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The Landscape Architectural Accreditation Board (LAAB) held its Winter 2023 Board Meeting in conjunction with the Council of Educators in Landscape Architecture (CELA) Conference in San Antonio, Texas on March 13-14. In addition to their typical board meeting, the LAAB conducted a one-day strategic planning session with Veronica Meadows, CAE, Chief Strategy Officer at CLARB. Additionally, LAAB and CELA Boards held joint activities to engage as leaders of landscape architecture education including a dinner with ASLA CEO Torey Carter-Conneen and Vice President of Education Ebru Ozer, ASLA.
While at the CELA Conference, LAAB and ASLA participated in the Academic Program Administrators Meeting on March 15. Additionally, LAAB hosted an Accreditation Workshop on March 15. The workshop, intended to assist with the LAAB accreditation process, was aimed at academic programs interested in LAAB accreditation or preparing for an upcoming accreditation review. Current LAAB board members Juanita Shearer-Swink, FASLA, and Danny Ortega, ASLA, joined Accreditation and Education Director Kristopher Pritchard to provide an overview of the accreditation process timeline and outcomes after a program review is complete. Leaders from 10 accredited landscape architecture degree programs participated. Finally, LAAB and Landscape Architecture Foundation (LAF) representatives presented on the Frameworks initiative (pictured above) that the landscape architecture collateral organizations have been engaged with over the last few years. This was the first opportunity to get the results of the multi-phase effort in front of the academic community to effectively and cohesively communicate about the profession.
At its meeting on March 13-15, 2023, LAAB took the following actions regarding programs in landscape architecture at the bachelors and masters level housed within the institutions listed below:
Renewal of Accreditation
Programs in this category have completed a self-evaluation report and on-site evaluation. The term for renewal of accreditation is up to six (6) years.
Auburn University (MLA)
Auburn, AL
Accreditation Action: Renewal of Accreditation for 6 Years
Next Accreditation Review: Fall 2028
Kansas State University (MLA)
Manhattan, KS
Accreditation Action: Renewal of Accreditation for 6 Years
Next Accreditation Review: Fall 2028
Polytechnic University of Puerto Rico (MLA)
San Juan, PR
Accreditation Action: Renewal of Accreditation for 3 Years
Next Accreditation Review: Fall 2025
Purdue University (BSLA)
West Lafayette, IN
Accreditation Action: Renewal of Accreditation for 6 Years
Next Accreditation Review: Fall 2028
Rhode Island School of Design (MLA)
Providence, RI
Accreditation Action: Renewal of Accreditation for 6 Years
Next Accreditation Review: Fall 2028
University of Florida (BLA)
Gainesville, FL
Accreditation Action: Renewal of Accreditation for 2 Years (Provisional)
Next Accreditation Review: Fall 2024
University of Florida (MLA)
Gainesville, FL
Accreditation Action: Renewal of Accreditation for 2 Years (Provisional)
Next Accreditation Review: Fall 2024
University of Pennsylvania (MLA)
Philadelphia, PA
Accreditation Action: Renewal of Accreditation for 6 Years
Next Accreditation Review: Fall 2028
University of Colorado Denver (MLA)
Denver, CO
Accreditation Action: Renewal of Accreditation for 6 Years
Next Accreditation Review: Fall 2028
Initial Accreditation
Initial accreditation is granted on a first review when a program meets all standards at least minimally and the program's continued development and conformation to the accreditation standards is deemed likely. Programs in this category have completed a self-evaluation report and on-site evaluation. The term for initial accreditation is up to six (6) years.
University of Hawaii (MLA)
Honolulu, HI
Accreditation Action: Initial Accreditation for 6 Years
Next Accreditation Review: Fall 2028
Accrediting agencies recognized by the Council for Higher Education Accreditation (CHEA) are required to notify the public of accreditation decisions and the basis for such decisions. LAAB meets this requirement by publishing a notice of action on its website within 30 business days after each board meeting.
To review LAAB documents, the action letters related to the above-referenced accreditation decisions, and the list of accredited programs visit the LAAB website.