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Accreditation Requirements
Requirement 1: Maintain a component website and post at least one (1) upcoming event on your component website at all times. To ensure members and the public can engage easily and directly with the component, provide a dedicated point of contact.
Documentation: Reviewers will examine the website for upcoming events and the point of contact.
- Provide a link to the web page where upcoming component events are posted.
- Provide a link to the web page showing how to reach the component’s point of contact.
Primary resource:
Sample component event
Secondary resource:
How to: Contribute an event to the AIA digital platform
Requirement 2: Follow AIA brand guidelines consistently across all the component’s electronic and print media to ensure that members experience AIA as a unified organization.
Documentation: Reviewers will examine the website to observe brand usage.
- Provide the component website’s URL.
- Provide a weblink to a recent digital newsletter, if produced.
If the component produces a print publication (magazine or newsletter), provide a PDF of the page showing the usage of the component branding.
Primary resources:
Brand Guidelines
Brandfolder
MOO Guidelines
Secondary resources:
Component Web Experience (CE)
Webinar Recording: Core Service- Member Communications
Supporting the AIA Brand (see Component Web Experience (CE))
Requirement 3: Provide regular, readily visible promotion of specific AIA products—AIA Contract Documents, AIA Career Center, AIA Conference on Architecture, and AIAU—in the component’s electronic and print communications.
Documentation: Reviewers will examine the URL provided above to review how AIA Contract Documents, the AIA Career Center and AIAU are promoted on the component website. (AIA-hosted Component Web Sites include this promotion automatically.)
Reviewers will examine the URL provided above to review how the AIA Conference is promoted. If there is not a year-round link to Conference on your website, provide a PDF showing how the last Conference was promoted on the site.
Primary resources:
Component promotion of AIA products example
AIA Contract Documents
AIA Career Center
AIAU
AIA Conference
Requirement 4: Recognize and publicize outstanding architecture projects by members. Options for highlighting outstanding projects may include a design awards program, tours, public displays, featured placement in communications, or a combination of methods. (If offered, design awards need not be held annually. Design awards may be held jointly with other components.)
Documentation: If the component offers a design awards program, provide a copy of the most recent call for entries. If not, please show or describe how the component highlights outstanding member work.
Primary resource:
Design Awards 101: How to start a design awards program
Secondary resources:
Architecture Cruise Tour (Boston Society for Architecture)
Design Awards: Jury Guidelines for Professional and Student Entries (AIA national)
Call for Submissions (AIA Maine Design Awards)
Requirement 5: Raise awareness about the value of design and the role of architects using messaging and programs aimed at a public audience.
Documentation: Describe at least one key public awareness activity and the target audience. Provide at least one example of a public outreach communication or press release. Components should use or adapt AIA’s public outreach resources or develop their own. Components may submit collaborative efforts among components in one’s state.
Primary resource:
AIA Message Book
Secondary resources:
Webinar Recording: Public Outreach in Core Member Services
A guide to engaging with civic leaders
Best Practice: Sensory: A Project Architecture Installation
Hashtag Cheat Sheet: Elevate the visibility of your social media posts