Since early 2020, NCARB and the National Organization of Minority Architects (NOMA) have partnered to explore the challenges faced by underrepresented groups in the early stages of their architecture careers. As part of that work, NCARB and NOMA launched a joint Baseline on Belonging study to identify opportunities to address the disparities seen throughout early career stages—explore findings from the study and highlights from NCARB and NOMA’s action plan.
In efforts to make progress on addressing those action items, NCARB’s FY25 President Kenneth R. Van Tine, AIA, NCARB, LEED AP, and NOMA’s 2023-24 President Pascale Sablan, NOMA, FAIA, LEED AP, visited seven architecture programs at Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCUs). Through these visits, our organizations aimed to gather insight and feedback regarding the current path to licensure, share information regarding recent program and policy updates, and offer advice for addressing challenges candidates face along the licensure path.
Presidents Van Tine and Sablan joined NCARB’s outreach team to conduct listening sessions with students at each of the seven HBCUs that offer a National Architectural Accrediting Board (NAAB)-accredited architecture program. In addition, they shared information about the architecture profession and efforts to increase accessibility and diversity along the path to licensure. Students received information about licensure requirements and how to prepare for the future of the licensure process with NCARB’s ongoing efforts to explore multiple pathways to licensure.
NCARB is committed to developing licensure pathways that can address the impediments attached to a single path and improve access to the profession for traditionally underrepresented groups. These outreach events allow NCARB’s leadership to gain insight from students first-hand to inform and improve our ongoing Pathways to Practice efforts.
Thank you to the following architecture schools for hosting our leadership and outreach team:
- Florida A&M University, School of Architecture and Engineering Technology | September 9, 2024
- Prairie View A&M University, School of Architecture | October 2, 2024
- Tuskegee University, Department of Architecture | October 7, 2024
- Morgan State University, School of Architecture & Planning | November 4, 2024
- University of the District of Columbia, College of Agriculture, Urban Sustainability, and Environmental Science | November 5, 2024
- Hampton University, School of Engineering, Architecture and Aviation | November 6, 2024
- Howard University, College of Engineering and Architecture | January 30, 2025
Interested in hosting an NCARB outreach event? Learn more about our outreach efforts.
