Skip to main content

Crisis in the CAUS

225 Comments

C
Chip Clark
5 years ago

As both a graduate and a former faculty member of the program, I am disgusted by the state of affairs within the college; this is not merely the dissatisfaction of a few senior faculty resistant to change, this is evidence of complete disregard for the notion and purpose of a Faculty and a disregard for the role of a Dean: to serve on behalf OF faculty at higher levels of administration and across disciplines. The future of the program may be Beyond Boundaries of redemption now, to borrow the latest flavor of administrative phrasing. I hope the ship can right before lasting and irreparable damage is caused.

B
Ben Ackerman
5 years ago

School of A + D, CAUS Ambassador, Class of 2017

D
Donald Copper
5 years ago

I have dug deeper into this subject, contacted faculty members and learned that the documentation we were presented does not fully reflect the views of all faculty. Rather it appears that a select few who have held significant power for some time are struggling with changes not so accommodating to their views and positions. Had I learned this earlier, I would not have signed the petition. There does not seem to be a mechanism to remove my signature, but I will withdraw my support of this effort. And I encourage all to look more broadly at the facts and nuances of the situation. D. Copper, BArch 1980

T
Terry Wyllie
5 years ago

Graduated College of Architecture 1990

R
Ronald Cashion
5 years ago

Any Mission Plan for CAUS must be built upon the teaching foundation established with over 50 years of recognized success. Presidents T. Marshall Hahn, Paul Turgersen, and Charles Steger, together with Dean Charles Burchard, and exemplary Faculty Professors such as Olivio Ferrari enabled successes that were later confirmed with high national rankings for the School of Architectures. Excellent Facutty leadership continues today within the College of Architecture. Unity of purpose within the current Faculty leadership must provide continuity to build upon past successes into the future. With experienced professionalism, and interdisciplinary collaboration and coordination, new successes and renewed High National Rankings can be achieved.

K
Kalin Cannady
5 years ago

Thanks for organizing this. Great educators and faculty sound totally alienated and frustrated not because of some imagined resistance to change but because of how this change is being executed. Especially in these challenging times, leadership should encourage collaboration to leverage VT A+D's deep reserve of talent and experience as it moves into the future. Please let me know how I might be of help as the school works through this unfortunately divisive transition. Cheers, Kalin

B
BO WANG
5 years ago Featured

As an alumni from Arch.3 year program, the Riva residence program was significance for me in my architecture study. Please keep it for the future student, that is a most valuable assets of CAUS in Virginia Tech.

P
patricia nossen-johnson
5 years ago

MArch 2002

E
Erik Fendik AIA
5 years ago

M.Arch, MS.Arch 2018 1.1 is education 1.2 at our alma mater 1.3 distilled to these thoughts 2.1 we do not own them 2.2 ideas have no owners 2.3 do not silence them 3.1 we form formless form 3.2 reforming what was unseen 3.3 forming dignity 4.1 though the leadership 4.2 focused much on ownership 4.3 fails to dignify 5.1 faculty, students 5.2 herd of concerned alumni 5.3 can we be heard now

A
Andra Ratcliffe
5 years ago

Class of 2020

A
Amy Eichenberger AIA
5 years ago

In addition to showing my strong support for the A School and it’s courageous faculty and alumni, my support is for growing a healthy organizational structure that can meet the challenges of today and tomorrow. Healthy Social Organizational Cultures are the soil and the foundation from which to thrive. It is clearly evident here that this is missing and creating unnecessary discord. I would be interested in understanding the full details of this story and the justification from the dean about why the school is at this point right now. Thanks again to those standing up for what matters most...

A
Anonymous
5 years ago

Class of 2010

M
McKenzie White
5 years ago

B. Arch Alum 2019

J
Jonathan Mcdonell
5 years ago

It is important to preserve the integrity of the School of Architecture + Design. I valued my experience there extremely highly, and I wish for future students to have the same, or better, experience.

F
Ferda Guzey AIA retired
5 years ago

CAUS 1981

R
reza kashani
5 years ago

M.ARCH 2011 (WAAC)

W
William Rockwell
5 years ago

In such uncertain times use of the word ‘crisis’ is better suited to coronavirus pandemic, climate change, use of architecture for political means (history) and lingering resistance to universal accessibility (ADA) that CAUS may be overlooking. Using it for this petition may ossify this active conversation between administration, faculty and alumni that is a healthy reflection of the school’s origins and current educational objectives. Dean Blythe is blind or consciously ignoring the longevity and quality of Burchard/Ferrari pedagogy established in 1964 that is more than capable of handling today’s critical issues, modernity and practice. Not one or the other.

W
William Cloutier
5 years ago

B.Arch 2020

T
Ted Young
5 years ago

School of Architecture. Barch 1988.

G
George Buckmann
5 years ago

Dear President Sands: I am disheartened to hear the College of Architecture & Urban Studies is moving in a new direction without recognition of the deep history behind the program. This would truly be a fatal educational mistake. Please use your position to encourage an open dialogue about the future of education within CAUS. Thank you. George Buckmann, B. Arch 1983