The Department of Landscape Architecture has been the subject of an extensive review by a special committee under chairmanship of Prof. Frederick E. Smith. This Committee report was completed in June of 1975. The Smith Committee looked at landscape architecture as a profession and the role that a school at Harvard should occupy in educating landscape architecture professionals. It made detailed and specific recommendations. In general, this Committee endorses the Smith Report. Its emphasis on professionalism, project-oriented teaching and interdisciplinary co-operation is very consonant with the Committee's own view of appropriate policies for the Harvard Graduate School of Design.
Summary of Conclusions
As stated above, the Committee feels that the Harvard Graduate School of Design must make some major policy changes if it is to be the pre-eminent institution that we feel that it could, and should, become.
We have found a drift away from professional competence that we find unfortunate. We repeat that professional competence is a pre-requisite for leadership and innovation.
We believe that the school is out of touch with the best people, and the best work that is being done in the four disciplines. We urge that restrictions on professional activities not be permitted to cut Harvard off from the faculty it needs to maintain a vital curriculum.
We are disheartened at the failure of GSD to benefit anywhere near as much as it should from its position as part of a great university, and the obstacles that we see to interdisciplinary co-operation. We believe that these obstacles could be overcome, and doing so would be of great benefit to the programs of the School, as well as to other components of the University.
We repeat that the problems of cities and of the environment are of central importance. The GSD could be exercising a leadership role in finding new solutions to these problems.
The Committee is pleased to learn of the appointment of Gerald McCue to the position of Associate Dean and Chairman of the Department of Architecture. We know that he shares our concerns.
We look forward to seeing constructive changes at the time of our next visit in April of 1977.