HINES COLLEGE | Strategic Planning

Action Plans

In preparation for the final strategic planning open house and the start of the 2023-2024 academic year, the Hines College’s academic directors developed action plans for each program in alignment with the final strategic plan framework. Below are the action plans presented at the September 13th open house.

Strategic Priorities Themes:
I - Interdisciplinary Education | G - Globalization | P - Professional Development

Undergraduate Architecture

• CURRICULUM & PROGRAMS

  • Departing from UGA Catalog and UGA Prospectus, develop a route map for upgrading curricular content against local, regional, national, and international agendas. G, I, P.
  • Consider structure of Architecture in light of the new Bachelor of Science in Environmental Design program. I.
  • Upgrade the UGA Studio Curriculum to include a Design Build curricular offer. I.
  • Revisit the studio-level sequences to increase flexibility through vertical studios.
  • Upgrade and structure the UGA Curriculum distribution of credit/hours to accommodate a non-dependent studio Design Media curriculum. I.

• ENVIRONMENTAL RESPONSIBILITY

  • Throughout a series of structured discussions on ecological consciousness led by guests linked to accredited institutions/ leading voices on climate change/pedagogy (i.e., Anthropocene Curriculum of the HKW revisit the UGA Curriculum to build an ethos of environmental responsibility collectively. G, I.

• CULTURE OF CARE & WELLBEING

  • Develop a robust interface between UGA students and faculty through the creation of student mentors.
  • Develop a robust interface between UGA faculty and coordinators/director.
  • Develop a communication structure for updating faculty and students on weekly UGA activities and program updates.
  • Develop a project and schedule a plan to upgrade studio furniture and equipment.
  • Define an open Faculty Lounge area and an open Student Lounge area for continuous interaction through random encounters.

• GLOBAL COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT

  • Establish a one-semester curricular study abroad program for the 3rd, 4th, and 5th year students. G, P.
  • Build a Preceptorship/Internship international curriculum. G, P.
  • Work with the Dean's Office to fundraise a program that expand UGA's local, national, and international visibility through periodical publications and exhibitions. G, P.
  • Work with the Dean's Office to fundraise a program for national and international visiting faculty. G, P.
  • 4E Consolidate a set of strategic MOUs with international peer institutions for student interchanges. G, P.

• PROFESSIONAL PREPARATION & DEVELOPMENT

  • Consolidate the UGA portfolio workshops and revisions in conversation with the profession of the multiple types of national and international practice and career paths. G, P.
  • Establish a mentorship program for Graduate Architecture students to teach UGA students of first and second years. I, P.
  • Build a Preceptorship/Internship local, territorial, national, and international curriculum. G, P.
  • Cross agendas with national and international competitions to prepare studio problems for 4th to 5th-year students. G, P.
  • Implement the Career Fair with the broader possible palette of architecture career paths. G, I, P.

• RESEARCH

  • Consolidate the agenda of collaborations between UGA Advanced Level Studios and Academic Areas to provide exploratory opportunities to develop faculty research. G, I, P.
  • Consolidate the agenda of collaborations of UGA Advanced Level Studios and elective courses, with peer international institutions to expand the opportunities of faculty and students to engage with multiple research agendas. G, I, P.
  • Develop funded studios and elective courses at the UGA Advanced Level in conversation with the profession - Healthcare, Historic Preservation, Landscape Architecture, Urban Design, etc. G, I, P.
  • Work with the Dean's Office and UGA faculty fundraising for international symposia on faculty research topics. G, I, P.
  • Host an annual ACSA (or international. i.e.- Critic/AII.) conference at the Hines College of Architecture and Design. G, I, P.

Interior Architecture

• CURRICULUM & PROGRAMS

  • Formally partner with HSPVA and other visual arts high schools along with local community colleges to identify and recruit new interior architecture students to UHCOAD to sustain and grow the Interior Architecture program.
  • Expand the 4th Year interdisciplinary studio established between architecture and interior architecture to include an interdisciplinary 3r Year industrial design/interior architecture studio. I.
  • Seek trans-disciplinary opportunities to engage with other disciplines both within the College of Architecture and Design and beyond the College, including theatre, hospitality, art, computer science and engineering programs across the University of Houston and with independent partners locally and internationally.
  • Promote the use of the Materials Collaborative throughout the UHCOAD.
  • Move historic preservation/conservancy to Interior Architecture with the goal of developing a two-year graduate degree program.
  • Introduce computational design processes to lA students at the foundation level and integrate those processes into the design studio at the 3rd and 4th year levels further distinguishing the Interior Architecture program from the Architecture program as recommended by NASAD visiting team.
  • Create a separate programming course for Interior Architecture students focusing on issues specifically related to interiority.
  • Offer a theory of interior architecture course to encourage/ support independent research among A students.

• ENVIRONMENTAL RESPONSIBILITY

  • Encourage/support IA faculty to build sustainability issues into every design studio program.

  CULTURE OF CARE & WELLBEING

  • Engage with Interior Architecture students to develop spaces within the college for informal student gathering and respite.

  GLOBAL COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT

  • Market Interior Architecture program globally with prospectus of student and faculty work. G.

  PROFESSIONAL PREPARATION & DEVELOPMENT

  • Expand the INAR Career Fair to provide all Interior Architecture students with internships following their 3rd year.
  • Create global Interior Architecture internship opportunities for all third-year students. G.
  • Formalize partnership with Houston AlA Interior Architecture Design Committee to continue to support the UHCOAD IA program with workshops and mentoring opportunities.

  RESEARCH

  • Actively seek partnerships with private institutions to expand research and workshop opportunities for IA faculty and students.
  • Relaunch the International Journal of Interior Architecture and Spatial Design to give both faculty and students an opportunity to publish work. G.

Industrial Design

• CURRICULUM & PROGRAMS

  • Increase curricular flexibility and diversity by committing to interdisciplinary collaboration in studios and core electives. G, I, P.
  • Expand the Healthcare Innovation Platform for interdisciplinary collaboration within and beyond the College. I, P.
  • Strengthen the System Design and UX/UI design concentration with a focused faculty search, and will pursue partnerships with other relevant UH programs including but not limited to the interaction design programs in the College of Arts and the College of Engineering. I, P.
  • Ensure access to up-to-date technologies for ID students including computer labs, studios, and research needs. I, P.

• ENVIRONMENTAL RESPONSIBILITY

  • Establish ecological consciousness and sustainability as the core of the ID studio curriculum by integrating materials and processes that minimize the impact of mass-produced products on the environment. I, P.
  • Strengthen research investigation in sustainable design and application by developing more funding-supported projects. I, P.
  • Examine and optimize materials and supplies through all ID courses to minimize the environmental impact. I.
  • Work collectively with other programs within the College to create and maintain a healthy environment through responsible applications of a human-centered pedagogy. I.

• CULTURE OF CARE & WELLBEING

  • Working closely with ID students' organization SIDSA to organize on-campus and off-campus gatherings, workshops, and company visits. I, P.
  • Organize group and one-on-one meetings to strengthen faculty networks and professional training. I, P.
  • 3C Develop and create more financial support for students through research and teaching assistantship opportunities. I, P.
  • 3D Provide more financial support to cover students' material and supply expenses. G.
  • 3E Encourage more research and design projects targeting mental health issues as a normal practice. I, P.
  • All ID faculty members will actively promote and offer support to meet students' mental health needs in and out of the classroom.

• GLOBAL COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT

  • The ID program will continue expanding its study abroad summer programs to different countries. G, I, P.
  • The ID program will continue to develop a collaborative relationship with competitive ID programs globally and establish student exchange programs in both Europe and Asia. G, I, P.
  • The Idea Factory summer experience, launching in 2024 will raise awareness of the industrial design program and assist in recruitment. 

• PROFESSIONAL PREPARATION & DEVELOPMENT

  • Manage the newly launched ID Career Center to help students prepare for their professional development through faculty mentorship. Through a searchable database of industry partners to maximize the internship and job placement opportunities for ID students. I, P.
  • The ID program is committed to providing access to the latest technologies as a means of preparing students to be competitive for employment upon graduation. I, P.
  • The ID program will continue to support students to engage with most saught after national and international design competitions to elevate the competitiveness of the program and students. I, P.

• RESEARCH

  • Encourage the ID faculties to participate in proposal writing workshops to improve the quality of proposals. I, P.
  • Encourage and organize the ID Faculties to identify relevant internal and external grant and funding opportunities, and provide application support. G, I.
  • Support ID faculties to clarify and strengthen research initiatives, and develop short-term and long-term strategies and plans. G, I.
  • Strengthen and expand the relationships with external industrial partners with planning for projects and funding sources. G, I, P.
  • Encourage and support ID faculties to seek funding to establish research labs. I, P.

Graduate Studies

• CURRICULUM & PROGRAMS

  • Expansion of design build to BUILD+ for innovative curricular, research and community engagement. I.
  • Introduce Non-Linear coursework (eliminate pre and co-requisites) to allow sequential customization.
  • Develop summer semester. G.
  • Expand Graduate Programs, (MARCH, MAAS, MSID) to field the expanded BS Environmental Design Graduate.
  • Develop standing vertical topic studios with focus co-curricular innovation. I.
  • Foreground Sustainability in core Tech and Studio sequences and integrate LEED certification into core curriculum.
  • Further curate the 1, 2- and 3-unit course offerings to expand media and embed visual and material technologies into curriculum.
  • Further the engagement with Keeland and the Craft Lab into the studio sequence.

  ENVIRONMENTAL RESPONSIBILITY

  • Expand the analysis of our building as a case study for application.
  • Integrate into all aspects of teaching, living and learning in the College.

  CULTURE OF CARE & WELLBEING

  • Expand proactive interfaces and forums with leadership (Coordinators and Directors) with students.
  • Continue and expand meetings with faculty to optimize teaching responsibilities with research and collaborative opportunities.
  • Develop course budgets as a component of the syllabus for transparency of cost.
  • Expand faculty sensitivity to student health and provide infrastructure to support.

• GLOBAL COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT

  • Focused attention on studio projects to engage the city as a critical context.
  • Develop expanded degree offerings to include Urban Design, Construction Management and further connections to Business and Real Estate Development with publicity, web presence and student advising. I.
  • Continue to develop, expand and provide identity to visiting faculty, collaborative partnerships, design build efforts and cultural exchanges through topical studio offerings. G, I.
  • Expand visiting faculty, (particularly leveraging the Stern Visiting Professorship) to engage global voices with diverse voices and themes. G.

  PROFESSIONAL PREPARATION & DEVELOPMENT

  • Expand availability of advising with staff, Coordinators and Directors.
  • Provide teaching opportunities to reinforce technological innovation. I.
  • Evaluate Core Visual Studies Program to assure baselines while offering advanced and innovative technologies, BIM. I.
  • Further engagement with the profession through alumni, professional and AlA networks in the classroom, through juries, reviews and College events.
  • Develop Certificate programs that allow for tooling up expertise (integrated with summer semester to optimize timing and availability). I.
  • Host two annual career fairs - one in the Fall, one in the Spring to support all*
    * Added during Strategic Planning Open House 3

  RESEARCH

  • Develop funded studios that engage industry and communities for collaborative research and learning opportunities. I.
  • Integrate Topic Studios with Faculty and Center Research to engage both faculty ambitions and student opportunities. I.