SU Board gives Architecture 90 days

 
NEW ORLEANS -The fate of Southern University-Baton Rouge’s School of Architecture was at hand during Friday’s board meeting, a fate that now will be determined within three more months.
The board decided at the Hyatt Regency’s Treme Room to grant the program 90 days to gain approval from the accrediting agency to transfer the architecture program to Southern University-New Orleans.
SUBR Chancellor James Llorens submitted a recommendation earlier this month to terminate the architecture program, months after postponing shuttering the program at the August board meeting.
Faculty Senate President Thomas Miller thought the meeting went in their favor.
“What we were granted was a 90 days to come up with an OK from the National Architectural Accrediting Board to allow accreditation to transfer from one campus to another, and if we can do that in 90 days we still have other issues to work with.
He said the program is the entranceway for young African-American men and women to get into the profession and if its shut down that would be a very big door closing.
” I don’t think the board changed their minds so much as we presented them with an option that would reasonably satisfy all parties and I think that is what they went with,” Miller said.
He said the board simply wen with if they can get the accreditation then the board would be in favor of it, but they have 90 days to do it.
“We have to exhaust all possibilities before closing down a program which is the entrance way for young African-American men and women into one of the key professions in this country.”
He said the program is one out of seven at historically black colleges and universities.
“And out of Louisiana State University and SU in the past 10 years, 14 African-American students have graduated in architecture from LSU, 91 from Southern,” Miller said.
He said to imagine what the percentage would be like if we closed the program
Board member Walter C. Dumas was glad the postponement took place.
“I felt we have a chance to make a presentation so its up to us to justify our existence and we have the capable people to make the right presentation,” Dumas said. 
He said they have prepared to have success in the transfer because they definitely need black architects.
Lonnie Wilkinson, Dean of Architecture approved the outcome of the board meeting as well.
” It went as we expected and we are glad the board saw fit to continue discussions for the 90 period,” Wilkinson said.
He said they plan on keeping the board informed of how accreditation discussion are coming along, and he was glad to see two graduate architecture students present at the meeting.
” It made sense for us to pursue every possible avenue for the department,” Wilkinson said.
He said the awareness of the information, which was passed out to board members helped in keeping the discussions open.
Quintrell Mazant, graduate of the architecture program explained his thoughts of the board meeting.
“It was actually great and informative,” Mazant said.
He said it explained the problems and what can be done to solve the problems.
“Some architecture students are scared of where they will be placed,” Mazant said relaying talks with current Southern University students.
He said he hopes their mind is changed concerning the program.
In other business, Board member Bridget Dinvaut was elected as board chairwoman while Patrick Bell was tabbed as board vice-chairman.