2026-27 Cohort Application Deadline: October 28, 2026
Program Overview
2026-27 Cohort Application Deadline: October 28, 2026
ACSA/DPACSA Faculty Mentoring Program
ACSA and its College of Distinguished Professors (DPACSA) will continue the Faculty Mentoring Program for faculty at ACSA member schools. The goal of the program is to help faculty develop mentoring relationships based on their needs, in contrast to the ways in which many departments assign senior faculty as mentors of new faculty, with promotion and tenure primarily in mind.
This program would not replace the formal faculty mentoring programs that exist in most institutions, but complement them with a less formal mentoring process that can reduce the power dynamics that can exist among faculty in the same department. Research has shown that this informal mentoring is especially important for women and faculty of color in search of colleagues who have faced similar career challenges.
The program will connect mentees with mentors to provide whatever level of interaction makes sense for all parties. The application period will occur through October, with matches made in November.
Eligibility
The Faculty Mentoring Program is a benefit of membership in ACSA available to all member categories (Full, Candidate, and Affiliate).
- MENTEES: Assistant and Associate Professors, Adjunct Faculty, Lecturers, Academic Staff
- MENTORS: Associate, Full, and Retired Professors, Senior Adjunct Faculty, Senior Staff at ACSA member schools
Faculty who participated in the 2025-26 mentoring program may continue their relationship with their mentors. You may reapply for a new mentor in 2026-27, although priority will be given to new mentees.
Mentors who participated in 2025-26 may also reapply to join the program and take on new mentees.
Timeline
September 2026 | Mentee/Mentor application period |
November 2026 | Match notification period |
March 2027 | Meet Up of Mentor/Mentee program participants at the ACSA Annual Meeting (optional) |
July/August 2027 | Program Evaluation |
Expectations
Complete your application thoughtfully and thoroughly to support the matching process.
Commit to participate for one year.
Once connected, participants will arrange their first meeting and work together to establish their goals for the program.
All conversations between mentors and mentees must remain confidential.
Connect with your partner(s) as often as it makes sense for everyone involved.
Act in a professional manner at all times.
- Return messages and phone calls promptly.
- Prepare for meetings in advance, and show up on time.
- Inform your partner if your schedule has changed and you are unable to meet as planned.
- Be respectful of differences. Be curious. Ask questions.
- Reach out to colleagues and others in the program to explore topics beyond your expertise.
- Be patient and understanding. Trust and relationships take time to grow.
- Contact the ACSA executive director if circumstances require you to withdraw from the program or if you feel the program is not meeting your expectations.
ACSA will aim to match as many applicants as possible each year, although matches are based on the number of requests and mentor availability. A match is not guaranteed. To ensure that we have enough mentoring opportunities for those who want them, each match will last one year, with a new selection of mentors and mentees happening after the start of the academic year. If mentors and mentees want to continue their interactions, they are, of course, welcome to do so, but not as part of the official program.
Founded in 1912 by 10 charter members, ACSA is an international association of architecture schools preparing future architects, designers, and change agents. Our membership includes all of the accredited professional degree programs in the United States and Canada, as well as international schools and 2- and 4-year programs. Together ACSA schools represent some 7,000 faculty educating more than 40,000 students.
Stay in Touch
Enter your name and email below, and we’ll send you the latest ACSA news and events.
Fill out my .
© Copyright 2026 ACSA