WASHINGTON, DC – In an exclusive LASN interview with Ronald Stoltz, professor and director of the School of Landscape Architecture at the University of Arizona (UA), discussed the potential closure of the school?EUR??,,????'???s Landscape Architecture department.

The decision to close the school of Landscape Architecture comes amidst a $1.3 billion budget deficit in Arizona. The University of Arizona?EUR??,,????'???s school of Landscape Architecture is among 16 academic programs facing the budget ax.

?EUR??,,????'??The University administration adopted a plan based on ?EUR??,,????'??focused excellence,?EUR??,,????'???EUR??,,????'??? Stoltz told LASN. ?EUR??,,????'??The School of Landscape Architecture and the School of Planning were deemed to be strong but very young (since 1999) in their new home in the College of Architecture, Planning and Landscape Architecture. As such there was not a lot of history to be lost and were seen as needing a lot of support.?EUR??,,????'??

In addition to Stoltz, Leaders from across the community of Landscape Architects have recently expressed their opposition to the plan presented in January.

?EUR??,,????'??All of our data shows there is a dire need for more Landscape Architecture degree programs, not fewer,?EUR??,,????'?? said Paul F. Morris, FASLA, president of The American Society of Landscape Architects (ASLA) and the lead urban designer with Parsons, Brinckerhoff, Quade and Douglas, Inc. ?EUR??,,????'??Arizona is struggling to balance development and population growth with environmental concerns-issues at the very core of what Landscape Architects do. At the same time, the UA landscape architecture program has been praised in its accreditation report and is practically unique in its focus on arid environmental design. Given those facts, we hope the University will reverse its decision.?EUR??,,????'??

Stoltz said the reasons for the closure appear to be more about organizational change than money.

?EUR??,,????'??Almost all of the programs targeted for closure were graduate only and relatively small,?EUR??,,????'?? he said. ?EUR??,,????'??Although directors have a 50 percent teaching load, the units are seen as being inefficient. Also, since both Landscape Architecture and Planning have recently moved to the new college, they have graduated relatively few students. In LA we are ramping up to graduate approximately 15 students per year.?EUR??,,????'??

Studies indicate that the demand for Landscape Architects will soon outpace the number of graduates being produced to enter the profession due to the expanded role of landscape architects in environmental design and the expected retirement of baby boomers.

Stoltz said UA?EUR??,,????'???s School of Landscape Architecture is the only graduate program in the arid Southwest. The closest Landscape Architecture schools to UA are Cal Poly – Pomona and in Texas, respectively.

The Landscape Architectural Accreditation Board (LAAB) accredited the school for the maximum six-year term in 2001. Ironically, suggestions from the positive LAAB report were cited by the University as a reason for closing the school.

?EUR??,,????'??What are the real reasons for this decision??EUR??,,????'?? asked Sara Katherine Williams, ASLA, chair of the LAAB and graduate coordinator at the University of Florida?EUR??,,????'???s Department of Landscape Architecture. ?EUR??,,????'??Providing reasonable access to research materials and improving the library are not major expenses in the larger picture and certainly not compelling evidence that a program is not viable or meeting its educational goals. LAAB handed down a positive report and it was for full accreditation for the maximum of six years. Citing one statement from the report as support to eliminate a program is inappropriate.?EUR??,,????'??

Stoltz said a three-pronged strategy is in place that, if successful, will mean the Landscape Architecture School stays open.

?EUR??,,????'??Our students and student family and friends are contacting the university, our local practitioners are making the university aware of the situation, and our on campus colleagues are going to make the university aware of the value of this program,?EUR??,,????'?? he said.

The proposed cuts will now undergo a 105-day public comment process and University officials plan to present a final list of proposed eliminations to the Arizona Board of Regents in June.