Opportunities
As noted elsewhere, the practice of architecture is increasingly being practiced globally,
and in culturally diverse circumstances. The value of foreign study as part of each
student's curriculum is apparent to faculty and students alike. Tulane School of
Architecture has strengthened its summer foreign study and research opportunities. In
some cases, it has instituted partnerships with foreign universities to provide for
semester-long study thereby developing programs that enable an ever greater number
of students to participate. However, there is still room for further development. Other
institutions have been far more aggressive about establishing foreign centers and
semester-long programs available to all students. For Tulane in general, and the School
in particular, more and varying types of foreign study must be made available. In
addition, the University is attempting to strategically position itself as a gateway to the