Student Leadership
Students in the Cummings School of Architecture are involved in governance, mentoring and leadership activities.
Governance
The Cummings School of Architecture’s internal organization and website, PLANES, includes students comprehensively in the ongoing life and evolution of the School. Student representatives from each academic program also are members of the Cummings School of Architecture Student Council with the Deans, are part of the Cummings School of Architecture committee structure and have access to many leadership opportunities that are a significant part of the character of the School.
Student Mentoring
Peer mentoring programs are available within each major. Supported by faculty and administrators, they are a critical component of community-building within the School.
Student Athlete Mentor Program
The Cummings School of Architecture has a specific mentorship program that is the only one of its kind in the country—the Student Athlete Mentor Program for Architecture students. Led by Melissa Hutchinson ’97, a two sport Academic All-American during her career at RWU, the program works closely with student-athletes, the athletic department and the faculty to coordinate time management and scheduling, facilitating the balance of each individual student’s academic studies and their intercollegiate athletic activities. Dean Stephen White received the University’s 2010 Peter H. Broomhead Award for creating the program.
Student Organizations
RWU AIAS Student Chapter
Roger Williams University’s Chapter of the American Institute of Architecture Students (AIAS) is currently the fourth largest in the country, and largest chapter at a private institution. In addition to hosting the 2011 AIAS Northeast Quad Conference September 28-October 2, 2011, the chapter sent 25 members to the national AIAS Forum in Phoenix, AZ., in January. In addition to attending lectures, programs and conference events, a number of excursions to areas of interest were taken including a trip to the Grand Canyon.
RWU HP Society
The Historic Preservation Society is active across undergraduate and graduate levels, and received the Roger Williams University’s 2011 Community Service Award. In conjunction with the non-profit organization Historic New England, they are hosting the Fall 2011 regional conference on October 1, 2011. Entitled “Looking Forward: Preservation in New England in the Twenty-First Century,” the conference is supported by a grant from the Antoinette Downing Fund of the National Trust for Historic Preservation.
RWU Art Society
The Art Society is involved with coordinating field trips for visual arts students, and participating in RWU Admissions activities introducing prospective student to the program and the school.
RWU National Organization of Minority Architecture Students (NOMAS)
The Roger Williams University NOMAS Chapter wants to actively notice the minority communities. They advocate for the growth and implementation of justice and equity within the architectural profession and the campus. NOMAS at RWU works as a united organization and alongside other local chapters across the country. As one of the first Rhode Island NOMA chapters, they hope to inspire the creation of other chapters within the state and region. NOMA's mission, rooted in a rich legacy of activism, is to empower our local chapters and membership to foster justice and equity in communities of color, through outreach, community advocacy, professional development and design excellence.