Study Architecture 
ProPEL SCHEDULE
CONFERENCE SCHEDULE
Following is the preliminary conference schedule, which is subject to change. Please check back for the most up-to-date information. This year’s Administrators Conference will be held in-person in Fayetteville, AR on November 6-8, 2025.
Continuing Education
Obtain Continuing Education Credits (CES) / Learning Units (LU). Registered conference attendees will be able to submit sessions attended for Continuing Education Credits (CES). Register for the conference today to gain access to all the AIA/CES credit sessions.
9:00pm-3:00pm
4 AIA/CES HSW
E. Fay Jones Architecture Tour (Lunch Provided)
Pre-Conference Tour
2:30pm
Transportation
Buses Depart Graduate Hotel Fayetteville for Crystal Bridges Museum
3:00pm-6:00pm
EXPLORE CRYSTAL BRIDGES MUSEUM
Crystal Bridges takes its name from a nearby natural spring and the bridge construction incorporated in the building, designed by world-renowned architect Moshe Safdie. A series of pavilions nestled around two spring-fed ponds house galleries, meeting and classroom spaces, and a large, glass-enclosed gathering hall. Five miles of sculpture and walking trails link the museum’s 134-acre park to downtown Bentonville, Arkansas.
5:00pm-6:00pm
7:00pm
OPENING RECEPTION
7:30pm
Transportation
Buses Depart Crystal Bridges Museum for Graduate Hotel Fayetteville
8:00am
Transportation
Buses Depart Graduate Hotel Fayetteville for UArk, Fay Jones School of Architecture & Design.
8:30am
Registration & Breakfast (Provided)
9:00am-10:30am
1.5 LU Credit
Session I
MANAGING COMMUNITY DESIGN CENTERS
Community design centers and outreach programs allow architecture schools to engage directly with local communities while providing students with hands-on learning experiences. This session explores best practices for managing these initiatives, including program development, partnership building, resource allocation, and assessment of impact. Participants will discuss strategies to balance educational goals, community needs, and institutional priorities while fostering meaningful, sustainable engagement.
Session II
GRANTS, DEVELOPMENT, AND ADVANCEMENT TODAY
Effective fundraising and resource development are essential for supporting research, programs, and student success in architecture schools. This session brings together university administrators to discuss current trends, strategies, and challenges in grants, development, and advancement. Panelists will share practical approaches for securing funding, building partnerships, and cultivating long-term support, with attention to both institutional priorities and the evolving needs of architectural education.
10:30am
Coffee Break
11:00am-12:30pm
1.5 LU Credit
Session I
DESIGN-BUILD PROGRAM MANAGEMENT
Design-build programs offer architecture students transformative opportunities to connect design with construction, community engagement, and real-world problem solving. Yet, these programs also require careful management of budgets, timelines, risk, partnerships, and learning outcomes. This session examines models of design-build program management in universities, highlighting best practices and lessons learned. Participants will gain practical strategies for sustaining impactful programs that balance educational goals with logistical and institutional demands.
Session II
INTERNATIONAL PERSPECTIVES
Architectural education around the world faces complex challenges, from budget crises and administrative pressures to ongoing conversations with practice. Leaders from diverse institutions will engage in dialog connecting their particular challenges.
12:30pm-2:00pm
BUSINESS LUNCH (Lunch Provided)
Sponsored by Tau Sigma Delta (TSD), National Honors Society
2:00pm-3:30pm
1.5 LU Credit
CONNECTING ARCHITECTURE PROGRAMS TO INSTITUTIONAL MISSIONS
Architecture schools operate within diverse institutional contexts with unique missions and priorities. This panel brings together deans and directors to discuss how schools align their programs, research, and community engagement with their university’s broader mission. Panelists will share strategies for serving institutional constituents, balancing local and global responsibilities, and navigating the expectations of faculty, students, and stakeholders.
3:30pm
Coffee Break
4:00pm-5:30pm
1.5 LU Credit
CORE VALUES IN HIGHER EDUCATION
What principles and value propositions define architectural education at multiple levels—from the individual student to the program, university, and society at large? This session invites commentary on the core values that guide architecture schools and how these values connect across the many components that shape the diverse contexts of architectural education. Participants will discuss strategies for articulating and leveraging these values to strengthen student learning, advance research, and enhance the societal impact of architectural education.
6:00pm
1 LU Credit
EVENING KEYNOTE
6:00pm
1 LU Credit
RECEPTION
7:00pm
Transportation
Buses Depart UArk, Fay Jones School of Architecture & Design for Graduate Hotel Fayetteville.
8:00am
Transportation
Buses Depart Graduate Hotel Fayetteville for UArk Timberland Center.
8:30am
Registration & Breakfast (Provided)
9:00am-10:30am
1.5 LU Credit
Session I
ASSESSMENT & LEARNING OUTCOMES CASE STUDIES: Undergraduate Education
How are architecture programs measuring what students learn? Speakers in these parallel sessions share case studies from that highlight innovative approaches to assessment and the articulation of learning outcomes. The session will explore methods that connect design education with professional competencies, accreditation requirements, and broader educational goals. Participants will gain practical insights into aligning curriculum, teaching, and evaluation to strengthen student learning and program effectiveness.
Session II
ASSESSMENT & LEARNING OUTCOMES CASE STUDIES: Graduate Education
How are architecture programs measuring what students learn? Speakers in these parallel sessions share case studies from that highlight innovative approaches to assessment and the articulation of learning outcomes. The session will explore methods that connect design education with professional competencies, accreditation requirements, and broader educational goals. Participants will gain practical insights into aligning curriculum, teaching, and evaluation to strengthen student learning and program effectiveness.
10:30am
Coffee Break
11:00am-12:30pm
1.5 LU Credit
Session I
COMPETENCIES & LEARNING OUTCOMES
What knowledge, skills, and values should architecture students graduate with to be effective today and across a forty year career? This session examines the evolving competencies—design excellence, technological fluency, collaboration, sustainability, and social responsibility—that shape architectural education. Participants will explore how clearly defined learning outcomes not only prepare students for professional practice but also guide curriculum design, accreditation, and assessment.
Session I
FUNDED RESEARCH
Securing research funding is critical for universities of architecture to expand knowledge, foster innovation, and address pressing global challenges. This session examines strategies for building a robust research culture, from identifying funding opportunities to cultivating partnerships with government, industry, and community organizations. Participants will consider how funded research supports faculty development, enhances student learning, and strengthens the impact of architectural scholarship on society.
12:30pm-2:30pm
2 LU Credit
2:30pm
Transportation
Buses Depart UArk Timberland Center for Graduate Hotel Fayetteville.
2:30pm-5:00pm
2.5 LU Credit
NAAB Workshop: How to Conduct a Successful On-Campus Site Visit
Post-Conference Workshop
Join NAAB for a workshop on the essentials for preparing for a successful accreditation visit under the NAAB 2020 Conditions and Procedures. This practical, hands-on session will feature presentations, exercises and Q&A time with NAAB experts. (Sign-Up at Registration)
5:00pm
Transportation
Buses Depart UArk Timberland Center for Graduate Hotel Fayetteville.
2:30pm-5:00pm
3 LU Credit
Contemporary Architecture Tour
Post-Conference Tour
Explore the dynamic architectural landscape of Northwest Arkansas, where innovative design meets cultural ambition. This tour features a curated selection of contemporary landmarks from world-renowned architect Marlon Blackwell, to thoughtfully designed public spaces and sustainable developments. Discover how architects are shaping a vibrant region through bold forms, material experimentation, and deep engagement with community and place.
Conference Partners
Michelle Sturges
Conferences Manager
202-785-2324
msturges@acsa-arch.org
Eric W. Ellis
Sr. Director of Operations and Programs
202-785-2324
eellis@acsa-arch.org
