Sessions and Events

This workshop is intended to address several of the most important and pressing areas of concern faced by art and design leaders in the early years of their administrative careers. Faculty members with an interest in administration, and those aspiring to take on administrative roles in the future, are also welcome to attend. Each segment will involve a basic briefing on a topic followed by ample opportunity for interaction and discussion. The content will focus on principles and approaches applicable to all types of institutions. Newly minted administrators will have an opportunity to share with and learn from their peers.

This workshop is designed for 1) individuals attending the 2026 NASAD Workshop for Visiting Evaluators, 2) individuals attending the 2026 NASAD Workshop for Experienced Evaluators, 3) currently trained NASAD visiting evaluators, 4) representatives from institutions scheduled for NASAD comprehensive accreditation reviews within the next three years, including individuals who will have the responsibility for leading the accreditation process and/or writing Self-Studies, and 5) individuals preparing materials for review by the Commission on Accreditation. The primary focus of the workshop will be the NASAD Handbook and will include discussion of the Constitution, Bylaws, Rules of Practice and Procedure, Code of Ethics, Standards for Accreditation, and Appendices. Attendees will devote a substantial amount of time to discussing the standards—including the role they play in NASAD evaluative review processes and their application. Attendees will have the opportunity, using case study materials, to consider various scenarios which will explore the application of standards and guidelines.

(Please note: Individuals attending the Workshop for Visiting Evaluators or Workshop for Experienced Evaluators [Thursday, October 15 from 9:00 a.m.–5:00 p.m.], and/or the Briefing for Evaluators [Friday, October 16 from 4:30 p.m. to 5:45 p.m.] are asked to attend this workshop in preparation for these invitational training sessions.)

All pre-meeting workshop attendees, presenters, and facilitators are invited to this informal reception, which will provide an opportunity for individuals to meet, greet, advance conversations, establish mentor/mentee connections, and cultivate valuable professional relationships with other art and design administrators. Attendees are welcome and encouraged to continue the conversations begun during the day’s sessions.

The responsibilities of the art/design administrator are diverse and multifaceted. Each day brings new challenges and opportunities. Over time, the roles and responsibilities of an administrator often expand, change, and evolve. This pre-meeting workshop, especially designed for administrators with five or more years of experience, will include both short presentations and discussions related to various issues affecting the work of the experienced art/design administrator. The issue of succession planning will be addressed, along with other topics of interest that will be established by the group. Experienced administrators from all types of institutions and from all levels of administration are welcome. However, individuals new to art and design administration may wish to attend the Pre-Meeting Workshop for Individuals New to Art and Design Higher Education Administration offered on Wednesday, October 14 from 1:00 p.m.–5:30 p.m., and Thursday, October 15 from 8:00 a.m.–1:15 p.m.

This annual workshop will provide training to art/design administrators interested in becoming visiting evaluators for NASAD. Fundamentals of the accreditation process will be described in detail. Significant time will be spent discussing expectations with regard to Self-Studies and Self-Study documentation. Standards and guidelines located in the NASAD Handbook and their application to applicant institutions will receive considerable attention as potential evaluators are guided through the process of on-site review and Visitors’ Report preparation. Attendees will have the opportunity, using case study materials, to consider various scenarios that may arise during on-site reviews.

(Please note: This session is by invitation only. Representatives from accredited institutional members interested in becoming NASAD evaluators are encouraged to contact the National Office staff for consideration for training in 2027. Service as an NASAD visiting evaluator is highly recommended.)

(Please note: Individuals attending this training session are asked to participate in the Pre-Meeting Workshop: Demystifying the NASAD Handbook—Working with National Standards and Guidelines on Wednesday, October 14 from 3:30 p.m.–5:30 p.m.)

This annual workshop will provide training to art/design administrators who have previously been trained as evaluators and who have served as members of visiting teams. The role and responsibilities of the visiting team chair will be discussed. Detailed expectations regarding the review of Self-Studies, the on-site visit, and the Visitors’ Report will be reviewed. Attendees will have the opportunity, using case study materials, to consider various scenarios that may arise during on-site reviews.

(Please note: This session is by invitation only. Representatives from accredited institutional members interested in becoming NASAD evaluators are encouraged to contact the National Office staff for consideration for training in 2027. Service as an NASAD visiting evaluator is highly recommended.)

(Please note: Individuals attending this training session are asked to participate in the Pre-Meeting Workshop: Demystifying the NASAD Handbook—Working with National Standards and Guidelines on Wednesday, October 14 from 3:30 p.m.–5:30 p.m.)

This briefing will provide instructions, expectations, and helpful guidelines to Annual Meeting session facilitators, moderators, and recorders. All individuals who have agreed to serve in one of these capacities should plan to attend this briefing.

This session will address NASAD’s functional role as an independent accrediting organization, with particular focus on its structural and organizational connections to institutional (formerly referred to as “regional”), national, and specialized (some as “institutional” and others as “programmatic”) accrediting bodies; state and federal governing bodies; and applicant and member institutions. It will also provide an overview of the structure, resources, operations, and decision-making patterns of NASAD, with special attention to the benefits and responsibilities of accredited institutional membership.

In addition, this session will provide an overview of specific annual reporting requirements for NASAD member and applicant institutions, including the Accreditation Audit, Affirmation Statement, Supplemental Annual Report, and the HEADS Data Survey. The session will close with a brief look at the NASAD website, highlighting the location of various online resources designed to assist institutions to develop and maintain successful programs in art and design. Individuals attending the NASAD meeting for the first time are encouraged to attend. Time for questions will be provided.

Under the law, the federal government does not control higher education. However, the federal government does play a major role in developing conditions for the work of higher education, primarily through laws and regulations defining conditions for institutional participation in grant and student loan programs, and tax policies that influence economic conditions affecting education and the arts.

Following a brief introduction to the higher education and policy landscapes, this session will address the current political climate; various pressures on institutions; and current and prospective federal policies, laws, and regulations affecting higher education and the arts. This briefing will take a non-partisan policy analysis approach, looking at the ramifications and costs of various options and probabilities. Time for questions and discussion will be provided.

Facing increasing demands for accountability within an unpredictable higher education landscape, art and design administrators find the need to think critically about, develop, and deliver convincing arguments which support and advance the work of the discipline. The Higher Education Arts Data Services Project (HEADS), with its Navigable Dashboards, provides opportunities for users to view, manipulate, and present data compiled annually through the HEADS Data Surveys. In this two-part session, presenters will first explore the support the Dashboards can provide to NASAD administrators crafting messages for various constituencies, followed by a review of the nuts and bolts of data entry to have at hand when completing and submitting the annual HEADS survey.

NASAD has begun a multiyear review of its accreditation standards found in the NASAD Handbook. During this Annual Meeting, participants may offer comments related to text found in the current NASAD Handbook, a copy of which is available on the NASAD website as well as in the meeting app. Participants are asked to review the texts found in: Purposes and Operations (see Standards for Accreditation II.A.-O.), Art and Design Program Components (see Standards for Accreditation III.A.-P.), Specific Operational Standards for All Institutions of Higher Education for which NASAD is the Designated Institutional Accreditor (see Standards for Accreditation XXI.), and Specific Operational Standards for Proprietary Institutions of Higher Education (see Standards for Accreditation XXII.). Attendees are encouraged to bring with them to the Open Hearing copies of the NASAD Handbook 2025-26 and notes for discussion.

This reception offers an opportunity for attendees to gather in community, establish connections with individuals new to art and design administration, and rekindle and advance existing professional relationships.

Call to Order
Determination of Quorum
Welcome to Members and Guests
Introduction of Newly Accredited Institutional Members
Report of the Commission on Accreditation
Report of the Committee on Ethics
Report of the Treasurer
Announcements
Report of the Executive Director
Action on Proposed Handbook Changes
Election of Officers
Report of the President
New Business
Adjournment

Art and design units face ever-evolving financial pressures, both from within and beyond the institution, driven by issues such as falling enrollments, rising operational costs, and reduced state and donor funding, to name only a few. Administrators are tasked with balancing budgets in the face of diminished tuition revenue, widespread program cuts, faculty/staff layoffs, high administrative overhead, and the cost of maintaining specialized academic programs.

This session will provide an overview of some of the financial challenges before art and design administrators as they relate to budget preparation and management, specifically in the areas of curriculum, personnel, and facilities. Attendees will consider the importance of implementing strategies that ensure alignment exists between and among resources, existing realities, and institutional mission, as well as the need to ensure budget allocations are appropriate and sufficient to sustain the art/design programs offered by institutions.

Presenters will explore various approaches intended to assist art/design executives to consider how a successful balance between and among resources may be achieved. Consideration will be given to various aspects such as the institution’s mission, the mission of the art/design unit, the priorities of the art/design unit, and the like. Attendees will consider how administrators might engage art and design faculty in strategic planning initiatives that consider in depth the institution’s ability to align resources with daily operations. Having articulated options, attendees will consider the steps art/design administrators might take to ensure that existing realities and the availability of budgeted funds inform decision-making as it pertains to the allocation of resources and the support available for existing and planned initiatives and programs. Following the panel’s opening discussion, attendees will break into self-selected discussion groups facilitated by the panelists to explore ideas, share experiences, and address focused questions.

With an intention to continue and advance discussions begun during the morning sessions, luncheon tables will be identified by the three topics: curriculum, personnel, and facilities. Attendees may select their table based upon their desire to either continue conversations begun during the morning sessions or choose a new topic to explore with session presenters and other interested colleagues.

Continuing the conversations begun in 2025, today’s presenters will share ongoing developments in Artificial Intelligence (AI), specifically, how it is and can be used in studio art and design courses. Time will be spent discussing how AI can be used to assist students to cultivate creativity and self-expression. In addition, the presenters will touch upon issues pertaining to ethical AI use and the level of AI literacy necessary for art and design students to have mastered upon graduation. Presenters will also introduce a discussion of how generative AI can and does impact study and work in areas such as Art History and Art Education. Following the opening presentation, attendees will break into self-selected discussion groups, each of which will be facilitated by a panelist, to share experiences and address focused questions.

Repeated at 3:00 p.m.

NASAD continues its ongoing initiative to assist members in their efforts to review the effectiveness and relevance of their degree programs and to consider, as may be necessary or desired, new options and opportunities that may assist them to serve the developing needs of students—both today and tomorrow.

Presenters will discuss selected curricular programs, sharing with attendees the contexts that led each institution to consider and implement the programs, including: What prompted the institution to offer the specific curricular program? What challenges were faced along the way? How were the challenges addressed? What is the outcome of the institution’s efforts? Has the outcome aligned with the original intentions? Time for questions and discussion will be provided. These five sessions will be repeated once, enabling attendees to attend two sessions.

Repeat of 2:00 p.m. session

NASAD continues its ongoing initiative to assist members in their efforts to review the effectiveness and relevance of their degree programs and to consider, as may be necessary or desired, new options and opportunities that may assist them to serve the developing needs of students—both today and tomorrow.

Presenters will discuss selected curricular programs, sharing with attendees the contexts that led each institution to consider and implement the programs, including: What prompted the institution to offer the specific curricular program? What challenges were faced along the way? How were the challenges addressed? What is the outcome of the institution’s efforts? Has the outcome aligned with the original intentions? Time for questions and discussion will be provided. These five sessions will be repeated once, enabling attendees to attend two sessions.

This annual briefing is offered for individuals currently trained and serving as NASAD visiting evaluators. It will provide an opportunity for evaluators to refresh their knowledge of NASAD procedures, protocols, and standards, with particular focus on recent changes to the Procedures and the Handbook. Helpful reminders regarding the format, preparation, and required content of Visitors’ Reports will be provided. The potential impact of the activities of external constituencies, such as the federal government, states, and other review bodies, will be discussed. Documentation required of institutions and evaluators will be highlighted, as well as sources and uses of helpful and informative publications aimed to assist institutions with the preparation of Self-Studies and for evaluators in the preparation of Visitors’ Reports.

(Please note: This session is intended for individuals trained and serving as visiting evaluators. Representatives from accredited institutional members interested in becoming NASAD evaluators are encouraged to contact the National Office staff for consideration for training in 2027.)

(Please note: Individuals attending this training session are encouraged to participate in the Pre-Meeting Workshop: Demystifying the NASAD Handbook—Working with National Standards and Guidelines on Wednesday, October 14 from 3:30 p.m.–5:30 p.m.)

Whether developing and preparing comprehensive applications for accreditation and reaccreditation, Responses, Progress Reports, and/or applications for Plan Approval, Final Approval for Listing, and/or Substantive Change, clear and cogent material which articulates activities at the institution while addressing standards is necessary in order to conduct a successful conversation with the Commission on Accreditation. This session will offer an overview of the Handbook and the use of its contents in preparing Commission correspondence. Helpful ideas and suggestions will be provided for attendees who are in the process of developing materials for Commission review and for those who plan to develop materials for review in the future.

This session is designed for individuals interested in deepening their knowledge of 1) the national standards pertaining to art and design study at the collegiate level as found in the NASAD Handbook, 2) the role these standards play in the accreditation process, and 3) their importance as an indicator of the rigor expected of students enrolling in collegiate programs of art and design study at NASAD-accredited institutions.

The session will explore the various sections of the NASAD Handbook, including the Rules of Practice and Procedure, Code of Ethics, Standards for Accreditation, and Appendices. Attendees will devote a substantial amount of time to discussing the standards and guidelines, as well as the assistance and guidance they provide to representatives preparing accreditation applications. Attendees may wish to secure a hard or electronic copy of the Handbook (a copy of which is available on the NASAD website as well as in the meeting app) in advance and become conversantly familiar with the Handbook prior to the session.

(Please note: Individuals attending the Workshop: Preparing for NASAD Evaluation on Saturday, October 17 from 8:00 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. are encouraged to attend this session.)

From time to time and for a variety of reasons, art/design units may decide to undertake the complex task of designing new undergraduate degree programs. There are many issues that must be considered, such as the existing mission of the institution and art/design unit, how the degree will dovetail with and support these missions, the students to be served, the coursework necessary to develop desired competencies, the availability of applicable faculty expertise, and the conditions and realities of the market. As well, resources must be considered and consensus must be built. Only with these understandings can the architecture of a degree program begin to take shape.

This session will focus on the structure of undergraduate degree programs. Differences between liberal arts and professional baccalaureate degrees will be addressed, as will structural differences between majors, minors, and areas of emphasis. Issues that arise regarding title and content consistency will be discussed. The effective use of the standards to promote and embrace creative and innovative curricular programming will be explored. In addition, application procedures and submission guidelines will be discussed with an intent to assist art/design administrators to streamline review timelines.

(Please note: Individuals attending this session may wish to attend the Pre-Meeting Workshop: Demystifying the NASAD Handbook—Working with National Standards and Guidelines on Wednesday, October 14 from 3:30 p.m.–5:30 p.m.)

This session will provide information and guidance concerning the self-study and visitation processes for members whose institutions are to be visited in the next two to three years, institutions planning to begin the NASAD evaluation process, and those formally engaged in the process. A step-by-step walk-through of the accreditation process will be provided, including confirmation of timelines and deadlines as well as information regarding accreditation procedures, Self-Study formats, on-site reviews, the Visitors’ Report, the Optional Response, and Commission action. Questions will be addressed during this nuts-and-bolts session. All interested individuals are welcome.

(Please note: Individuals attending this training session may wish to attend the Pre-Meeting Workshop: Demystifying the NASAD Handbook—Working with National Standards and Guidelines on Wednesday, October 14 from 3:30 p.m.–5:30 p.m. or the session, The NASAD Handbook—Understanding the Role and Value of National Standards and Guidelines on Friday, October 16 from 4:30 p.m.–5:45 p.m.)

New to the NASAD Annual Meeting in 2026, these Saturday morning working sessions will provide opportunities for self-selected groups of attendees to explore in depth topics of particular importance and relevance to art/design administrators. Subsequent to the introduction of the topics by facilitators, attendees will join in open group discussion to consider issues such as best practices and potential challenges. All topic sessions noted below begin at 9:15 a.m. and end at 10:45 a.m. Attendees may choose the session(s) of choice.

Addressing Facilities Issues in the Short- and Long-Term

Facility spaces, policies, operations, and routine maintenance should support an environment conducive to learning that enables faculty and students to focus on academic and artistic endeavors. When facing inadequate and/or aged facilities, aspects of repair and construction such as securing funding, obtaining approvals, and meeting timelines, often fall outside the unit’s control.

Attendees will explore strategies for addressing major facilities issues over the long term, including space limitations and the upkeep of potentially hazardous areas including studios, classrooms, and exhibition spaces. Equally important, attendees will examine strategic ways art and design facilities can effectively meet student needs and maintain compliance with NASAD standards while awaiting long-term solutions to materialize.

Balancing Revenue with Expenses

Art and design units face increasingly complex financial pressures both from within and beyond the institution, such as reduced operating funds, reductions in force and retirements, declining enrollments, maintaining equipment and technology, aging facilities and associated costs, merging with other campus units, and the like. When experiencing such pressures, administrators must ensure that revenue balances with expenses and that programming remains aligned with unit and institutional mission.

Attendees will identify successful strategies for allocating resources based upon revenue-generating capabilities that align with unit size, scope, and academic priorities. How can art and design administrators engage faculty to participate in strategic planning that ensures evolving financial circumstances continue to align with unit mission, goals, and objectives?

Designing Effective Foundations Programs

Historically, the foundations component of an undergraduate degree has assumed a critical place in the curriculum, serving, to a certain extent, as the foundation upon which the rest of the undergraduate experience is built. Effective foundations programs may include, but are not limited to, broad skill acquisition, an introduction to best practices for studio work, and strategies for long-term portfolio development.

In light of evolving career expectations in art and design, attendees will consider the role and purpose of the foundations program—its relationship to other components such as the major area of study, any area(s) of concentration, the art/design history sequence of coursework, and its contribution to the overall effectiveness of degree programs to prepare students to enter the creative economy.

Developing Industry Partnerships

Collaborations with industry partners can provide a broad range of hands-on opportunities and experiences for students. Through participation in internships, art and design students can broaden their perspectives as they experience first-hand project planning, creation, design, implementation, delivery, etc.—the creative process from conception to completion.

Continuing the conversation begun in 2025, attendees will explore the benefits and challenges of internships, the types of internships that may be available to students, and how to develop liaisons with industry partners, as well as strategies available to art/design administrators to build authentic partnerships that benefit both students and commercial entities.

Prioritizing Student Wellness

In light of today’s pressures—such as those related to personal health, financial market conditions, societal unrest, etc.—mental wellbeing has become a critical issue and one that demands consistent and careful attention. Of particular note are those challenges facing students and the need for executives to prioritize their care within the art and design unit and the institution at large.

Efforts to assist students often include designing, implementing, and maintaining systems of support that enable students to not only recognize potential dangers, but also to avoid them and their impact altogether. Attendees will explore current dynamics impacting the mental health and wellbeing of art and design students and offer successful strategies administrators and faculty may employ to foster wellness within the unit.

Serving the Local Community

Art and design students are equipped to provide service to the community by participating in social, environmental, and civic projects such as creating public art, serving as community art teachers, and collaborating in environmental and cultural initiatives. They can use their creative skills to enhance projects, develop relationships, and advocate for the place of art in society.

In this session, attendees will explore approaches intended to assist art and design administrators to develop meaningful connections with surrounding communities that can support the holistic development of students as artists, designers, communicators, leaders, and community servants. What strategies can be used to develop reciprocal collaborations and can, or should, these experiences be incorporated into curricular offerings?

This session is designed to provide a forum where ideas and concerns relevant to faith-related institutions may be explored and discussed. Attendance is open to all interested individuals. Participants may wish to give consideration to topics of interest in advance.

This session is designed to provide a forum where ideas and concerns relevant to historically Black institutions may be explored and discussed. Attendance is open to all interested individuals. Participants may wish to give consideration to topics of interest in advance.

This session will provide an opportunity to brainstorm and discuss ideas and best practices of particular relevance to community and two-year colleges, such as articulation agreements, curricular alignment, and credit-hour transfer between 2- and 4-year institutions. Participants will be encouraged to share information and issues of concern faced in their daily work as well as initiatives and successes. Participants may wish to give consideration to topics of interest in advance. Attendance is open to all interested individuals.

Art and design executives from free-standing postsecondary institutions will have the opportunity to discuss topics of specific relevance or concern and consider challenges and opportunities faced today by independent institutions. Topics such as fiscal planning, allocation of resources, curricular planning and programming, connecting with the community, mergers and acquisitions, and higher education law and regulation will be addressed, as will topics of interest to participants. Participants may wish to give consideration to topics of interest in advance.

Administrators from small art/design units, typically with fewer than 100 majors, will have the opportunity to discuss topics of specific relevance or concern with colleagues facing similar challenges and opportunities. Attendance is open to all interested individuals. Participants may wish to give consideration to topics of interest in advance.