• - to promote excellence in architectural education, training, and practice;
• - to foster an appreciation of architecture and related disciplines;
• - to enrich communities in a spirit of collaboration; and
• - to organize architecture students and combine their efforts that advance the art and science of architecture.

AIAS, Inc., is an independent, non-profit student organization, founded in 1956. Located in Washington, D.C., AIAS is headquartered in the AIA building. The National Office represents student opinions on the Boards of Directors of The American Institute of Architects (AIA), Association of Collegiate Schools of Architecture (ACSA), National Architectural Accrediting Board (NAAB), and the boards of various organizations involved with the discipline and profession of architecture.

The AIAS National Office employs a full-time executive director and two elected national officers, President Melissa Mileff and Vice President John Cary, Jr. These officers serve one-year terms, coordinate national programs, and represent the student voice to architectural professional organizations, trade groups, and the general public.

The AIAS is governed by a twelve-member Board of Directors (BOD) comprised of the AIAS National President, Vice President, four Directors, Past President, AIA Liaison, ACSA Liaison, Executive Director, Crit Editor in Chief, and FORUM Chair. This group meets at least three times a year to review the directives of the AIAS Council of Presidents (COP) and steer the development of national projects and initiatives.

The COP is a body composed of chapter presidents from each AIAS local chapter (with the exception of affiliate chapters); it acts as a representative body for the AIAS membership. As a group, the COP is responsible for the election of the BOD and providing direction to it. Individually, these chapter presidents are charged with running their respective chapters.

AIAS chapters are involved in organizing professional development seminars, community service projects, curriculum advisory committees, guest speaker programs, local newsletters, informal regional conferences, social functions, and numerous other programs to benefit their members.

The structure of the AIAS allows for involvement by any party interested in the issues facing architecture students. AIAS chapters are located at colleges and universities throughout the United States, its territories, and Canada; affiliate chapters may be chartered in high schools or international educational institutions. Individual affiliate memberships (alumni, library, and professional) are available to interested parties within your school and professional community.