A new academic year always brings fresh energy to our profession. For over a decade, I’ve had the privilege of teaching part-time at Virginia Tech’s Washington-Alexandria Architecture Center. Balancing this schedule with full-time practice can be challenging, but the inspiration our students bring—their optimism, creativity, and ambition—always outweighs the demands. They arrive eager to meet new collaborators, tackle design challenges, and shape a better future. (And honestly, is there anything more satisfying than back-to-school shopping for new pens and sketchbooks?)
This year, however, begins under a shadow of uncertainty. Many international students are unsure whether they will be able—or willing—to study in the United States. Even those eager to come face significant visa delays. A recent example from my own work: an urban design charrette planned for September between universities in the U.S., Chile, and Germany had to be postponed indefinitely due to uneasiness of our international collaborators in traveling to the States. The gathering, originally set for Washington, D.C., will likely happen in Germany in 2026 instead—a loss for the U.S. Multiply that one small instance across thousands of American universities, and we begin to see the scale of what’s at stake for our academic and professional exchange.
The American university system is one of our greatest incubators for ideas and innovation. A recent National Foundation for American Policy study found that more than half of U.S. start-ups valued over $1 billion were founded by immigrants. Welcoming international students strengthens our economy, enriches our studios, and builds enduring connections to American values of openness and collaboration in nations around the world. Yet, those values are under pressure, and our academic, cultural, and civic institutions are feeling the strain.
That’s why now is the time to reconnect with your alma mater. Offer mentorship to students. Volunteer to share your expertise in a review or a portfolio workshop. The investment of your time and insight not only benefits students—it will invigorate your own work. I’ve found that I always gain more from my collaborations with students than they could possibly get from me, and I suspect you will too. Our profession needs their optimism and enthusiasm for a more resilient and equitable built environment, and I can’t wait to see what they will imagine.
Speaking of shared learning, this is your monthly reminder that our annual RUDC Symposium is just around the corner—October 28–29, 2025, in Dallas, Texas. We’ll gather two dozen leading voices in urban design, architecture, planning, and landscape architecture, plus three outstanding keynote speakers: Prof. Hans E. Butzer, Architect, FAIA, LEED AP (University of Oklahoma and BAU_Butzer Architects and Urbanism); Shane Phillips (Randall Lewis Housing Initiative at UCLA and the UCLA Housing Podcast); and Donna Kacmar, FAIA (Architect Works PLLC and author of Big Little Hotel). Registration is open, with early bird **** through August 31. Join us for two days of provocative ideas, practical strategies, and cross-disciplinary conversation. More information and registration details are at rudc-symposium.com.
See you soon,
Scott Archer, AIA, AICP, LEED AP ND
2025 RUDC Chair