The Landscape Architectural Accreditation Board (LAAB) published revised Accreditation Procedures and updated Accreditation Standards in September. The Procedures are effective immediately while the updated Standards will go in effect for programs scheduled for visits fall 2025 or later. Since the updates to the Standards were not substantive in nature, but rather relocated the Minimum Requirements for Achieving and Maintaining Accredited Status throughout the document under the appropriate standards, the board did not hold a public comment period like it typically does for substantive revisions to the Standards. That said, the LAAB will be starting its Standards revision process in 2025 as part of its policy to review Standards at a minimum every five years. 

Also in September, LAAB Chair Roxi Thoren, ASLA, and Director Kristopher Pritchard, Hon. ASLA, attended and presented at the 60th World Congress of the International Federation of Landscape Architecture (IFLA), hosted by the UCTEA Chamber of Turkish Landscape Architects in Istanbul, Turkey. Chair Thoren represented LAAB on multiple panels focused on global education and standards with representatives from the IFLA Education and Academic Affairs Committee, ASLA, CELA, IFLA Americas, and ECLAS. Director Pritchard presented on a panel focused on international accreditation standards and processes with representatives from Turkey, Germany, and ASLA CEO Torey Carter-Conneen. During the World Congress, LAAB had an opportunity to meet with Alessandro Martinelli, IFLA Education and Academic Affairs Committee Chair (pictured above) to learn more about international accreditation and the IFLA Global Landscape Architecture Education Recognition Programme as part of LAAB’s strategic goal in standards leadership. 

 Image by Kris Pritchard, Hon. ASLA

Additionally, LAAB attended and presented at the 2024 CLARB Annual Meeting in Buffalo, New York on September 18-20. Chair Thoren and Director Pritchard both represented LAAB on the “Future of Landscape Architecture Education” panel with representatives from CLARB, IFLA, and CELA (pictured above) which provided a platform to discuss emerging trends, innovative approaches, and evolving standards in landscape architecture education. Separately, Chair Thoren represented LAAB on the “Impacts of STEM Designation for Landscape Architecture: What’s Next?” panel with representatives from ASLA, CELA, and CLARB where discussions explored the implications of achieving STEM designation on landscape architecture education, practice and regulation.  

Finally, the LAAB held its Summer 2024 Board Meeting in Burlington, Vermont on August 1-2. The meeting took place near The Frame, an ever-evolving public space from remnants of a former coal-fired power plants on the shores of Lake Champlain by a design team led by Michael Van Valkenburgh Associates, Inc. LAAB took the following actions regarding programs in landscape architecture at the bachelors and masters level housed within the institutions listed below: 

Renewal of Accreditation  

Programs in this category have completed a self-evaluation report and on-site evaluation. The term for renewal of accreditation is up to six (6) years. 

Kent State University (MLA)  

Cleveland, OH 

Accreditation Action: Renewal of Accreditation for 6 Years 

Next Accreditation Review: Spring 2030 

Michigan State University (BLA) 

East Lansing, MI 

Accreditation Action: Renewal of Accreditation for 6 Years

Next Accreditation Review: Spring 2030 

Ohio State University (BSLA) 

Columbus, OH 

Accreditation Action: Renewal of Accreditation for 6 Years 

Next Accreditation Review: Spring 2029* 

*Accreditation term expired Spring 2023 and program was granted twelve-month delay of accreditation visit. As outlined in the LAAB Accreditation Procedures, the grant of accreditation is from the originally scheduled review date. 

 Ohio State University (MLA)  

Columbus, OH 

Accreditation Action: Renewal of Accreditation for 6 Years 

Next Accreditation Review: Spring 2029* 

*Accreditation term expired Spring 2023 and program was granted twelve-month delay of accreditation visit. As outlined in the LAAB Accreditation Procedures, the grant of accreditation is from the originally scheduled review date. 

Pennsylvania State University (BLA) 

University Park, PA 

Accreditation Action: Renewal of Accreditation for 6 Years 

Next Accreditation Review: Spring 2030 

Pennsylvania State University (MLA) 

University Park, PA 

Accreditation Action: Renewal of Accreditation for 6 Years 

Next Accreditation Review: Spring 2030 

State University of New York ESF (BLA) 

Syracuse, NY 

Accreditation Action: Renewal of Accreditation for 6 Years 

Next Accreditation Review: Spring 2030 

State University of New York ESF (MLA)  

Syracuse, NY 

Accreditation Action: Renewal of Accreditation for 6 Years 

Next Accreditation Review: Spring 2030 

University of Connecticut (BSLA) 

Storrs, CT 

Accreditation Action: Renewal of Accreditation for 4 Years 

Next Accreditation Review: Spring 2028

University of Idaho (MLA) 

Moscow, ID 

Accreditation Action: Renewal of Accreditation for 6 Years 

Next Accreditation Review: Spring 2030 

University of Oregon (BLA) 

Eugene, OR 

Accreditation Action: Renewal of Accreditation for 6 Years 

Next Accreditation Review: Spring 2029* 

*Accreditation term expired Spring 2023 and program was granted twelve-month delay of accreditation visit. As outlined in the LAAB Accreditation Procedures, the grant of accreditation is from the originally scheduled review date. 

University of Oregon (MLA) 

Eugene, OR 

Accreditation Action: Renewal of Accreditation for 6 Years 

Next Accreditation Review: Spring 2029* 

*Accreditation term expired Spring 2023 and program was granted twelve-month delay of accreditation visit. As outlined in the LAAB Accreditation Procedures, the grant of accreditation is from the originally scheduled review date. 

Candidacy Status  

Programs in this category have completed a self-evaluation report and on-site evaluation. After achieving candidacy status, a program must apply for initial accreditation within one year of its first graduating class. If initial accreditation is not granted, the program can retain its candidacy status for one additional year. 

Auburn University (BLA) 

Auburn, AL 

Accreditation Action: Approval for Candidacy Status 

Pratt Institute (MLA) 

Brooklyn, NY 

Accreditation Action: Approval for Candidacy Status 

University of Minnesota (BLA) 

Minneapolis, MN 

Accreditation Action: Approval for Candidacy Status 

To review LAAB documents, the action letters related to the above-referenced accreditation decisions, and the list of accredited programs visit the LAAB website.