Since our 20th Anniversary celebration, the MNA Cornell Summer Architecture Scholarship has received over $26,000 towards its permanent endowment. Thank you to all who made a contribution!

In addition, Cornell’s College of Art, Architecture, and Planning has established the AAP Committee on Diversity, actively pursuing ideas to increase diversity, particularly underrepresented minorities, within the Architecture Program. Through discussion and research, it has become clear that increased early awareness of Architecture as a profession, preparedness for application to Architecture schools, and availability of financial aid are all key elements to achieving a diverse applicant pool. Therefore, the committee has targeted three objectives to address these issues:

Using New York City as a pilot region, the committee is identifying high schools with strong arts/architecture programs, and informing their education staff about the Cornell summer program, Cornell Architecture program, and how students can prepare for these programs.

In addition to the MNA summer Architecture Scholarship, the College recently received a sizeable grant to establish the Cornell Future Architect Award (CFAA). This will allow up to 7 eligible minority students to receive a full scholarship to attend the summer architecture program, starting this summer. It’s impact on diversity within the College applicant pool and freshman class will be great, as the majority of students accepted into the 5 year Architecture Program have previously attended a summer architecture course.

The committee has also created a brochure and website to make these initiatives more broadly known to interested students and counselor. Further outreach ideas could also include mentoring, application portfolio review, and specific efforts to spark interest in Architecture in middle school students.

Cornell Future Architect Award