Architecture Accreditation

Honor Code

The design studio is an architecture student’s quintessential workplace. It is in the space where all creative work, stimulated by input from others, evolves and is continually evaluated. It is imperative that we maintain the vital spirit of this environment. Toward that end, in order to keep an atmosphere conducive to creative production, the following are the collective thoughts and desires of our community with regard to appropriate studio behavior.

The following disruptions to the student body will not be tolerated:

Sexual Harassment

University, Federal, and State Laws prohibit behavior which creates an uncomfortable or untenable atmosphere for women or men in the School. Since respecting the rights of others is important, any irresponsible behavior, inappropriate comments or activities which adversely affect members of the School, and any abuse of power will not be tolerated. This could include offensive posters and websites, certain types of music or humor, and any intimidating behavior.

Discrimination

Every member of the SARUP community has the right to pursue an education without harassment or discrimination of any kind, and as an equal to all others. The academic environment is enhanced and enriched by the mix of individuals from a variety of cultures, countries and backgrounds. Racial slurs, bad attitudes, and offensive jokes reflect poorly on the values of the School and/or the professions and cannot be tolerated.

Academic Misconduct

There are very concise regulations and rules set up by the University for Academic Misconduct. Instructors must follow precise procedures in bringing action against a student accused of misconduct. Sanctions may range from an oral reprimand to expulsion. Academic Misconduct is defined by the University as:

“… an action which a student seeks to claim credit for the work or efforts of another without authorization or citation, uses unauthorized materials or fabricated data in any academic exercise, forges or falsifies academic documents or records, Intentionally impedes or damages the academic work of others, engages in conduct aimed at making false representation of a student’s academic performance, or assists other students in any of these acts.”

Cheating, Plagiarism and Unethical Use of Sources and Software

UWM disciplinary procedures will be used against those who are caught cheating or claiming the work of others as their own. This includes copying another person’s homework, accessing another’s computer files, claiming another’s work as your own, including tracings of existing drawings. Advancements in technology may add confusion to this issue. If in doubt, ask your instructor. Don’t allow the ease with which you can copy sections or sentences from electronic articles or other materials lull you into plagiary.

Turning in another person for cheating is never easy, even anonymously, but is preferable to ignoring and thus abetting the deception. All students must credit all work by others — in presentations and papers — including precedent images, technical information and other source material included in plots/papers/websites.

Make sure to distinguish your original production and thought from material created or provided by others. This is not only an essential practice to all scholarship but legally necessary when we republish the work in any form. This is a particularly good habit to start in school — when you enter the work force any improper quotation and referencing source material has even greater consequences. Also do not use or distribute pirated software! Not only is it also illegal, such practices undermine the value of those working in creative and technical professions (including architecture).

Theft

Never take or borrow property from other students without their knowledge. Care should be taken to safely secure all personal property. Remember to lock up all your valuables, including drawing equipment, tapes, laptops, and other personal belongings whenever you leave your desk, and always lock studio doors if the space is unattended. If any member of the school community is caught stealing, the appropriate authorities will take over and the University’s nonacademic misconduct procedures will be implemented. Remember that theft also includes removing all or part of books and magazines from the Resource Center or a library.

Smoking

Smoking is prohibited throughout the building.

Conduct on University Lands

The University strives to create a positive, safe, and healthy environment for all of its students. Students are responsible for understanding and support of University policy and are expected to uphold and abide by the community standards established by the University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee and the UW System (UWS). Actions on any UWS campus designated as criminal and civil violations are listed in Chapter UWS 18 “Conduct on University Lands.” These rules cover a wide range of prohibited acts including both individual and group behavior on university property. Rules specific to theft, parking, vandalism, smoking, animals, keys, sound amplifying equipment, bicycles, skateboards, roller-skates, and rollerblades are clearly spelled out. For a complete listing of all policies documented in Chapter UWS 18, along with non-academic disciplinary procedures, obtain the booklet “Student Conduct Regulations and Disciplinary Procedures” from the first floor lobby of Mellencamp Hall or contact the Office of Student Life, Mellencamp 118.

Studio Culture

The architectural design studio should demonstrate a positive and respectful learning environment that encourages the fundamental values of optimism, respect, sharing, engagement and innovation between and among all members of our faculty, student body, administration, and staff. The school encourages students and faculty to appreciate these values as guiding principles of professional conduct throughout their careers.

An important responsibility of a professional academic institution such as SARUP is to provide its members with the ethical foundation for appropriate behavior in the architecture and urban planning professions. This document will help you reflect on the needs of others and reassure you that your personal right to a studio environment appropriate to the pursuit of scholarly excellence is being respected.

This document is not a set of rules; rather, it contains guidelines derived from the expressed needs of students, staff and faculty, who have collectively outlined proper standards of behavior. Please note that punitive procedures are limited to those outlined in University regulations.

The following reflect the general concerns and needs of all School members and should be respected. The Code is reviewed each year for appropriateness and effectiveness in serving the needs of the SARUP community.

SARUP’s Core Values:

• We are an urban laboratory
• Dedicated to the pursuit of excellence, innovation and relevance
• Supportive of professional ethics and social responsibility

Every member of SARUP is expected to appreciate and endorse these values through their actions and words.

Diversity & Religious Observations

The University encourages and supports the diversity of our community, and has provided guidance for any potential for conflicts involving academic activities and personal religious observation. Any concerns about lack of attendance or inability to participate fully in the course activity should be fully aired at the start of the term. Constraints on participation that conflict with adequate participation in the course and cannot be resolved to the satisfaction of the faculty and the student need to be identified prior to the drop/add date for registration. All work and review missed must be completed according to the terms clarified by the individual instructor.

Equal Standards for All

The studio is a space that you should feel comfortable in. Each studio member is entitled to use the allotted space quietly and comfortably, and to be respectful of their surroundings and fellow students. Sound levels, language and humor should reflect an awareness of the sensibilities of others who are present.

Respect for the Physical Environment

Treat the workspace and surrounding studios with respect. Careless or mindless mistreatment of the building in the form of graffiti, defacement of property, or vandalism cannot be allowed if the high quality of this building is to be maintained. Destruction of property could necessitate monetary deposits by all students. With your cooperation, we can avoid this.

Do not spray any aerosol products (especially spray-glue) in the building- its studios, stairwells or hallways as this can negatively impact both you and your neighbor’s health and will be considered defacement of school property. If you are using spray paint or spray mount anywhere outside, always use brown paper and/or a drop cloth so that there is no over spray on the ground or work surface.

Mixing of concrete, plaster, or resins in the studios, hallways, stairwells, or walkways is not allowed and will be considered defacement of school property.

When cutting large boards or working on large models, open tables may be used but you must use cutting mats to protect the tables or the concrete floor. The tables then must be cleared and cleaned prior to class times.

Studio Schedule and Attendance

Studios are scheduled from 1:30-5:20 pm three afternoons per week. Students are expected to attend studio during scheduled hours.

Out-of-Studio Work

Students should plan on a minimum of two hours of out-of-class work for each hour spent in class. This represents a minimum outside time commitment of 24 hours per week in addition to the 12 hours of studio time. Faculty should be aware of this when setting deadlines. To alleviate simultaneous turn-in dates, especially at midterm and finals, studio coordinators should coordinate exam and project due dates with those of other required courses.

Assignments

Presentation requirements for final project reviews should be made available to students in writing. Daily assignments may be given verbally and may differ from section to section. All assignments are non-negotiable; full completion of assignments is mandatory.

Studio Reviews

Full participation is required at all reviews. Students are expected to be attentive and stay to the end of all reviews. The instructor will know who is interested enough to participate fully and this can impact a final grade.

Studio Hours, Security & Safety

In order to safeguard life and property while offering access into building 24/7, a high quality pass key and security systems are in place. Your cooperation in the responsible use of these systems is essential. Under no circumstances shall anyone disable or compromise the security of the building or studio. Do not permit entry of anyone you don’t know into studio. AUP’s exterior doors must not be propped open; tampering with the security system diminishes everyone’s safety and may also cause major damage. Contact campus security immediately if you see anyone suspicious. Also, should you get injured in studio, contact UWM Emergency if you immediate medical attention.

Cleanliness in Studio

Please respect your surroundings and maintain a respectable level of cleanliness when disposing of empty food packaging, trash, etc.

Respect for Staff/Cleaning Services Personnel

Respect the role of the cleaning staff to maintain cleanliness within the studio. Do not disrespect their position or scope of service.

Digital Technology

Printers, computers and all digital technology must be treated with respect and care. If students are waiting to use a computer, do not use it for personal reasons. Do not waste paper in studio printers. Respect current school policy and methods of use for the plotters, laser cutters, and 3D printers.

Recycling

Practice principles of sustainability in daily actions. Dispose of materials properly and safely.

Value Statement

The Department of Architecture (DAR) at the University of Wisconsin–Milwaukee (UWM) acknowledges Milwaukee as a vibrant, resource-laden, and historically significant metropolis that sits within traditional Potawatomi, Ho-Chunk, and Menominee homeland along the southwest shores of Michigami.

Milwaukee’s intractable and racially rooted problems of segregation, poverty, disinvestment, and environmental inequity overshadow local efforts to create sustainable development, economic resurgence, and social stability—especially for Black, Indigenous, and People of Color (BIPOC). These problems are widespread in our country. DAR, as part of a Milwaukee institution of higher education, has a unique and specific responsibility to tend the wounds that our discipline has helped inflict on those among and around us, including aspiring architects.

As a first step towards taking responsibility, we are working to understand and acknowledge the role architecture and its allied fields play in undermining persistently marginalized people’s access to well-being, power, and full participation in the civic, social, and economic life of Milwaukee. This includes the displacement of Indigenous people, segregation and impoverishment of Black communities, marginalization of immigrant communities, devaluing and disregarding the work of LGBTQIA+ people, inadequate accommodations of space and access to the profession for disabled people, ageism, economic disparity in rural and urban communities, redlining, infrastructural displacement, climate justice, and more which we have yet to fully discuss and discover. We must also take the time to acknowledge the much larger system under which DAR has been functioning for more than 50 years. We acknowledge the ways in which our nation is built on colonization, racial wars, and sexist hierarchies, the ways in which these harms persist in our local communities, and their urgent need for repair. This history is engrained in the dominant architectural education values and methodologies that persist in our institution today.

We acknowledge that all members of our community have different lived experiences of injustice and come to this conversation with various levels of expertise. We uplift this moment as an opportunity for collaboration between beginners and experts in allyship, anti-racism, and compassion in the academic environment and workplace. This work requires ongoing engagement from the faculty, staff, and students, so it is important that we hold each other with patience and kindness as we reach understanding and build new habits and practices. We will work together with humility and a growth mindset to move in the direction of being a highly trustworthy, caring, and collegial team of connected people. We know that there will not be a universal solution to these issues and commit ourselves to meeting each person’s experience where they stand.

We acknowledge that this is a first step to initiate a process of drafting accountable improvement for all our actions.

We commit to:

• Building a more welcoming academic environment that prioritizes mutual respect for each other’s cultures, values, backgrounds, and world views in which no student, faculty, staff, or guest shall be prejudiced based on their race, sex, color, religion, gender, national origin, disability, family status, age, LGBTQIA+ status, and financial or educational status.
• Rejecting the erasure of any member of our community by ableist, heteronormative, racist, ageist, classist and/or sexist norms;
• De-centering whiteness as the default or “norm” in our school’s culture and curriculum;
• Questioning and reevaluating the education of architects and our role in perpetuating the systems of oppression we have inherited;
• Training future architects who have the skills to lead the practice and profession of architecture to a more equitable future