Architecture Program Report Tulane University New Orleans ...

We at the School of Architecture remain positive in the face of
unprecedented challenge. Our students have returned in record
numbers. We have retained our entire faculty. We have completed
a complete curriculum revision. And our fundraising efforts have
been satisfyingly fruitful. In short, we are looking—and moving—
forward with determination. It will take years to right Tulane, and
we look forward to NAAB’s support and understanding. But we
are confident the School will retain its reputation for providing a
unique and high quality professional education.
Financial Resources
The current situation of Tulane University, and with it the
Tulane School of Architecture, remains challenging, due to
the considerable damage inflicted by Hurricane Katrina. No
American university has ever faced this kind of crisis and in such
a compressed time frame. Consider this one fact: that from
August 31 st through January 15 th , the School of Architecture had
no students, no staff, and no faculty in residence (one-third of the
student body was displaced to either Arizona State or Cornell
Universities, with a substantial number of the remaining students
spread across many other universities throughout the United
States). Simply returning to an operational mode in time to
welcome students in January was something of a miracle, given
that the city of New Orleans had lost 70 percent of its population,
its entire power and water supply, and much of its safety and
public service personnel. Nevertheless, we were able to open our
doors to returning students on January XX. In the School of
Architecture, nearly 95 percent of students returned, a university
high. Nevertheless, the financial situation is dire.
● The University currently operates under a state of financial
exigency due to a $120 million loss to its FY-2005/2006 budget
compounded by $250 million in physical damage—both events
the results of Hurricane Katrina
● Next year, the University faces a $60 million deficit, despite
the fact that Tulane has cut six departments and 27 Ph.D.
programs in its strategic restructuring (the "Tulane Renewal
Plan").
● The Decentralized Management Plan (DMC), which had
been implemented by the University in FY 2003/2004 has been