Pub. 4 2016 Directory

11 tion, which endeavored to build pathways from community college programs to accredited programs across the state. The surprise was the contribution that ‘first-generation’ students made to our program. From my experience, there are students across the nation, who would like to be architects but who can’t afford to go directly to MSU, the only accredited program in the state. There is the potential to build ‘foundation’ programs at MSU Billings, Helena College, Salish-Koo- tenai College, Gallatin Community College and Flathead Valley Community College. These pathways will bring in ‘first-generation’ students who are talented, motivated and lacking the support to begin their professional education at MSU, immediately out of high school. From my experience, they will be some of our best students, and we could miss them if we ignore this opportunity. The United States leads global practice; most of the top firms in the nation attribute over 40% of their work to projects that are initiated from abroad. Dean Smith and I would like to require a study abroad experience for all students, which would trigger the support of financial aid. Currently, the School of Architecture is a leader in foreign study, as more than 50% of our students travel to other countries for a portion of their education. Right now, the experience and the financial burden are met by half of our students but there are more who would be able to go if it was a planned part of financial aid. When you enroll in the College of Art and Architecture at MSU, you need to obtain your passport, as we will make global dreams come alive. After working with seven architecture accreditations, in three insti- tutions, I would like to point out that the 2014 MSU Visiting Team Report was not just good; it was stellar. Our program is an excel- lent program, but along with excellence comes responsibility—the responsibility to evolve with digital culture; the responsibility to lead professional education with social and environmental engagement; and the responsibility to actively address changes in professional practice, business, construction technologies, new materials and new notions of composition and geometry. In order to meet this challenge, we will need to build resources within the school and the college. Necessarily, these changes bring additional costs to students, which is why the School of Architecture, its faculty, staff and students are so very grateful for the support that the Montana AIA has provid- ed: Marley Robb a graduate student of Baker City, OR and Katelyn Gibbs a 4th year student of Great Falls, MT are each a recipient of a 2016-2017 Montana AIA Chapter Scholarship. Awards are in the amount of $3000. The MSU School of Architecture Scholarship Committee selected these students on the basis of several criteria; AIAS participation, overall GPA, design excellence and a recom- mendation based on an interview by the Montana AIA Scholarship Committee. These awards are made possible by an endowment estab- lished by the Montana AIA Chapter. Justin Tollefson, Ali Martin and Jeff Lusin represented the MT AIA Scholarship Committee. As I continue to look at our program, the growth of Montana, the strength of our faculty and staff, and the intelligence of our students, I am impressed with the potential of the School of Architecture to evolve new programs and new opportunities for community and professional engagement. I see the potential of a unique post-profes- sional program that offers cross disciplinary study within a unique context. It is an exciting time to be in Montana and an exciting time to be at MSU; I look forward to meeting as many of you as possible over the next year. b