The last week in October the review team from the Landscape Architecture Accreditation Board(LAAB) was at SNRE re-evaluating the landscape architecture degree program.   The Landscape Architecture program is happy to share the news that accreditation was awarded until 2014. 

The Master’s of Landscape Architecture program at U of MI has been an accredited program since 1929. Being an accredited program is a BIG deal for those who want to become a licensed landscape architect. Generally, in order to be eligible to take the licensure exam (Landscape Architectural Registration Exam), you need to have a B.L.A. or M.L.A. degree from an accredited program along with having met the state requirement for years working with a licensed landscape architect. 

The accreditation process is an opportunity for the landscape architecture field of study and SNRE to evaluate whether or not it is meeting its stated goals and objectives and is in compliance with a set of externally mandated minimum standards of the LAAB. This process is very time and energy intensive and has involved a collaborative effort over the last year among SNRE administration, staff, faculty, and LA students to prepare for the LAAB review team to visit.

At the end of their three-day visit, the review team presented a summary of the findings. In general the team was very positive about the program stating, "the report is generally good and indicates a healthy program that also has potential for growth" and that we should feel "very optimistic" about the review. In closing the LA practitioner, who was part of the review team, shared that she was very pleased with student work and that our integration with SNRE puts us in a position to make significant contributions to the field. 

The official report from the LAAB awarded full accreditation, however, this does not mean our work will be done. Faculty, administration, staff and students will continue working together to address the issues that emerged in the review process in order to improve the program for its future.

Written by: Rebekah VanWieren