Portfolio Policy

(Adopted Fall 2002; revised Jan. 5, 2015)

Portfolio reviews help the faculty evaluate the progress of individual students and of the program as a whole. Student portfolios are sometimes also used to determine the granting of scholarships and awards. Further, these portfolios aid students in obtaining part-time and long-term employment. The School of Architecture & Community Design's portfolio policy is as indicated below.

A. Every student must maintain a bound portfolio recording their work undertaken in the school for every academic term. This portfolio must include, but is not limited to, the following:

1. Design projects from each studio course, identified by course name and by the year and semester taken. Visual documentation must be accompanied by a project title and a written description. The required text should comprise of 200 to 500 words per project and should describe both the assignment and the student's own concept. The visual documentation must include presentation drawings and photos. Inclusion of preliminary sketches, daybook recordings, and other materials that led to the presented design may also be included.
2. Visual and written documentation from studio-like elective courses (i.e., Care of Making, Design Development, Fabrication, etc.). The written descriptions for such work must meet the same requirements as set above for the studio projects.
3. OPTIONAL: Evidence of student research and reporting accomplishments as submitted in non-studio courses (i.e., Architectural History, Design Theory, etc.).
4. OPTIONAL: Other evidence of creative or scholarly accomplishments (i.e., drawings, writings, photographs, etc.) beyond formal academic requirements.

B. In order for the faculty to review and assess student progress, portfolios will be submitted and reviewed at least twice during each student's matriculation through the program. First, after completion of Core Design Studios I – III, and second, prior to admission into the Master's Project Design course. The first review is to determine each student's readiness to proceed to the advanced studios. The second review is regarded as a "pre-master's level comprehensive exam," and will determine each student's readiness to complete their master's project.

C. Students are to submit along with their portfolio all final retouched image files of all projects documented in their portfolio. Images should be uploaded to the school's website and saved in a JPEG or JPG format at 300 dpi. The school will only archive the individual images and not the portfolio pages. Each image must be labeled with the students' last names, the studio level and the year (e.g. Smith-DIII-14). Portfolios will not be evaluated without the proper submittal of digital images. The faculty will use the submitted image files to archive, publish and display the work of the school.

D. Full attribution must be given to collaborators on all group projects documented in the portfolio.

Submission Schedule

First Submission:

Portfolios showing work from Core Design Studios I – III, and other work indicated above, are to be submitted prior to the first Advanced Design Studio class in which the student is enrolled. The faculty will review the portfolios to determine the students' aptitude. Students who do not meet the submission deadline or who do not pass the faculty review will be dropped from advanced design.

Students who fail the review will be required to repeat a Core Design Studio in order to enhance their design skills. Students will only be permitted to repeat one Core Design Studio. Should a student fail a second portfolio review after repeating a Core Design Studio, they will be barred from proceeding into the Advanced Design sequence.

First Submission Eligibility Requirements: In order to submit a portfolio for faculty review, each student must:

a. have a design studio GPA of 3.0 or above,
b. have a minimum overall GPA of 3.0 and
c. have satisfied all of the prerequisite requirements indicated in their admission acceptance letter.

Second Submission:

Portfolios showing work from the Advanced Design Studios A-C and other work indicated above, are to be submitted before proceeding into the Master's Project Design sequence. Students accepted to the School of Architecture & Community Design with advanced standing will also need to submit their portfolio as a prerequisite to advance to the Master's Project sequence.

Students who do not meet the submission deadline or who do not pass the review will be dropped from the Master's Project Design course. Students who fail the review will be required to take certain Core or Advanced Design studios in order to enhance their design skills. Students will not be permitted to repeat more than one Core Design and one Advanced Design studio.

Second Submission Eligibility Requirements: In order to submit a portfolio for faculty review, each student must:

a. have a design studio GPA of 3.0 or above,
b. have a minimum overall GPA of 3.0 and
c. have satisfied all of the prerequisite requirements indicated in their admission acceptance letter.