[MassHistPres] Fwd: [SAH-LISTSERV] Pedagogical approaches to Historic Preservation

[Aaron Marcavitch]

To All (espeically Catherine),

I cannot overstate the need for at least some sort of business program.  I have learned (since leaving school) the need for Quickbooks and balanced budgets.  If the student works in government, non profit, or for profit they are going to have to know how to manage a project, budget for the goals, and make that goal a reality.   This was the part I knew the least about and wish I knew the most.  It has been the most central part of my day to day life.  Business management is critical - but you have to provide it in a way that is open to the preservation students (many of whom are afraid of math/business).

I would suggest that the students are going to have to be increasingly aware of the connection between environment and preservation.  I can say that as an "Under 40," the previous generation wasn't able to bring the two together.  However, the students of today are being brought up in a world of environmentalism and therefore it should be at their core. The program should respond to that need.

I would encourage a class in public policy - again no matter the future track.  They need to know how to interact directly with politicians and policy makers.  They need to understand that preservation is a world that lives on the government money that is spread around.  I would probably encourage some sort of grant writing experience as well.  (Perhaps a Finance and Law type of class?)

I would say finally that students need the field time - but need it in a variety of places.  Perhaps they need three internships - one in research, one in policy, and one in management.  Sure you can learn some of this stuff after school - but if you can walk out spouting the details of tax credits, 106, how to manage a project, etc - then it puts you a leg up.  

Of course I loved Roger Williams.  They were great.  However, I wish the program had been tied to the business school (I took a small business class) and had also pushed a bit more of the technology/AutoCAD work.  I know Salve has a bit more of an archaeological bent - which is fine.  However, even archaeologists need to know how to use things like AutoCAD, ArcView (GIS), project management, and budgeting.  

Glad to help if I can - you have a great program there and I am glad to hear you are going through a growth period!

Aaron

--------
http://www.marcavitch.com


--- On Thu, 9/10/09, Dennis De Witt <djd184 at verizon.net> wrote:

> From: Dennis De Witt <djd184 at verizon.net>
> Subject: [MassHistPres] Fwd: [SAH-LISTSERV] Pedagogical approaches to Historic Preservation
> To: "MHC MHC listserve" <masshistpres at cs.umb.edu>
> Cc: "Catherine W. Zipf" <zipf at POST.HARVARD.EDU>
> Date: Thursday, September 10, 2009, 1:13 PM
> I'm passing this post along from
> the national SAH listserve as some MHC listserve members may
> have thoughts or suggestion and the question comes from a
> local institution.
> Dennis De Witt
> 
> Begin forwarded message:tFrom: "Caherine W. Zipf" <zipf at POST.HARVARD.EDU>Date: September 10, 2009 1:04:02 PM
> EDTTo: SAHLISTSERV at listserv.brown.eduSubject: [SAH-LISTSERV] Pedagogical approaches to
> Historic Preservation
>  Dear Colleagues,
> 
> I teach in a small department that offers an undergraduate
> major in
> Cultural and Historic Preservation.  Our curriculum
> blends three
> disciplines: historic preservation, architectural history,
> and
> archaeology.  The specific program requirements are
> at
> http://www.salve.edu/departments/chp/
> (look at the pdf of the course
> catalogue).
> 
> Of late, we have been going through some growing pains and
> are now
> beginning an internal dialogue about our approach to
> teaching historic
> preservation.  One particular question that keeps
> surfacing is, what
> do future preservationists need to know beyond technical
> details (eg
> NR and Section 106) and philosophical approaches?
>  What kind of
> learning must occur within an educational institution, as
> opposed to
> what can be learned in the field?  How much
> architectural history and
> how much archaeology is necessary?  What skills must
> future
> preservations have before entering the field that they will
> be unable
> to learn when there?
> 
> I would be very interested in hearing further thoughts
> about these
> issues.  I'd especially like to hear from those
> working in the HP
> field about any of the following questions:  What part
> of your
> education has proved most valuable?  What did you
> really need to know?
>  Did you learn that in school or in the field?  Did
> your education
> neglect to teach you something you needed after all?
>  Was that a
> problem?  Names of programs and degrees are not
> necessary, but some
> idea of what you do in preservation would be very helpful.
> 
> Please feel free to reply off list, zipf at post.harvard.edu.
> 
> Thanks!
> Catherine
> 
> Catherine Zipf
> Associate Professor
> Cultural and Historic Preservation Department
> Salve Regina University
> 
> 
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