Current Challenges Facing Higher Education

We know that many faculty at our member schools in the United States, Canada, and beyond are concerned about the actions of the new U.S. presidential administration. The spate of executive orders and other federal actions will have serious impacts on higher education, including on teaching, research, and support for faculty and students, particularly those from international, undocumented, and historically marginalized backgrounds. These impacts are of great concern to the ACSA organization as well.

On February 12, we invited leaders from various education-focused organizations in architecture and design for a video conference to share what our members and stakeholders are experiencing. Twenty-two attendees from 11 organizations (ACSA, AIA, AIAS, AICAD, ARCC, CCCAP, CELA, IDEC, NAAB, NCBDS, NOMA, SAH), representing faculty, students, and practitioners in architecture, interior design, landscape architecture, art, and design, shared concerns about current and imminent effects on grants, research infrastructure, quality assurance, and student aid, and the growing risks of deportation, defunding, and loss of jobs. The group also explored ways to support each other and maintain our commitments to DEI initiatives and our foundational values amidst these challenges. We agreed to share our meeting with our constituents as the first in a series of conversations about challenges facing higher education.

We hope you will join us in future opportunities for conversation over the next six weeks, including our February 19 and February 27 member caucuses, the March 5 Annual Business Meeting, and the 113th ACSA Annual Meeting, March 20-22, in New Orleans.

Cathi Ho Schar, FAIA
ACSA President