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Membership

American Council on Education Membership

Why Join?

As a member of ACE, you join over 1,800 organizations that collectively promote, protect, and advocate for students, faculty and administrators in higher education. ACE is the most visible and influential higher education association in the nation and we are at the center of federal policy debates concerning legislation that affects campuses across the country.

In addition, you will have access to some of the best leadership development programs, policy analysis, research briefs and peer-to-peer seminars and meetings, all of which will help you and your staff become more effective campus leaders, ready to meet current challenges.

Who Can Join?

ACE offers several opportunities to join:

  • Members include accredited, degree-granting institutions and systems. A national and regional association whose primary mission is higher education may also join.
  • Associates are branch campuses, accreditation candidates, international higher education institutions, and international organizations that are concerned with higher education.
  • The Alliance Program encompasses corporations and foundations who wish to support higher education and be connected with current trends, topics and leaders. 
  • The Executive Search Roundtable helps support ACE's goal of strengthening leadership in higher education.

Who Are Our Members?

ACE's strength lies in its diverse and loyal membership base. Our members come from every sector of higher education, including two-year and four-year, public and private institutions. Of our over 1,800 members, more than 75% have been affiliated with ACE for more than 10 years. To see a complete list, visit our Membership Directory.

Testimonial Videos

  • Jo Ann Gora, President, Ball State University

    Jo Ann Gora

    President, Ball State University

ACE Brochure

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MEMBERSHIP CHARTS

  • Graph: Members by Years of Membership
12

Benefits

Advocacy

ACE is the leading national association coordinating legislative representation on Capitol Hill and amicus curiae briefs and position papers supporting our members in the courts. Our respected, authoritative media outreach ensures that news organizations understand our current positions and efforts.

We will keep you informed of all of our efforts through weekly electronic newsletters President to President and Higher Education and National Affairs (HENA). Periodic webinars provide a more thorough examination of trends that you need to know.

Previous Advocacy Activity

  • Today's headlines on a tablet computer

    HEADLINES: Today's Top Higher Education News

    In today’s headlines, The Associated Press sets up today’s expected passage in the U.S. House of a bill linking student loan interest rates to the financial markets, in spite of a veto threat from President Obama. In other news, The New York Times looks at a new report finding that community colleges have received a declining share of government spending on higher education over the last decade even as their student bodies have become poorer and more heavily African-American and Latino.

  • Senate Judiciary Committee Approves Sweeping Immigration Reform Bill

    The Senate Judiciary Committee has approved a comprehensive plan to overhaul the nation's immigration system, which includes a version of the DREAM Act and other higher education provisions.

  • Student Loan Bill Moves Forward in House

    Action heated up in the House and Senate last week on the looming interest rate increase for subsidized student loans, which is slated to double from 3.4 percent to 6.8 percent July 1.

  • ACE, Higher Education Groups Offer Guiding Principles on Student Loan Reform

    ACE and 14 higher education associations release a statement of principles for lawmakers to consider as they craft legislation to address the looming interest rate increase for subsidized student loans.

More ACE Advocacy Activity

 

Leadership Programs

ACE will help you and your staff become more effective leaders through our highly-rated leadership development programs. We offer comprehensive, year-long institutes such as Institute for New Presidents, Institute for New Chief Academic Officers, and the prestigious ACE Fellows programs. Workshops are also available for campus executives such as the Leadership Academy for Department Chairs and Advancing to the Presidency. Only ACE offers such a broad range of programs.

More ACE Leadership Programs

 

 
 

 

Research

You will stay ahead of current issues and trends through ACE's research and analysis. ACE's Center for Policy Analysis produces quantitative and qualitative studies on key issues and topics in higher education. Periodic studies such as the American College President 2012 give you insight into the opportunities and challenges faced by your peers, while focused analyses on diversity, veterans, and other topics may contribute to strategic decisions on your campus.

More ACE Research

 

 
 

 

Publications

You will receive our quarterly magazine The Presidency, written exclusively for university and college presidents and chancellors. The magazine focuses on critical issues facing your campuses as well as provides a forum for the exchange of ideas among higher education leaders. 

You will also have access to all of ACE's studies, books, and other publications through the ACE bookstore.

ACE Brochure

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Dues Structure

Disclaimer: These dues charts are for informational use only. Please contact ACE for detailed information about membership pricing.

Two-Year Institutions

Yearly dues for 2-year institutions are based upon enrollment numbers for the 2012-13 calendar year.

Enrollment Yearly Dues
Less than 500 students $1,224
500 - 1,499 $1,561
1,500 - 2,999 $2,081
3,000 - 4,999 $2,393
5,000 - 6,999 $2,809
7,000 - 9,999 $3,121
More than 10,000 students $3,641

Four-Year Institutions

Yearly dues for 4-year institutions are based on enrollment numbers and total expenses for the 2012-13 calendar year.

Total Expenses in Millions

 0-25 25-50 50-100 100-250 250-500 500-1000 1000+
0 $1,353 $1,487 $1,561 $1,639
500 $1,509 $1,635 $1,717 $1,803
1,000 $1,868 $1,964 $2,060 $2,164
1,500 $2,497 $2,649 $2,782 $2,919 $2,993 $3,065 $3,218
3,000 $3,404 $3,576 $3,754 $3,941 $4,041 $4,140 $4,347
5,000 $4,427 $4,649 $4,882 $5,124 $5,253 $5,328 $5,652
7,000 $6,042 $6,344 $6,663 $6,828 $6,994 $7,344
10,000 $7,836 $8,248 $8,660 $8,878 $9,094 $9,549
15,000 $10,722 $11,259 $11,541 $11,822 $12,413
20,000 $14,637 $15,003 $15,368 $16,137
30,000 $19,028 $19,503 $19,979 $20,977

Non-Institutional Dues

 

TYPE OF MEMBERSHIP YEARLY DUES

National Associations

 $2,884

Regional Associations

 $1,444

System

 $1,444

International

$827

Branch Campus

 $1,040

Foundation

 $2,364

ACE Brochure

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Membership Directory

​Search our Membership Directory.

Purchase our Mailing List (members only).

Alliance Program

The Alliance Program strengthens the connection between the business community and higher education, bringing together leaders in both sectors to address key issues our institutions face today. ACE member institutions serve 80% of today’s college students.

ACE provides Alliance Program members with insight and timely information about the higher education industry that helps you understand how to better serve campuses throughout the country.

In turn, your support helps sustain ACE programs:

  • Executive Leadership – for presidents and other senior leaders
  • Emerging Leaders – for rising leaders across all higher education sectors
  • Inclusive Excellence – fostering greater diversity and inclusivity in higher education leadership
  • Institutional Leadership Group – services for member institutions
  • Center for Lifelong Learning – for nontraditional learners, including veterans, and the institutions serving them
  • Center for Internationalization and Global Engagement – connecting U.S. higher education institutions and students to the world

 

Member Benefits
Stay in touch with the issues affecting your clients and partners:
  • Complimentary subscription to ACE’s weekly electronic newsletters President to President and Higher Education and National Affairs
  • Complimentary subscription to our quarterly member magazine, The Presidency, including 15% discount on advertising
  • Complimentary registration to one event in the ACE Webinar Series

Be recognized for your support and thought leadership in higher education:

  • Recognition in ACE Annual Report and the Annual Meeting Final Program
  • Recognition on ACE’s web site, including a hyperlink to your corporate website
  • Recognition in selected marketing communications sent to all ACE members

 

Special Opportunities
Offered at each level of membership in addition to those listed above.
Affiliate  $5,500 – $9,999
One complimentary registration to ACE’s Annual Meeting, including a 10% discount on exhibit booth space
 
Priority Consideration to Sponsor a Focus Zone at the ACE Annual Meeting, which provide sponsors the opportunity to showcase their work with higher education institutions by making 30-minute presentations for Annual Meeting attendees.  Limited opportunities provided on a first-come, first-served basis. Additional fees apply.
 
Advocate  $10,000 – $24,999
Feature your organization’s work or highlight a new product on the ACE web site
ACE will post a highlight of your company’s work with ACE member institutions on our web site, with each member’s work featured on a rotating basis.
 
 
Leadership Circle $25,000 – $500,000 and above
Levels tailored to meet your company’s marketing and engagement goals. Opportunities may include:
  • Exclusive sponsorship in areas of mutual interest
  • Participation with higher education leaders in sponsored programs
  • Contributing expertise or content to selected programs
  • Recognition in print materials or selected publications

Partner $25,000 – $49,999
Investor $50,000 – $99,999
Patron $100,000 – $199,999
Underwriter $200,000 – $499,999
Visionary $500,000 and above

  

Executive Search Roundtable

The ACE Executive Search Roundtable was established in 1985 as a means of addressing the mutual interests of ACE and executive search firms in the continuing identification of talented leaders for our nation's colleges and universities. The Roundtable exists to support ACE in its continuing efforts to:

  • Improve the quality of leadership in higher education.
  • Diversify that leadership in terms of gender, race, and ethnicity.
  • Promote the highest standards in the process of search and selection.
  • Educate the higher education community about search processes with or without the use of consultants.
ESR members agree to:
  • Subscribe to the highest standards of integrity and principles of quality, diversity, equity, and ethical practice.
  • Affirm commitment to conducting equitable searches to foster diversity and the highest quality of leadership for the educational community.
  • Assist candidates in understanding the role of the consultant in the search process.
  • Ensure that client institutions provide search consultants and candidates with all relevant and current data, including financial information, that is needed in the search.
  • Respect the confidentiality of clients and candidates and obtain client approval before sharing information.
Eligibility

The ESR is composed of organizations, both not-for-profit and for-profit, that specialize in higher education executive search. Member firms, and the consultants who represent them, serve colleges, universities, and related not-for-profit institutions and organizations by providing executive search, recruitment, and related consulting services to assist institutions in their searches for senior leadership positions.

 
Benefits of the Executive Search Roundtable and the Alliance Program
Members of the Executive Search Roundtable are participants in the ACE Alliance Program and benefit from those signature services. In addition, ESR benefits include:
  • Dedicated section on the ACE website where your firm is listed with contact information, a link to your web site, and a short summary of your firm's specialized searches.
  • An ACE-hosted annual ESR meeting where you can meet and network with colleagues from over 30 executive search firms.