School of Architecture

Alpha Rho Chi is the only national professional-social fraternity for architecture and the allied arts. Through Alpha Rho Chi, students with common professional interests can develop lasting relationships among themselves and aid in bridging communication gaps, real or imagined, between students, faculty, and practicing professionals.

The Daphnis chapter was established in the School of Architecture during the fall of 1979. Candidacy for membership is open to any student in the School, as well as, allied majors with selections being made by the members on the basis of scholarship, personal ethics, and promise of high professional merit.

The Chapter anticipates the development of activities supplementing the regular scholastic programs, including guest speakers, tours, forums, and research projects designed to broaden the professional experiences of the members.

Tau Sigma Delta Honor Society

The Alpha Eta Chapter of Tau Sigma Delta was established at the School of Architecture in the spring of 1977. The organization is the only national collegiate honor society recognized in the fields of architecture, landscape architecture, and allied arts. Its prime objectives are to emphasize scholarship and character, to stimulate mental achievement and award membership to those students who attain high scholastic standing. All students of the School are eligible for membership.

Elections to membership are made by the existing membership, approved by the faculty, from fourth-year and fifth-year students maintaining a minimum 3.00 cumulative grade-point average. In addition, leadership, character, and promise of professional merit are considered in making selections.

Construction Specifications Institute

Construction Specification Institute (CSI) is a non-profit technical organization dedicated to the improvement of specifications and building practices in the construction industry through service, education, and research. Founded in 1948, CSI provides a forum for architects, engineers, specifications writers, contractors, construction product representatives, students, and others in the construction industry.

The Construction Specification Institute student affiliate, Little Rock Chapter, was formed at the University of Arkansas in the fall of 1993. CSI provides social/networking opportunities for students with area professionals as well as sponsors lectures and seminars on current construction issues.

Academic Regulations of the School of Architecture

The School of Architecture utilizes a plus/minus grading system which assigns numerical values to 12 different grades. These values are used for architecture or landscape architecture courses when grade-point averages are calculated. See page 52 for the method of calculating grade-point averages. The 12-step grading system with assigned values is as follows:

A    4.00
A-   3.67
B+   3.33
B    3.00
B-   2.67
C+   2.33
C    2.00
C-   1.67
D+   1.33
D    1.00
D-   0.67
F    0.00

The following scholarship rules, beyond the requirements of the University, are applicable to all students in the School of Architecture:

1. Each student's progress through the Design Studio sequence is monitored and governed by the Design Review Board, the operation of which is described below.

2. Any student receiving a grade of "D+" or below in two consecutive semesters of the Design Studio sequence must repeat both of the semesters in which the grades were received. A student receiving a grade of "C" or better in a Design Studio may not retake that studio, except under special circumstances with approval of the Dean.

3. Admission to Architectural Design 4016 is contingent upon the approval of the Faculty; to be considered for admission to Architectural Design 4016 each student must present a 2.00 cumulative grade-point average in all Design Studio work.

4. Prior to graduation, a student must present a 2.00 cumulative grade-point average at this institution both in all work attempted and in all professional course work attempted. All work acceptable in the School curriculum will be considered in computing the cumulative grade point averages.

5. In order to progress from one year to the next in the design studio, a student must be within ten semester hours of all required courses of the previous year level as shown by the sample curriculum. For example, in order to proceed from the third year studio, a student must be within ten semester hours of all courses required in the first, second, and third year of the curriculum as described upon entrance to the School of Architecture.

Design Review Board

The Design Review Board is chaired by the department head and consists of the Faculty Year Coordinators, or their designated representatives, and two members of the student government.

The primary function of the Board is to advise the Studio Critic in assessing a student's performance in the Design Studio. In this role, it is empowered to grant or withhold the "consent" which is a prerequisite to progress through the design sequence; it does not, however, establish grades, which are the province of the individual Studio Critic.

The Board convenes routinely at the end of each semester, and otherwise on call, to review the work of students referred by the Studio Critics or designated during the Faculty Review sessions conducted at the end of each semester.

The Board's determination regarding a student's progression to the next higher Design Studio is binding on the student regardless of the grade made in the semester in question, unless set aside by the Faculty Council.

Off-Campus Study Requirement

Each student in the architecture program is required to complete an approved off-campus study experience focusing upon complex urban relationships. Currently approved programs include a semester in Rome available to fourth-year students, a design semester in Mexico City, Mexico available to fourth- or fifth-year students, and pre-approved individual work/study internships in professional offices in major urban centers. (Guidelines for work/study internships are available from the Associate Dean's office.)

The Landscape Architecture Department encourages but does not require foreign study. Students may participate in the Rome program. Programs are also available in Great Britain and Denmark.

Cooperative Education Program

The School of Architecture offers a cooperative education program in which students in architecture and landscape architecture may participate. Students who desire to partake in the program must have completed all the requirements of the first three years of the program. Placement will be based on positions available and on academic qualifications with a minimum 2.50 grade point necessary for eligibility. The anticipated period of cooperative work experience will range from nine to fifteen months. Interested students should contact Larry Tompkins, School Cooperative Education Coordinator or the Office of the Associate Dean.

Portfolios

Students are required to maintain portfolios documenting the total of their studio work, beginning with Design I and continuing through all design studios.

Ownership of Work

All classroom studio work submitted for credit becomes the property of the School of Architecture.

School Computer Policy

Beginning in the fall of 1995 all students enrolled in the second year or above of the architecture or landscape architecture program will be required to supply a personal computer matching or exceeding a specification issued by the faculty.

Honor Roll

At the close of each semester, the School of Architecture publishes an honor roll. This honor roll is determined using the University campus policy.

Graduation with Honors

Students who have demonstrated exceptional academic performance in baccalaureate degree programs will be recognized at graduation by the honors designation of cum laude, magna cum laude, or summa cum laude. To earn this distinction, the student must meet the following criteria:

1. At least the last two years of the degree course work must have been completed at the University of Arkansas, Fayetteville.

2. For cum laude, the student must have achieved a GPA of 3.50 or higher.

3. For magna cum laude, the student must have achieved a GPA of 3.65 or higher.

4. For summa cum laude, the student must have achieved a GPA of 3.80 or higher.

Continued in next document.