The National Architectural Accrediting Board (NAAB) is both a decision-making and policy-generating body composed of a 13-member Board of Directors. The Association of Collegiate Schools of Architecture (ACSA), the American Institute of Architects (AIA), and the National Council of Architectural Registration Boards (NCARB) each nominate three Directors for 3-year terms, which are staggered at 1-year intervals; the American Institute of Architecture Students (AIAS) nominates two Directors for staggered 2-year terms; and the Directors, collateral organizations, and interested members of the public at large propose candidates for two public Directors, who serve 3-year terms. The Board then elects nominees to fill open positions on the Board. It also elects an Executive Committee that includes at least one representative each from the ACSA, AIA, and NCARB, who serves as President, President-Elect, Secretary, or Treasurer (or Secretary-Treasurer) for a period of 1 year. (See Appendix K for the NAAB Organizational Chart.)

On matters of policy, the NAAB communicates directly with the four other collateral organizations. Communications with their constituents are handled by the collateral organizations.

For institutions seeking degree accreditation, a site visit is led by a visiting team chair who is an experienced former accrediting team member, former NAAB Director, or former visiting team chair. Other visiting team members are selected by the NAAB from nominees submitted by each collateral organization. Visiting teams assess the program’s compliance with the applicable edition of the NAAB Conditions for Accreditation as the basis for their recommendation of a term of accreditation to the NAAB Directors. The site visit provides both a catalyst for the school’s planning and self-assessment process and a view of the degree program that cannot be derived solely from written material. It helps ensure full consideration of the accredited degree program’s unique potential for contributing to the needs of students, the institution, community, the profession, and society.

The NAAB usually holds three regular meetings per year: the first early in the year when the new officers and board members are in place and planning for the current calendar year is done; the second in the summer when accreditation decisions are made and teams are selected for the coming year; and the third in the fall when outstanding issues are discussed and determined. At the adjournment of the fall meeting, new officers and board members are seated. The Executive Committee handles matters delegated to it by the Board between full meetings and, when required, a Special Board Meeting can be called. Program accreditation decisions rest solely with the NAAB Directors. Policies on accreditation decisions are in the bylaws presented in Appendix K.

The NAAB is an independent nonprofit 501(c) 3 corporation with an office in Washington, D.C. It adheres to nondiscriminatory practices and is funded equally by the ACSA, AIA, and NCARB, with a contribution by the AIAS. Directors and visiting team members are not compensated, but are reimbursed for expenses.

The NAAB reserves the right to vary from these published procedures if such an action is in the best interests of a program or programs.

To ensure a meaningful assessment of the conditions and the procedures for accreditation, the NAAB undergoes rigorous reviews of the latest versions of the NAAB Conditions for Accreditation and the NAAB Procedures for Accreditation. For the Conditions, the process includes an invitational Accreditation Review Conference, held every 5years, attended by the NAAB, representatives of the collateral organizations, and other invited persons. Before the conference, each collateral organization and/or participant contributes to the agenda by reporting on issues each believes the conference should address. During the conference, these items are explored for consideration as part of revisions of the Conditions by the NAAB. After review by the collateral organizations and the architecture programs, a new edition of the Conditions is approved by the Board.

Changes to these Procedures are voted on once each year at the February meeting of the NAAB after review by the boards of the collateral organizations. The changes take effect each year on 1 April and are posted at www.naab.org.

The NAAB may schedule a special, focused Accreditation Review Conference if three or more of the five collateral organizations petition the NAAB to address specific issues in the Conditions.