NAAB Architecture Program Report (APR) 2013 - Tulane School of ...

Tulane UniversityArchitecture Program ReportSeptember 2013Overall GoalsThe School of Architecture supports all of the strategic imperatives identified by the university-levelD&IE Strategic Planning Task Force, which were listed in the Executive Summary. However, TSA’sprimary school-specific D&IE strategic imperatives can be identified as follows:1. Achieve and sustain a diverse and inclusive TSA community through more effective recruitmentand retention of faculty, students, and staff.2. Embed diversity and inclusive excellence in TSA research, teaching, and service.3. Strengthen the cultural competence of TSA’s community.Policy of Human Resources DevelopmentThe Tulane School of Architecture (TSA) has a number of policies and practices designed to enhanceand support research and allow faculty to remain current in their knowledge. Research undertaken byfaculty at TSA includes the practice of design and critical practice, historical inquiry, cultural exploration,and technological innovation, among other forms.Endowed Professorships:Designated TSA faculty gain support for their research and professional development through arelatively large number of endowed professorships that are assigned by the dean on a yearly basis andare subject to renewal or reassignment based on faculty needs and record of achievement in scholarlyoutput. There are a total of eleven endowed chairs and professorships that generate funds that varyyear by year based on investment returns. The total for these allocations in AY 2013/2014 is $265,035.Dean’s Fund for Excellence:Upon his arrival in fall of 2008 and initially supported by the Provost’s Office, Dean Schwartz initiated aprogram of internal seed funding for faculty research through the Dean’s Fund for Excellence. Eachyear since 2008, this fund has generated multiple grants to support individual tenured and tenure-trackfaculty and professors of practice or collaborative faculty teams in pursuing research, sustainingprofessional development, and leveraging further external funds to sustain research. Over the courseof the last five years, the Dean’s Fund for Excellence has distributed well over $200,000 in directsupport for faculty research and professional development. The Call for Proposals for AY 2013/2014went out in August, 2013. The TSA Executive Committee reviews the proposals and makesrecommendations to the Dean for funding.Support for Faculty Travel:TSA supports conference and symposia participation for all tenured and tenure-track faculty membersand professors of practice. Support is offered for registration fees, airfare, and accommodations fordomestic conferences. International conferences may be proposed, but given the costs associated withinternational travel, the school will only support the airfare (at economy, advance purchase rates) andconference registration fees. Accepted presentation of papers or projects is given priority overproposals for session moderation, poster session presentations, or panel discussions. Applications forthis support are sent to the Dean and include a draft of the paper to be presented, or abstract,documentation of the conference, and budget (travel documentation should include official invitation,website posting of registration fee and conference hotel rates). Every conference proposal has beenfunded over the past five years, and the funding level was increased under the current dean.Faculty remain current in their knowledge of the changing demands of practice and licensure throughvarious means. All registered architects in Louisiana and AIA members are required to maintaincontinuing education on a yearly basis. The School enjoys a high percentage of licensed architectsamong its various faculty ranks. The School collaborates with the New Orleans AIA Chapter andnational in providing CEU’s for all lectures, and these are free and open to the public. Special eventsare also provided such as the biannual Sustainable Design Conference and Preservation MattersSymposia, with the dean providing full funding support to all faculty who wish to attend these events.22