In the third week in October, the National Architectural Accrediting Board (NAAB) will be holding its 2003 Validation Conference. Although attendance to the conference itself is limited, a Web site just launched provides ready access to information about the event, which is held every three years to explore the NAAB accreditation conditions and procedures.

The Validation Conference Web site—developed independently by the editors of ArchVoices, with the cooperation of NAAB—includes information about the history, objectives, and significance of the Validation Conference; a detailed agenda and list of participants; and access to position papers submitted by various organizations and individuals. To provide context, the site also offers the 2000 Validation Conference agenda, position papers, and proceedings. Proceedings from the 2003 conference, along with a timeline by which changes are expected to take effect, will be posted as soon as they are available.

“This year's NAAB Validation Conference is an opportunity we cannot squander due to a lack of information,” says AIA Vice President-elect RK Stewart, FAIA. “I applaud ArchVoices and their efforts to ensure that the conference participants, as well as the profession as a whole, are fully informed of the wide range of perspectives that must be considered if architectural education is to evolve to meet the complex problems society expects architects to resolve. The Validation Conference Web site is a tremendous resource for all of us concerned with the future of architectural education and future generations of architects."

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