2024 Practice and Leadership Award

To discover and recognize “best practice” examples of highly effective teaching, scholarship, and outreach in the areas of professional practice and leadership.

An AIA/ACSA Award.

Deadline: September 27, 2023

Description

The American Institute of Architects (AIA) and the Association of Collegiate Schools of Architecture (ACSA) are pleased to join together for the Practice and Leadership award, which will recognize “best practice” examples of highly effective teaching, scholarship, and outreach in the areas of professional practice and leadership.

Criteria

The award recognizes excellence in architecture education as demonstrated in classroom, studio, and/or community work, or in courses offered in various educational settings. Submission should show evidence of exceptional and innovative courses, initiatives, or programs that:

  • Deal with issues associated with the practice of architecture, including management, advocacy, and acting legally, ethically and critically for the good of the client, society and the public; and
  • promote models of excellence that can be appropriated by other educators.
Eligibility

All courses, initiatives, or programs completed within the last five years (since January 1, 2019) and that have not previously received an ACSA Award are eligible for consideration. Courses may be from a pre-professional, first professional, or post-professional program offered in ACSA full-member and candidate-member schools.

Nomination Documentation

All materials are to be submitted through the online system by the nominator or nominee; once the nomination is finalized all parties will receive a confirmation email. The résumé and supporting letters are best uploaded as PDF documents. The supporting material (portfolio) must not exceed a total of 20, 8.5×11 pages and be submitted in PDF format, no more than 20MB. All material must be submitted by September 27, 2023, online and the submitter must have an ACSA account and log into the ACSA website in order to submit. Previous recipients are ineligible for this award.

Each submission shall contain the following information:

  • Nomination Information, completed online during submission;
  • Project Title: The course title along with a brief description of how the course is positioned within the curriculum (required course /elective course, level, etc.);
  • Abstract: 300 word Abstract explaining the nature of the profiled assignment / project;
  • Letter of Nomination: A letter explaining the reasons for the nomination according to the established criteria, not to exceed one page (PDF format);
  • Supporting Letters: No more than three supporting letters (in addition to the letter of nomination) from colleagues and/or students commenting upon the significance of the specific achievements of the candidate (no more than 1 page each in separate PDF format);
  • Supporting Material: Illustrating or describing the nominee’s achievements, which would include teaching evaluations, syllabi, or student work (not to exceed a total of 20, 8.5×11 pages, in PDF format, no more than 20MB).
  • The student learning outcomes around which the course / assignment is designed, and a description of the evaluation methods used to assess student learning outcomes.
  • The dates the course was offered, level and number of students to whom it was offered, degree program setting of the course (B.Arch. M.Arch I, Post-professional; etc.)

For each project referenced in your Supporting Material, you will need to document the following in your PDF submission.
Project Title:
Month/Year Completed:
Role of Nominee (in the project):
Collaborators & Funding Sources Expenses:
(Sample Text: 4 non-profit employees donated X amount of hours in the collaboration, 1 electrician paid for X amount of hours – their scope included outlets, running conduit etc.)
Student Compensation (Indicate whether students received credit or were financially compensated, within the guidelines of the institution):
(Sample Text: 3 students working as paid research assistants for X amount of hours, 15 students contributed to this project for a 5-credit studio course etc.)

NEW

THIS

YEAR

COLLABORATION

NEW THIS YEAR

ACSA seeks to empower faculty and schools to educate increasingly diverse students, expand disciplinary impacts, and create knowledge for the advancement of architecture. ACSA leads architectural education and research by demonstrating the value of architectural education and research to practice and society, by advancing architectural pedagogy, and by serving as the voice of architectural education. ACSA’s core values include: Equity, Social Justice, Climate Action, Teaching,Learning, Research, Scholarship, and Creative Practice. Through the architecture educational awards program, ACSA demonstrates best practices.

ACSA understands work submitted to the awards programs is created through collaboration with students, organizations, firms, communities, and/or industry partners. ACSA advocates for fair labor practices in architecture education and awards submissions must represent the best practices in the field.

Therefore, award submissions must acknowledge all work performed in collaboration and must be properly credited. Submissions should include the information listed below including compensation for student work and/or firm support. This could be student earned course credit, firm work/resources, or financial contributions. The supporting material will need to clearly denote all collaborating parties involved, and their roles for each project.

Notices
  • All materials for nominations and submissions must be uploaded online in one complete package. Any incomplete documentation will not be accepted.
  • Projects that have previously been recognized by ACSA will not be considered.
  • ACSA stands firmly against unpaid labor. In support of the American Institute of Architecture Students’ (AIAS) resolution on unpaid interns, ACSA does not allow partners or firms who do not pay their interns, in accordance with all applicable laws, to submit work for ACSA publications or to receive ACSA awards. (Intern refers to those individuals participating in AXP or equivalent required training and includes working students.) Nomination or submission to the ACSA Awards Program constitutes your understanding of this agreement.
  • Current ACSA Board of Directors members may not submit nominating or supporting letters.
  • Award winners are expected to register and attend the the ACSA Annual Meeting.
  • By submitting your project, you certify that you have granted ACSA permission to use all graphics included.
Partners
Questions

Edwin Hernández-Ventura
Programs Coordinator
tel: 202-785-2324
email: ehernandez@acsa-arch.org

Eric W. Ellis
Senior Director of Operations and Programs
tel: 202-785-2324
email: eellis@acsa-arch.org