The Society of Architectural Historians (SAH) has launched the next phase of its ongoing SAH Data Project, a two-year study aimed at assessing the "status of the field of architectural history in higher education."

The latest phase of the project, which is led by postdoctoral researcher Sarah M. Dreller, includes the launch of comprehensive surveys geared toward administrators, faculty, and students that aim to gather first-hand information on a variety of topics related to architectural education from a broad population, including institutional type (public or private), enrollment size, student demographics, and relationship (if any) to design curricula. 

The surveys will also dig into the experience of teaching and learning architectural history by asking questions relating to tenure-track or adjunct faculty status, the prevalence of social justice- and climate crisis-related topics in architecture history curricula, and whether student mentorship is offered in conjunction with architectural history courses. 

The project, which is funded by a grant from The Andrew W. Mellon Foundation, is being chronicled on the SAH website via a blog created by Dr. Dreller that delves various aspects of the research project. Dreller is also presenting the research workshops and panel discussions at a variety of conferences and symposia around the country to further gather input for the effort. The research team is currently finalizing times for a Q&A discussion slated to take plate at the SAH 2020 Seattle Annual International Conference in Seattle in April.  

In a press release announcing the surveys, Dr. Dreller explains, “The project team is eager to give as many people as possible a chance to share their experiences studying and/or teaching architectural history,” adding, “The project defines ‘architectural history’ as the history of the built environment, which not only includes buildings but also interiors, landscapes, structures, cities, etc. Likewise, a student only must have completed one college architectural history class to be eligible to contribute."

The surveys can be accessed online at the SAH website and will be open through May 15, 2020.