The AIA Board of Directors endorsed a five-year Diversity Action Plan on September 18. The goal of this plan is to “move the AIA forward to become a more inclusive professional organization that reflects the changing dynamics of the population served by architects now and in the future.” In other words, the Institute of the future will include the multiple perspectives, backgrounds, and skills of its members who represent its voice in the design and construction industry. Through this transformation, the AIA hopes to lead the profession itself and the academy to become more inclusive and sustain their relevance in the future as well.

The AIA is taking the position that a more inclusive and diverse organization and profession is a strategic priority for the future. In fact, diversity is one of the AIA’s three strategic priorities (along with sustainability and integrated project delivery). The Diversity Action Plan reflects the AIA’s overall strategic plan, which includes strategies to:

• Expand the racial/ethnic, gender, and perspective diversity of the design professions to mirror the society we serve
• Nurture emerging professionals and influence a preferred future for the internship process and architecture education.

A summary of the AIA Diversity Action Plan is available online on the AIA’s Web site.