Serving on a NAAB Visiting Team revolutionizes how you understand your own education and connect with the profession. As the student representative, you have a huge responsibility to serve as the student voice and highlight the student experience. The training, meetings, and reading leading up to the 4-day visit allows you to be an expert on a school’s program and have informed conversations.
Nominees will be required to complete NAAB’s team training program prior to participating on a visiting team. Team members must be available for all the pre-site visit meetings in addition to being fully present for all the days of the visit. Spring visits generally occur between late January and early April of each year; fall visits are typically scheduled between late September and early November. All visits are scheduled to be virtual through December 31, 2023. In comprising a site visit team, NAAB will consider individual areas of expertise, availability for the established visit dates, and will balance each team in terms of geography, gender, race/ethnicity, and accreditation experience.
“Like any other architecture student, I’ve spent countless hours in studio laboring over projects and perfecting my craft. Seldom did I consider the decisions or intent each assignment, exercise, and instruction plan had towards my overall education in the architectural discipline, pursuit towards licensure, or overall educational makeup of an accredited university. Serving on a NAAB visit changed that for me. Accrediting an architecture program is a challenging 4-day process – both for the program leading up the visit and the team during it; yet, one that ensures architecture educational institutions are continuing to improve and provide students with the necessary resources, tools, and instruction that are applicable towards professional practice (or nontraditional endeavors). After examining whether a program’s student work meets the criteria set forth by NAAB, I’ve come to consciously place my own work in this context, as well as advanced my understanding of architectural representation + pedagogy, university – department relationships, and the unique programmatic offerings. My team members – each an accomplished practitioner or professor from around the country – have become mentors to me. It’s a worthwhile educational and service experience I’d highly recommend.”
Braham Berg
M. Arch. + MSRED
Tulane University
“(When I was a third year student at Auburn, I was our delegate to AIAS Forum one year and, on a lark, signed up there to be a potential NAAB team member. Little did I know that I’d be selected to be a part of Drury University’s initial program accreditation team the following spring.) The four days serving as a team member were incredible, from attending a private sunset tour of Thorncrown Chapel with Fay Jones and his wife, to digging into the work of my peers, to gaining a much deeper understanding of the connection between curricula, standards, and how each school approaches the space between, it was a life changing experience. It deepened my personal interest in potentially teaching as part of my career and introduced me to some great mentors within the profession. It encouraged me to remain active in AIA and in how I could help give back. I’d highly encourage any student who’s interested in taking a deep dive into the education of an architect to put your name into the hat. Who knows where it may take you…”
Greg Walker, AIA
Principal
Houser Walker Architecture
Interested in serving on a Visiting Team, but not sure what the process is like? Register for Leadership Day 2022 to attend an AIAS member-specific NAAB Visiting Team Training!
