Partnerships between historic preservation groups and universities and colleges are unlike other kinds of preservation partnerships. These partnerships often begin as a teaching or mentoring relationship. In this relationship, preservationists learn how to structure their arguments and conduct valuable research at institutions of higher learning. In turn, preservation advocacy groups offer real-world problem-solving experience to supplement the academic curriculum of pre-professional students enrolled at these institutions. Those students will serve as the next generation of historic preservation leaders.

For the last several decades, the practice of historic preservation has become increasingly professional. As a result, many educational institutions now offer both formal and informal education for preservation professionals, community advocates, and students. Your preservation advocacy group may be able to benefit from the learning, mentoring, and networking opportunities available at a college or university in your own community or at one nearby.

Formal Education Opportunities

Historic preservationists must understand architectural history and urban design issues, but they must also be effective communicators and problem solvers within the public sphere. Therefore, formal historic preservation education is often interdisciplinary, drawing from a number of different academic fields.

But you don't have to pursue a degree to take advantage of some important classes at educational institutions. Many schools offer helpful continuing education classes, and some schools offer certificate programs in historic preservation. For example:

• The School of Architecture and Urban Planning at the University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee offers a Certificate in Preservation Study.
• The Campbell Center for Historic Preservation Studies, located in northwest Illinois, offers a Certificate Program in Historic Preservation as well as many individual classes and workshops that anyone can enroll in.

Mentoring and Networking Opportunities

Many alliances between historic preservation groups and educational institutions are so integral to pre-professional development that it is easy to overlook their role (and potential) in the community advocacy sphere. For example, college and university professors can help to shape community preservationists' understanding of regional identities and needs.

At the University of Wisconsin-Madison, Art History Associate Professor Anna V. Andrzejewski has inspired Wisconsin preservation advocates to understand and protect the state's vernacular architecture — a significant part of the state's material culture that is often more threatened than high style buildings. For example, neighborhood activist Gary Tipler of Madison's Friends of Historic Third Lake Ridge said that Professor Andrzejewski has enhanced his understanding of historic buildings in the Third Lake Ridge neighborhood. He also noted her work in bringing experts in the field of vernacular architecture to the Madison area through the Vernacular Architecture Forum.

The Wisconsin Historical Society and the University of Wisconsin system work in partnership to support history and historic preservation work in local communities. They cooperate in a network of Wisconsin Area Research Centers (ARCs). Each of these regional centers houses materials relevant to its region. Society staff also make classroom presentations to students at various UW campuses.

Student Intern and Volunteer Opportunities

Colleges and universities can offer your advocacy group another type of partnership opportunity — a steady source of student interns and volunteers. Your group, in turn, can offer valuable skill-building and community networking opportunities for engaged students.

Students enrolled in a variety of disciplines and degree programs can make excellent candidates for historic preservation projects. A well-planned and structured internship can go beyond merely relieving workload pressures by expanding your preservation group's work into new areas. Some University of Wisconsin schools offer a service-learning program so students can combine classroom instruction with community service projects.

Barbara Kooiman, President of the Preservation Alliance of La Crosse, is also a lecturer in the history department at the University of Wisconsin-La Crosse. She uses the city of La Crosse as a classroom for her students. Her role as relationship manager between the La Crosse preservation community and the university has been successful and sustained. She continues to look for opportunities to bridge more connections between students, the school's curriculum, and preservation in the region.

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Historic Preservation Advocacy Guide

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