
The University of New Mexico
NEWS RELEASE
Contact: Carolyn Gonzales 277-5920
cgonzal@unm.edu
Nov. 1, 2007
UNM Master’s Planning Program Gets Seven Year Accreditation
The Planning Accreditation Board has officially notified University of New Mexico President David J. Schmidly and Provost Viola Florez that the graduate professional degree – the master of community and regional planning – has received the maximum accreditation permissible, now seven years.
As the letter notes, “As the program has an exemplary record, the accreditation period granted is the longest term possible under current PAB rules.” The program previously held a five-year accreditation, then the maximum term.
“We are delighted with the report and it reflects well on several aspects of the program. The review team noted the collegiality across the faculty, the convergence and integration of the faculty and its ability to model that for students,” said David Henkel, chair, community and regional planning.
The PAB noted aspects of the master’s program that were also recognized in a report issued by the UNM academic program review team last spring. Both recognized the diversity in both the faculty and student bodies.
“They also both noted highly useful and credible work that we do within the community and around the state. The academic review team reported that our program is possibly the strongest community based program in North America,” Henkel said. He also said that the community and regional planning program is well known across campus and is often the “go to unit” for UNM when looking at how to connect with communities statewide.
Henkel said that the students and staff also pitched in. “Our colleagues in landscape architecture, architecture and the graduate certificate programs provided us with support, as well.”
Roger Schluntz, dean, UNM School of Architecture and Planning, said, “Congratulations to Director David Henkel and the CRP faculty, the exceptional CRP staff support, and amazing students for this extremely noteworthy accomplishment.”
He added that all the school’s programs – architecture, landscape architecture and planning – continue their accreditation for the maximum term.
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