The AIAS is governed by the Bylaws and a ten-member Board of Directors that meets at least four times each school year. The Board and the activities of the organization are guided by the input provided by the Council of Presidents (COP) that meets twice each year. The COP is comprised of one delegate from each chapter in good standing. To be a chapter in good standing, the chapter must be current in payment of chapter dues, have more than ten individual members and be in compliance with the AIAS Bylaws.
Values
Impact
We advocate for and enact positive change.
Community
We foster an inclusive network of peers that learn from, support, and drive one another.
Growth
We inspire students to reach their greatest potential through meaningful learning opportunities.
Passion
We pursue large goals and aspirations through each member’s enthusiasm.
Perspective
We link the professional’s opportunities to architectural education.
Balance
We promote respectful relationships, an environment of diversity, and a thriving studio culture.
Strategic Goals
In 2018, the AIAS Board of Directors completed the strategic goals for the next few years of the organization. With these goals, the AIAS aims to provide value to you, our member, through programs and services that benefit:
YOUR PRESENT
- Build content, culture, and community that reflects the values of the AIAS
YOUR NEAR FUTURE
- Support your network of current and past members to advance member enrichment
YOUR FUTURE
- Highlight how the study of architecture can raise the value of design beyond the architectural community
- Educate and empower advocates of design to address and create innovative solutions for emerging global issues
Standing Committees
The AIAS has a number of committees, advisory, and working groups that function as advisory or working groups of the Board and report regularly to the Board on the work performed.
Governance Committee
The Governance Committee is responsible for periodically evaluating governance issues of the organization and make recommendations as appropriate to the Board.
Charges:
- Perform a thorough review of all governing documents, including but not limited to the National Bylaws, the Rules of the Board, Public Policies, and Code of Ethics to ensure accurate representation of the current state of the organization.
- Create a best practices guide for chapter elections for in-person, virtual, and hybrid scenarios; consider chapters of all types and sizes.
- Refine and implement the Membership Awareness Campaign started by the ‘19-’20 committee to ensure transparency and understanding of the bylaws to all members
Finance Committee
The Finance Committee shall be responsible to act in conjunction with the executive director in the preparation of the annual budget for review and approval by the full Board. The Finance Committee shall be entitled to request and receive periodic reports from the outside auditor. It may also periodically evaluate the organization’s financial status and make suggestions and recommendations to the national office and the Board.
Charges:
- Work with the Executive Director to perform a financial review of the organization and support the yearly budget process.
- Work in collaboration with the Membership Committee and Council of Global Representatives to explore International Membership fees and membership benefits for all members to ensure that the value of AIAS membership aligns with the fee in each respective region.
- Educate chapters and members about best financial practices in an organization for both in person and virtual circumstances.
- Quantify cost implications for proposed resolutions.
Membership Committee
The Membership Committee shall find means for advancement in the quality of membership by periodically evaluating the specific needs of the membership.
Charges:
- Work in collaboration with the Finance Committee and Council of Global Representatives to explore International Membership fees and membership benefits for all members to ensure that the value of AIAS membership aligns with the fee in each respective region.
- Oversee the AIAS Alumni Mentorship Program.
- Create a Mentorship Program Guidebook; specifically exploring different levels of mentorship, including but not limited to in-school, out of school, and multi-chapter programs and then organizing relevant information including but not limited to structural templates, model events, and pairing guidelines.
Personnel Committee
The Personnel Committee shall be responsible for evaluating the performance of the executive director and officers as per the outline of responsibilities defined in the executive director’s and officers’ employment contract, in the Bylaws and the Rules of the Board, and in any other performance guidelines and goals defined by the committee and previously agreed to by the executive director and officers.
Charges:
- Serve as a mentorship component for the Executive Director.
- Update and improve the Appraisal Process for the Officers and Executive Director.
- Aid in the transition process for appointed Liaisons to the Board of Directors.
Freedom By Design Advisory Committee
The Freedom by Design Advisory Committee serves as the primary training, outreach, support, curatorial, and innovation arm of the Freedom by Design program. The committee holds five primary charges outlined in the Rules of the Board.
Charges:
- Direct and/or perform training for Freedom by Design Directors at Grassroots and FORUM.
- Communicate with chapters and track all projects throughout the year.
- Support chapters throughout the year regarding waivers, liability, design mentors, construction mentors, school relations, fundraising, and Freedom by Design best practices.
- Collect and curate content documenting completed projects in conjunction with the AIAS National Office.
- Suggest and propose program changes, evolutions, or new initiatives to the AIAS Board of Directors, including but not limited to national FBD K-12 and other public outreach, educational and funding opportunities for FBD programs.
- Promote the entire scope of FBD; explore opportunities in service beyond design-build that AIAS members could partake in both virtually and in person.
- Maintain the official Freedom by Design national Instagram account.
ETHICS COMMITTEE
The Ethics Committee shall further refine the Code of Ethics and will investigate necessary logistics for implementation.
Charges:
- Evaluate ethical issues of the organization when necessary, interpreting the Code of Ethics, and making recommendations as appropriate to the Board.
COUNCIL OF GLOBAL REPRESENTATIVES COMMITTEE
The Council of Global Representatives is responsible for assisting the AIAS in developing resources that express student values, priorities, and school culture in different regions of the international membership. The Council is also a discussion group that represents the opinions and voice of international members studying in the US or abroad.
Charges:
- Advocate for and support rights and needs of international students.
- Work in collaboration with the Membership Committee and the Finance Committee to explore International Membership fees and membership benefits for all members to ensure that the value of AIAS membership aligns with the fee in each respective region.
- Continue and expand upon engagement efforts started by the ‘19-’20 Council, including Coffee with the Council and international chapter/member highlights.
- Investigate and share resources and relevant information for international students studying/working within the U.S.and abroad.
Special Committees
The AIAS has a number of committees, advisory, and working groups that function as advisory or working groups of the Board and report regularly to the Board on the work performed.
LEARNING & TEACHING CULTURE ADVISORY GROUP
The Learning and Teaching Culture Advisory Group is responsible for assisting the AIAS with protecting the design studentís right to a fair, equitable, and healthy studio and school environment by educating AIAS Chapters and their members on what a positive Learning and Teaching Culture should be. They will promote healthy and well lifestyles and practices among AIAS Chapters, studio/work environments, buildings, individuals, teams, and communities.
Charges:
- Provide support and guidance for the implementation of the Model Learning & Teaching Culture Policy.
- Define, advocate for, and support fair, equitable, and healthy practices of studying architecture for chapters and members.
- Organize and implement a Health & Wellness Week for all AIAS chapters/members.
- In collaboration with the Social Justice Task Force and Sustainability & Resiliency Task Force, help maintain the official Advocacy Instagram account.
SOCIAL JUSTICE TASK FORCE
The Social Justice Task Force assists the AIAS with bringing to light and striving to eliminate issues of social justice as they relate to architectural education. The committee communicates with the membership ways to increase awareness and combat issues of injustice including, but not limited to equity, diversity, inclusivity, and accessibility in AIAS Chapters, studio/work environments, buildings, individuals, teams, communities, and/or cities.
Charges:
- Define, advocate for and support rights and needs of underserved and minority groups of students.
- Hold the AIAS accountable for and assess its efforts and initiatives towards an equitable and diverse culture.
- Raise awareness of issues of injustice to the membership and show them how to actively advocate on behalf of themselves and their peers.
- In collaboration with the Design & Technology Task Force, explore universal design and accessibility strategies and brainstorm the implementation of them into the curriculum in schools of architecture.
- In collaboration with the Learning & Teaching Culture Advisory Group and Sustainability & Resiliency Task Force, help maintain the official Advocacy Instagram account.
SUSTAINABILITY AND RESILIENCY TASK FORCE
The Sustainability and Resiliency Task Force assists the AIAS with promoting sustainability and resiliency as they relate to architectural education and practice. The committee communicates with the membership ways to increase and promote sustainable and resilient AIAS chapters, studio/work environments, buildings, individuals, teams, communities, and/or cities. Sustainable and Resilient lifestyles and practices are the responsibility of all AIAS members and the organization.
Charges:
- Define, advocate for, and support sustainable and resilient practices for chapters.
- Hold the AIAS accountable for and assess its efforts and initiatives towards Sustainability and Resiliency.
- Explore a Sustainability Commitment for the AIAS.
- Review and refine the Best Practices Guide created by the ‘19-’20 Task Force.
- Break down topics related to sustainability and resiliency to increase awareness and understanding among the membership.
- In collaboration with the Social Justice Task Force and Learning & Teaching Culture Advisory Group, help maintain the official Advocacy Instagram account.
DESIGN & TECHNOLOGY TASK FORCE
The Design and Technology Task Force assists the AIAS with upholding design excellence by exploring the advancement of learning, design, and technology among AIAS members and potential relevant resources.
Charges:
- Continue to develop the Resource Guides started by the ‘19-‘20 Learning & Technology Task Force.
- Educate chapters and members about best practices for hosting virtual events, workshops, and tutorials.
- Evaluate current AIAS Competitions, propose updates and explore new initiatives.
- In collaboration with the Social Justice Task Force, explore universal design and accessibility strategies and brainstorm the implementation of them into the curriculum in schools of architecture.
Call for Resolutions to the Council of Presidents - Grassroots 2020
June 11th
- Deadline to propose a resolution
June 12th
- Resolutions published on aias.org
- Open call for amendments to resolutions
July 5th
- Deadline to propose an amendment to a resolution
July 6th
- Amendments published on aias.org
August 1st – Grassroots Council of Presidents Meeting
- Voting on resolutions and amendments
To submit a resolution or amendment, please draft up a proposal as a “motion” using Robert’s Rules of Order, provide background or rationale up to one paragraph in length, and email it to president@aias.org in advance of the deadlines above. Questions or concerns about a proposal can also be submitted to the same address.
Proposed Resolutions to the Grassroots Council of Presidents
RESOLUTION #1
Proposed By: Kent State University & Wentworth Institute of Technology
We move to charge the AIAS National Office to curate a chapter resource kit to be distributed quarterly on the aias.org website, the COP drive and/or email newsletter, consisting of but not limited to: relevant conference graphics and posters, competition graphics, poster templates, and social media templates.
Explanation: Through conversations with chapter presidents from throughout the organization and creative director Tim Matthews, it became clear that relatively few chapters consistently advertised the many national benefits of AIAS membership. These benefits which include the scholarships, competitions and conferences are the foundation which allows chapters to flourish.
This resource kit aims to help support chapters who find they either don’t have the time, went through a leadership transition in which information was lost or who do not have a dedicated marketing director, by directly putting the resources for advertisement in chapter leaders hands. Additionally, this resource kit can help smaller chapters as well as new chapters create a strong foundation to grow while allowing them to focus on events within their school.
RESOLUTION #2
Proposed By: Wentworth Institute of Technology
I move to charge the 2020-2021 Membership Committee to create a Mentorship Program Guidebook; specifically exploring different levels of mentorship, including but not limited to in-school, out of school, and multi-chapter programs and then organizing relevant information including but not limited to structural templates, model events, and pairing guidelines.
Explanation: Through discussion with students at Wentworth Institute of Technology and with chapters from across the organization, an interest in creating student run mentorship programs within each school, and potentially between multiple AIAS chapters and AIA components has been expressed. This resolution aims to create a starting point for chapters to utilize in order to create a strong and robust mentorship program within their chapters, as well as in collaboration with nearby AIAS and AIA chapters. This resolution gives the membership committee a degree of freedom to explore different types of mentorship programs which they would then be tasked with creating a guidebook for.
Amendments to the Proposed Resolutions to the Grassroots Council of Presidents
Amendment to RESOLUTION #1
Proposed By: The AIAS National Office
We move to charge the AIAS National Office to make promotional materials and templates available to chapters via the CoP drive for the promotion and marketing of programs and events such as: THRIVE, CRIT Live, AIAS Scholarships, Grassroots, Forum, competitions, etc.
Explanation: The team at the national office appreciates the ongoing discussions between a number of chapter leaders, including the chapter leaders at Kent State University and Wentworth Institute of Technology. We agree that more can be done to make standardized resources, templates, and materials available to chapters to support individual chapters and Quads in the marketing and promotion of national events and opportunities. In order to maintain consistency in branding, the National Office also feels that chapters must agree not to alter or amend the materials unless it is a customizable template.
