We have a new website, social media channels, and regular newsletters sent to our students, faculty and staff, alumni, and professional community. This has improved our communication and engagement efforts. The American Institute of Architecture Students (AIAS) University of Utah chapter is a student-run organization that was re-launched last year after several years of inactivity. I am very grateful to our students for recognizing that leadership and collaborative opportunities, such as involvement with the AIAS, are crucial for their educational experiences. We revamped our post-professional, research-based Master of Science in Architectural Studies program. Students in this program work on relevant research projects that can benefit the architectural industry and expand our knowledge. Our admissions process for the undergraduate Bachelor of Science in Architectural Studies has been revised to be more inclusive and allow students to begin the architecture major earlier than before. Our DesignBuildUTAH program engages graduate students in design and construction projects, where students apply foundational knowledge obtained in the classroom to real-world projects through the DesignBuildUTAH@Bluff and DesignUTAH@SLC programs. We have newly appointed Co-Directors of the DesignBuildUTAH and Directors of Undergraduate and Graduate Studies. New classes our School offers include design computation and communication electives, as well as electives on building technology. We improved our professional integration sequence for our graduate students. Our lecture series is now offered in a hybrid format to allow professionals to participate and obtain continuing education credits. The Spring 2022 Lecture Series theme was “Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion in Architecture,” and for Spring 2022, “Architecture & Environmental Justice in a PostPandemic World.” For Spring 2023, our theme will be “The Housing Question: Affordability, Amenities, Alternatives.” I am particularly excited to share that we are initiating a new research entity at our School—Transforming Places, Practices and Pedagogies Collaborative (TP3C). The mission of TP3C is to develop new knowledge, spur innovation, engage in cutting-edge research that addresses current challenges in architecture, bridge the gap between the architectural profession and academia, and engage in collaborative research projects. What Degree programs are offered? We offer an undergraduate, preprofessional Bachelor of Science in Architectural Studies (BSAS), as well as two graduate programs. The first is a professional, NAAB-accredited Master of Architecture (M.Arch) program, and the second is a post-professional, researchbased Master of Science in Architectural Studies (MSAS) program. Our Master of Architecture has two paths, depending on the previous academic background and undergraduate degrees that our applicants have completed. Our twoyear M.Arch program is suitable for graduate students with an undergraduate degree in architecture, while our 3+ M.Arch program is for students who have completed their undergraduate studies in other fields. The 3+ M.Arch program consists of seven semesters or three and a half years. We also offer a dual M.Arch/MSAS program. What certifications are offered? The graduate certificate in Urban Design is offered jointly by the School of Architecture and the Department of City & Metropolitan Planning. Do you have any last words that summarize your thoughts for anyone reading your article? I’ve lived in Salt Lake City for a year and a half. During that time, I had an opportunity to meet with many local and regional architectural professionals and professionals from related disciplines (engineering, construction, and urban design). I also had an opportunity to meet with many of our alums. The legacy of the School of Architecture, its rich history, and connection to our alums are simply amazing. I am deeply grateful to the local and regional professionals for making me feel so welcome, and I look forward to many more years of collaboration. I found architecture to be a perfect blend of art and science, where I would be able to utilize both sides of my brain. 23
RkJQdWJsaXNoZXIy ODQxMjUw