Back to School
Architecture firm develops in-house university

by Russell Boniface
Associate Editor

Summary: Cincinnati-based Hixson Architecture Engineering Interiors has an active in-house university that provides accredited professional continuing education credits authorized by the International Association for Continuing Education and Training, an organization whose accreditation is accepted by the AIA. Hixson University, established in 2001, follows a well-organized education structure of five colleges, each headed by a dean, with six curriculum tracks that serve more than 100 associates seeking technical and support training. Hixson University maintains its own records, helps associates earn credits for state licensure, and is the recipient of the 2003 Professional Services Management Association achievement award.

The Hixson firm combines architecture with engineering and focuses on the fashion retail, food and beverage, and pharmaceutical markets. The firm developed its university program following 20 years of an in-house training program. The university’s continuing education is composed of five colleges:

• Fundamentals and Orientation
• General Business Skills
• Professional Development
• Leadership and Management
• Personal Enrichment

A support services group is also included in the structure. Different curricula are set up in six learning tracks that cross all five colleges:

• New Associate
• Discipline Lead
• Industry Specialist
• Manager
• Other
• Discipline Specific

University structure
Hixson University courses are voluntary and presented during lunch or after work. Most Hixson University instructors come from within the firm and have particular expertise in the course topic area. Courses are videotaped and made available as DVDs.

Developed by Hixson Senior Vice President and University Director Rick Hampton, Hixson University expands on many of the office learning strategies suggested by Marvin J. Malecha, FAIA, 2003 Topaz Medallion recipient, in his book The Learning Organization and the Evolution of Practice Academy Concepts.

“We have taken it a little further,” declares Hampton. To that degree, the exemplary aspect of Hixson University is that it offers knowledge development to a large staff within a structured, organized capacity.

“We had a learning program in existence, and its sole purpose was to make sure internal information was shared,” says Hampton, who himself developed the earlier program. “In 2000, we discovered that our learning format was ineffective. We wanted a system that could transfer information knowledge from the more-experienced people to the less-experienced people. We sanctioned a team that did studies and came back with the idea to set up a more formal, university-type format.”

Cross-discipline learning
While embellishing what the firm had been doing by introducing elements such as outside resources and evaluation forms, it was more important to Hampton to organize the learning into colleges and, most importantly, into cross-discipline learning tracks. “The original program was organized by information topics. Now we are organized into colleges and learning tracks, and there is no one track in one college—tracks cut across all colleges. Individuals, such as new associates, can sit down with their manager and select training from our intranet learning-track matrix.”

Hixson’s continuing education courses offer certification and contact hours. Classes need to follow IACET guidelines, in particular, Hampton notes, incorporating the Bloom’s Taxonomy teaching method that increases difficulty levels of exercises to measure knowledge, comprehension, application, analysis, synthesis, and evaluation. “We felt that was the appropriate next step since professional licensing at the state level for architects and engineers accept IACET credits,” Hampton says,

Then there is a mandatory evaluation of learning, such as a test, panel discussion, or homework, as per IACET requirements. Hampton emphasizes that courses are well prepared and presented. “It’s not just: ‘We give you a test, now you are accredited’.”

Sharing knowledge
Hampton stresses the importance of offering professional education to both new staff and those looking to advance, adding that the university will evolve as professional needs change. “It’s amazing how professional people want to continue to learn, especially the younger people coming in. But, at the same time, when looking at the people attending the seminars, there is probably more gray hair in there than young people. It’s great to have expertise to share with everyone. When I walk out of these doors, I want the university to be my legacy.”