Message from AIA President Kimberly Dowdell: Accreditation Update

Dear AIA Member:

The American Institute of Architects is committed to fulfilling our mission, which is to inspire and empower architects to improve society and transform the world. We believe that education is vital to equipping our current and future members with the skills that are necessary to do just that. The accreditation of architecture schools is essential to maintaining a high level of quality in the process of training future architects. We write to you today to clarify our stance on the new funding proposal presented by the National Architectural Accrediting Board (NAAB), and to communicate our ongoing efforts to reach an agreement that supports NAAB-accredited schools of architecture.

Background
 
Historically, NAAB-accredited programs have not paid accreditation fees directly to NAAB. Instead, accreditation has been financially supported by its partners: the National Council of Architectural Registration Boards (NCARB), the Association of Collegiate Schools of Architecture (ACSA), the American Institute of Architecture Students (AIAS), and AIA. 
 
NAAB recently called for public comment on their 2025-2028 Proposed Accreditation Program Fee Structure. This new funding structure involves directly charging schools of architecture for accreditation. This proposal has been met with significant discussion within the architectural community, primarily due to the potential financial implications for these institutions.

A key concern is that this change could lead to an increase in costs for the schools, significantly higher than the current rates. In response, AIA and the other supporting organizations have requested that NAAB withdraw the funding proposal and negotiate in good faith a path forward that is positive for students, schools of architecture, and the profession. We applaud NAAB's decision to suspend the public comment period until June 30, 2024 in order to revisit funding conversations.   

Next Steps

AIA is urging all organizations to swiftly find common ground on the most effective way to support the accreditation of architectural education. AIA and NCARB are currently commissioning an expert analysis of the accreditation process, with the support of our partner organizations. The results of this analysis will inform our collective path forward. As our valued members, we want you to be informed of our commitment to education and know that we remain steadfast in safeguarding the interests of the profession. We believe that through our common objectives, the stakeholders in this matter can engage in productive future discussions. AIA is looking forward to working with our colleagues to find a mutually beneficial solution to sustaining architectural accreditation.  

Sincerely, 

Kimberly N. Dowdell, AIA, NOMAC 
2024 AIA President

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