Building Bridges: Career Contacts Needed

Do you want to influence the future of your profession? Would you like to re-connect with the U or your college? Are you willing to share what you've learned since college with a current student? We are seeking professionals to serve as career resources for undergraduate and graduate students in architecture, clothing design, environmental design and landscape architecture, graphic design, housing studies, interior design, and retail merchandising. There are several ways you can share your expertise including informational interviewing, mentoring, conducting portfolio reviews, hosting a project site tour, or giving a career presentation for a class.

To volunteer, go to the Saint Paul Campus Career Center Web site and tell us about yourself and how you'd like to be involved. You'll be contacted as opportunities related to your profession and volunteer interests arise.

Student and Alumni Board

Born on July 1, 2006, the 1,100-member College of Design Alumni Society is off to a good start. Unique at the University, the society's board includes a balance of undergraduate and graduate students and alumni members. This cross-disciplinary group will serve as the board of directors for the alumni society as well as the official student board for the college.

The group will work to develop programs and services that build community among students, alumni, faculty, and the design professions; enhance the student experience; and support the transition from college to career. They will also provide feedback to college administration and departments.

All students, faculty, alumni, and friends of the college are eligible for membership. When you join the University of Minnesota Alumni Association (UMAA) and select "Design" as your preferred society, a portion of your membership dues comes back to the college to support alumni/student initiatives.

To join the College of Design Alumni Society or learn more, go to www.cdes.umn.edu/alumni/society.html

To get involved, e-mail Lori Mollberg, director of Alumni Relations and contiinuing education, lmollber@umn.edu or call 612-625-8796.

Belonging to Something New

By John W. Cuningham, FAIA
CDes Representative, University of Minnesota Alumni Association National Board

I have always felt my connection to the University of Minnesota and my education there to be the foundation of my professional career. With the merger of the College of Architecture and Landscape Architecture (CALA) and the Department of Design, Housing, and Apparel (DHA) into the new College of Design, I look forward to a new and active alumni society engaged in the life of the college. With 1,100 members, the College of Design Alumni Society is poised to assist the college in a variety of ways:

• Enhancing the student experience through mentoring and teaching, hosting project site and firm tours, or helping critique student work
• Supporting the student transition from college to career by hosting internships and field experiences or serving as contacts for informational interviews
• Building a strong community of support for the college and University as donors, alumni society members, volunteers, advocates, and partners in the advancement of design education and the design professions

From my perspective, the architectural profession welcomes the merger of the schools as being a harbinger of the future development in how we integrate design services. Increasingly, our clients are requiring a broader range of services including assistance with everything from graphics, interior design, sustainable ideas, to all kinds of feasibility studies. The cooperative merger of the schools of design can only better prepare students for the coming complexities in our professional service to society. I eagerly look forward to the success of the College of Design.

John W. Cuningham is chairman of the board, Cuningham Group Architecture, P.A.

Continuing Education Abroad

Innovative Housing and Urbanism in the Netherlands, May 29-June 5

What's so extraordinary about Dutch housing and urbanism? Travel there this spring to find out -- and get continuing education credits!

The College of Design's School of Architecture and Continuing Education office plan to offer a seven-day travel-learn opportunity for professionals in conjunction with a May Term 2007 course for students. Organized and hosted by Professor Julia Robinson, participants will stay in Utrecht's city-center, tour architecture and landscape sites, and engage in dialogue with Dutch professionals and students as they compare Dutch and American approaches to housing and urban design, sustainable planning, and development. Explore the national transportation system by bicycle, bus, and train. Field trips and seminars led by Dutch professionals will provide up to 40 continuing education hours, as they answer the question, "What is so extraordinary about Dutch housing and urbanism?"

To learn more, or reserve your spot for this trip, visit www.cdes.umn.edu/Netherlands or call 612-625-8796.

CDes Alumni By The Numbers

Between January and May 2006, the University of Minnesota conducted a survey of more than 300,000 alumni to assess affinity with the University, career information, and community involvement. More than 51,100 alumni responded, including 1,423 College of Design graduates. View complete survey results online at www.alumnisurvey.umn.edu.

Highlights from College of Design alumni respondents:

• 88 percent have worked in their field of study
• 53 percent are currently working in that field
• 1 in 3 alumni have founded at least one business
• 78 percent volunteer monthly
• 1 in 8 has received a national or international award
• 1 in 3 held a leadership role with a charitable organization in the past three years

Continuing Education Survey

Do you have an interest in design education for professional development or personal enrichment?

The College of Design is conducting a needs assessment prior to developing new continuing education programs and services and we want to hear from you!

Complete our survey online or join our continuing education mailing list at www.cdes.umn.edu/ce.

Reply by February 28 for a chance to win a copy of Else/Where: Mapping -- New Cartographies of Networks and Territories (featured on page 8).