University of Arizona Keeps Landscape Program Alive

The president and provost of the University of Arizona have informed the dean of the College of Architecture, Planning and Landscape Architecture that their proposal to close the School of Landscape Architecture has been reversed. The original proposal was presented in mid-January and was undergoing a public comment period before being presented to the Arizona Board of Regents in June.

In a memo, the administration cited the arguments to retain the School of Landscape Architecture as "persuasive." They noted the large amount of correspondence they had received from the public and professional communities, as well as from former, current and prospective students.
The Arizona Chapter of the American Society of Landscape Architects led opposition to the closing, providing university leaders with data indicating that the demand for landscape architects will soon outpace the number of graduates being produced to enter the profession. They also communicated news about the closing to alumni, prospective students, Arizona public officials and professional colleagues around the nation and organized a letter-writing campaign.

"There is a very high demand for graduates of this program, who understand our regional environmental and growth issues," said Dean Chambers, president of the Arizona chapter of ASLA and an associate with EDAW, one of the largest landscape architecture firms in the world.
The University of Arizona graduate program is meeting a real need in the state and region, he explained.

“Arizona is struggling to balance development and population growth with environmental concerns – issues at the very core of what landscape architects do,” described Paul F. Morris, national president of ASLA and the lead urban designer with Parsons, Brinckerhoff, Quade and Douglas, Inc. “We are delighted the university’s leadership has recognized the value of this program and we commend them for listening and for reacting so quickly.”

The memo also indicates that the School of Planning, also slated for closure in the January proposal, will now be transferred to the College of Public Health.