Tuskegee University News Payton completes Presidency with profound impact Tuskegee, Ala (July 30, 2010) – In a final action prior to his departure, Dr. Benjamin F. Payton, President of Tuskegee University, announced today that the Board of Trustees has approved his recommendation to elevate the Department of Architecture on the Tuskegee University campus to school status. Simultaneously, the Board named the new unit the "Robert R. Taylor School of Architecture", in honor of the first black graduate in architecture from MIT who was recruited by Booker T. Washington to set up the program, which is now known as the Department of Architecture. His handiwork is seen all over the historic district of the campus and in the history books of American Architects. "This move reinforces the University's efforts to increase visibility and strength in that area," said President Payton. "The action should also serve as a strong statement of the University's commitment to the program over the long haul," Payton continued. The current department head, Dr. Richard Dozier, has been named the first Dean of the new school. Dozier earned his doctorate in architecture from the University of Michigan and is in the second term as a member of the Tuskegee University faculty. Dr. Dozier expresses "great delight" with both decisions. Architecture was a department within the College of Architecture, Engineering and Physical Science. The Dean of the College, Dr. Legand Burge, stated that he is "fully supportive of the action of the trustees and the president. It is the right direction in which we should be going." The University began offering certificates in architecture under the Division of Mechanical Industries in 1893. The four-year curriculum in Architecture leading to the Bachelor of Science degree was initiated in 1957 and the professional six-year program in 1965. The program is fully accredited by the National Architecture Accrediting Board (NAAB). SANDRA M. PHOENIX Program Director HBCU Library Alliance sphoenix@hbculibraries.org www.hbculibraries.org 404.592.4820 1438 West Peachtree Street NW Suite 200 Atlanta, GA 30309 Toll Free: 1.800.999.8558 (Lyrasis) Fax: 404.892.7879 www.lyrasis.org Honor the ancestors, honor the children. Register now http://www.hbculibraries.org/html/meeting-form.html for the October 24-26, 2010 HBCU Library Alliance 4th Membership Meeting and the "Conference on Advocacy" pre-conference in Montgomery, AL. The Pre-Conference and Membership meeting are open to directors and other librarians.