Professional Advisory Board

The mission of the School of Architecture Professional Advisory Board is to provide a source of advice and counsel to the chair and school on matters relating to the direction, health, and future of the School of Architecture. The group’s primary purpose is to provide a regular means of external assessment and advice for the School of Architecture. The group provides a means of better bridging practice and education, connecting professionals to students and vice versa; and provides an alternative means of support.

Institutional Requirements for Self-Assessment: Assessment is an integral part of the institutional strategy to maintain standards of performance and achievement. SACS, the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools, is the regional body for accreditation of degree-granting higher education institutions in the Southern states. The university’s accreditation was reaffirmed in 2013. The South Carolina Commission on Higher Education (CHE) reviews individual college programs on a regular basis. A variety of other assessment procedures are built into School and University practices that, together, form a system of checks and balances intended to maintain standards of performance and achievement at all levels. Among these are the following:

• Teaching evaluations - Students evaluate all courses and all instructors in the School through the course evaluation system required by the University. The Director of the School reviews the student evaluation of classroom performance for every faculty member during the annual evaluation.
• Faculty evaluations - All faculty members complete the annual statement of goals and end of year report in the Faculty Success system, approved by the Director and evaluated at the end of year.
• Reappointment review – Tenure-track faculty and lecturers are evaluated by the Peer Review Committee of senior faculty and the School Director for annual reappointment