The Community and Regional Planning Program within the School of Architecture and Planning, which offers the only graduate planning program in the state, has been granted a full five-year re-accreditation.
It is the largest such award given by the Planning Accreditation Board.
The official report submitted by the board after reviewing the program's compliance with the guidelines set forth by board, as well as its overall success within its curriculum, stated that "we particularly applaud the program for its diversity of faculty and students, the collegiality among faculty and students and its engagement with the community."
David Henkel, director of the program, attributes the reaccredidation to the thorough diversification of the program, in both the student and faculty bodies, as well as the unique role that students play in the program.
"Students within the program enjoy a great deal of involvement, from shaping our curriculum, setting the policies that affect the entire program and hiring of the faculty," Henkel said.
He added that other key elements in the program's successful reaccredidation process have been the total commitment of the faculty and students to the process, and an articulation of the key points of our five-year strategic plan in ways that translated into the board's programmatic requirements.
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"Our five-year plan allows us to set goals for ourselves to shape our program into what we feel is the right kind of education," Henkel said. "We also use it as a self-assessment tool, addressing any issues needing improvement to ensure that we continue to improve collectively."
The program was established in 1980 in response to concern that uncontrolled urban growth was threatening the quality of life in the American Southwest.
In 1985, the program applied for accreditation after strengthening its curriculum to focus on community development and natural resources, particularly in the context of the Southwest. The program was accredited in 1986 and lauded for its work and relevance to both New Mexico and the Southwest region. It has retained its accreditation since.
Roger Schluntz, dean of the School of Architecture and Planning, noted that the Community and Regional Planning Program at UNM is the only accredited planning program in New Mexico, providing unique educational opportunities for future professionals in this important discipline.
"Critical to the mission of UNM and the School of Architecture and Planning, the service and outreach efforts of the programs faculty are truly extraordinary," said Shluntz. "The accreditation team was very impressed with this vital, if not indispensable activity of the planning program and the tangible benefits that these initiatives have provided to the people and economy of this state."
The mission of the program is to plan for sustainable communities and ecosystems within the Southwest through education, service and research. The program's purpose is to provide future planners with the knowledge and skills necessary to support planning by diverse human communities.
Students of the program, which come from a variety of academic backgrounds such as economics, engineering and pre-law, learn to assist communities in creating community-based plans and programs that sustain and enhance their culture, resource base, built environment and economic vitality.
"We are pleased that the board agrees with us that we are putting forth the right kind of education, as well as with the tremendous support we have received from the local community and the planning professional in general," Henkel said. "We look forward to seeking even broader diversity in our ranks and continuing to provide the best education we can."
