ACC Student Leadership Symposium:
A Fully Funded Leadership Summit
Join dozens of student leaders from across the ACC for a fully funded, three-day immersive conference. Selected delegates travel to a host university to collaborate on social justice, build a national network, and develop actionable strategies for their home communities.
Program Highlights & Curriculum
Build a National Network
Don't just stay on your campus. You will form mixed-university teams with student leaders from schools like Duke, UNC, Notre Dame, and Stanford, exchanging perspectives and building a professional network that spans the entire conference.
Executive Leadership Seminars
Gain exclusive access to faculty experts and industry leaders. Through immersive workshops, you will explore socially responsible leadership, ethics, and changemaking strategies that you can apply immediately to your future career.
Real-World Community Immersion
Go beyond the classroom. Delegates visit local agencies and organizations to see community leadership in action, gaining firsthand insight into how bold ideas are translated into operational reality.
Social Impact Pitching
Put your leadership to the test. Your team will design a strategic action plan to address a specific social issue and pitch your proposal to a panel of faculty judges for feedback and refinement.
Funding & Application Process
A Fully Funded Fellowship: This is an all-expenses-paid opportunity. The ACC Academic Consortium covers 100% of costs for all selected delegates, including round-trip travel, hotel accommodations, meals, and all conference materials. There is no cost to the student.
Competitive Selection: Each ACC member university selects a cohort of 5–10 student leaders to represent their institution. These delegates are typically accompanied by a faculty or staff advisor.
How to Apply: Selection processes vary by campus. If you are interested in attending, you must connect directly with your university’s Division of Student Affairs or Campus Leadership Office to inquire about deadlines and nomination criteria.
News & Updates
Timely updates and announcements from the Consortium.
ACComplishing Greatness at the 2026 ACC InVenture Prize Competition
April 22, 2026
The University of Notre Dame hosted the 2026 ACC InVenture Prize Competition, bringing together student innovators from across the Atlantic Coast Conference to pitch original ventures to a panel of expert judges. The University of North Carolina - Chapel Hill team claimed the $15,000 first-place prize for Sensible, a pad-attachable menstrual patch that transforms menstrual blood into accessible health and wellness insights. The team includes Nandini Kanthi (Neuroscience and Community and Global Public Health), Vaishnavi Kode (Economics and Biology), and Vrutika Soneji (Health Policy and Management). The University of California, Berkeley team of Ethan Scott Foong (Data Science), Tom Blake (Data Science), Zac Gibson (Architecture), and Ibrahim Noon (Economics and Data Science) earned second place and $10,000 for MOFarm, which captures methane emissions from dairy farms and converts them into renewable natural gas. Hugo Davies (STEM Entrepreneurship and Computer Science) from Florida State University won the $5,000 People’s Choice Award for KeyRise, an AI-powered platform that helps everyday investors discover, analyze, and act on real estate opportunities. Modeled after Shark Tank, the competition highlights the ACC’s commitment to fostering innovation, entrepreneurship, and student-driven solutions to real-world challenges. Read more about all of the teams, watch a replay of the competition, and stay tuned for dates for the 2027 InVenture Prize Competition at https://www.accinventureprize.com/.
A Battle of the Best Student Entrepreneurs of the ACC
January 16, 2026
The University of Notre Dame hosts the 2026 ACC InVenture Prize Competition on March 27th, bringing together undergraduate innovators from across the Atlantic Coast Conference for a high-energy showcase of creativity, collaboration, and entrepreneurial spirit. Shifting the competitive tradition of the ACC from the field to the stage, the InVenture Prize features student teams pitching original inventions and business ideas before a live audience and a panel of judges. This signature, conference-wide initiative reflects the ACC’s commitment to advancing undergraduate entrepreneurship, strengthening student-faculty engagement, and fostering camaraderie across member institutions. The competition will be broadcast on PBS affiliate stations and streamed on YouTube, allowing audiences across the conference and beyond to watch the next generation of innovators in action. Teams representing ACC colleges and universities will compete for $30,000 in prizes and the opportunity to be named the next ACC InVenture Prize winner.
Strengthening Academic Leadership Through the ACC Academic Leaders Network
January 12, 2026
The 2026 cohort of the ACC Academic Leaders Network (ALN) launches virtually on February 6, bringing together faculty leaders from across the Atlantic Coast Conference for a year-long leadership development experience focused on strengthening academic leadership at every institution. Designed as a collaborative, conference-wide initiative, the ALN creates shared learning opportunities and connections that no single university could achieve alone. Through a series of in-person sessions hosted at ACC institutions, participants engage in immersive discussions and experiences that explore leadership at the interpersonal, institutional, and higher education levels. Across the program, faculty leaders exchange ideas, learn from diverse perspectives, and build lasting interinstitutional relationships that strengthen the ACC’s academic community. The hosts for the 2026 Academic Leaders Network are: Southern Methodist University – March 23–25 University of Notre Dame – June 29–July 1 University of Pittsburgh – October 5–7
Spotlighting Research and Civic Discourse at the ACC Debate Championship
January 9, 2026
The ACC Debate Championship will be hosted by Southern Methodist University from April 17–19, welcoming undergraduate debaters from across the Atlantic Coast Conference for a competition that highlights research, civic engagement, and thoughtful dialogue. The championship provides a national stage for students to demonstrate academic rigor and persuasive communication through informed, real-time exchange. Bringing together participants from ACC institutions, the event showcases the power of evidence-based debate to advance critical thinking and civil discourse. Guided by the ACC Academic Consortium, the Championship celebrates students who excel at translating research into meaningful public advocacy.
Showcasing Undergraduate Research: ACC Meeting of the Minds at Florida State
January 5, 2026
The ACC Meeting of the Minds will take place April 10–12 at Florida State University, bringing together outstanding undergraduate researchers from across the Atlantic Coast Conference for a weekend dedicated to discovery, collaboration, and creative inquiry. Each ACC institution selects five exceptional student researchers, along with a university sponsor, to participate in this highly regarded annual conference. Chosen through a competitive refereeing process, student delegates present original, student-directed research conducted under faculty mentorship. Throughout the weekend, participants share their work, connect with peers from other ACC universities, and engage in meaningful academic exchange while building community across the conference. The ACC Meeting of the Minds celebrates the depth and diversity of undergraduate research at ACC institutions and highlights the vital role students play in advancing scholarship.