Advocacy

By Audrey Treece

Advocacy is one of the many benefits that you would gain as an American Institute of Architecture Students (AIAS) member. This year the taskforce has been charged with Student Loan Forgiveness initiatives. AIAS has spent numerous hours collecting data and input so they can make the best attempt at advocating for all architecture students regardless of membership. As I said, this year the charge has been about Student Loan Forgiveness. The AIAS is not asking for complete negligence of loans; however, they are advocating for equal treatment of those that are doctors, lawyers and teachers. Many people do not understand the amount of hidden costs that architectural students have throughout their academic career. The AIAS partnered with the American Institute of Architects are trying to make our situation known and fight for student loan forgiveness in exchange for pro bono work like other professions. This would be an opportunity for architectural graduates to showcase their talents and need for the profession by assisting underserved communities while also cutting down student loan costs. Read below for the most recent update on the situation and the take a look at the AIAS Financial Survey Results. To follow the progress and outcome, be sure to check in often to aias.org. For immediate release: Washington, D.C., April 25, 2012 - This past weekend, the Board of Directors of The American Institute of Architecture Students (AIAS) held their spring meeting. Most importantly on the agenda was the discussion of a recent survey of students of architecture and the needs of current and future graduates in preparing to enter the profession. “The current trends in the pursuit of Architecture as a career, and the realities of the current economy and the anticipated progression of the recovery, demanded that the AIAS look at our members’ perception and expectations for the future,” said Nick Mancusi, Assoc. AIA, the President of the AIAS. “In order to remain relevant, our organization and the profession as a whole needs to be aware of the next generation’s concerns and offer information and resources to support those capable and willing citizens as they graduate and engage with their community.” The survey results confirm and supplement many other recently published and private reports from various sources. Specifically targeted at students in architectural programs, the primary findings of the report indicate a number of challenges to the next generation of the profession, but these are challenges that can be addressed through discussion and collective effort. The survey indicates that the primary concerns of architecture students are focused on the job market and the debt load that students are taking on to pursue this career choice. The research results indicate that architecture students have a higher than average amount of student debt: Anticipating an average amount of $40,000 in debt upon graduation from their program. This amount ranges dramatically based both on the institution and the degree program being completed. Students also face a large amount of “Hidden Costs” that are not part of the listed tuition and fees of a program. Specifically, Students spend $1,000+ annually on materials for models and project submissions. Additionally textbooks, required and “optional” amount to another $800 per year, and technology spending accounts for an additional $1,500 per year. Thus over the course of a 4 year Bachelor’s program, most students will spend an additional $13,200 in related school costs, with a 6 year Master’s course of study leading to $19,800 in these types of expenses. Interestingly half of our respondents expect to be able to find a job within 3 months of graduation and 77% anticipate being employed within a year. This expression of confidence in the recovery is offset by the salary expectations these graduating students have. In terms of starting salary 62% of the surveyed students anticipate having a salary below $40,000 (which is less than the amount of educational debt they expect to take on.) The majority of the additional respondents were unsure of their salary numbers. Finally, specifically related to pursuing architecture, 84% of our participants are currently pursuing their degree with the express intention of becoming an architect and nearly a third (31%) have already begun their NCARB record to list IDP hours. However, more than half (54%) indicated that if they are not in an architecturally related career within 2 years of graduation they do not anticipate seeking a license and will not pursue the profession further.