ACE Professional Development Grants

Deadline

  • Mid-August 2023 - Application opens
  • September 29, 2023 – Application due
  • November 1, 2023 – Applicants notified
  • May 31, 2024 – Projects end
  • June 2024 – Annual conference presentations


ACE Critique & Awards Program   

Deadline 

All entries must be entered online by 11:59pm, ET, Thursday, February 15, 2024

Other key dates:

  • Feb. 26- Mar 8 : Judging
  • Mar. 15-28: ACE review
  • Apr. Entrants begin to receive results and critiques


ACE Conference Session Proposal 

Opening Fall

All submissions must be received online by 11:59, ET, Monday, Mid - December 


ACE Honor Awards 

Opening Winter 

All entries must be entered online by 11:59pm, ET, Wednesday, February 1, 2024

Select your submission category below.


Questions 

Please contact ACE aceoutreach@gmail.com, or 847-647-8861.

2024 ACE Conference Call for Sessions Proposals
Deadline is December 11, 2023
ACE is now accepting session proposals for professional development presentations at the June June 23-25, 2024  annual conference in Salt Lake City, UT. We seek practical professional development for our members from the many disciplines that make up our jobs.
Instructions. Complete and submit the form to propose a professional development breakout session for the ACE 2024 conference. Required fields are indicated by an asterisk (*). The individual listed as the primary contact will receive a submission confirmation email and all correspondence regarding the session.
Session proposal details. All session proposals should be 45 minutes and include time for questions. The following information components are required for each session proposal.
Track. Choose one or more of the following tracks. If you do not feel like your topic is reflected in the tracks below, choose “Other” and write in a suggested track.
o Visual communication (video, photography, graphic design, etc.)
o Digital communication (social media, web design, etc.)
o Writing and publications
o Marketing, leadership, diversity
o Research, academic programs, instructional design
o Other
Type.
o Sharing session: A lecture-type presentation focused on providing practical experience the presenter has gained in a specific situation(s) or as it relates to a new idea or concept. This session provides one or two key lessons learned for participants to take home and apply or think about.
o How-to session: A lecture-type presentation where most of the time is focused on providing participants specific details on how to begin, further develop, or master a specific skill or tool. This session provides a process or task list to participants to use on this topic when they return home.
o Panel discussion: A lecture-type presentation where several presenters come together to present and/or discuss a similar topic. This session should provide further insights and perspectives into a topic than a single presenter could do. Presenters could present in succession after one another or collaborate as a group presentation or panel-type discussion. This session provides attendees the opportunity to hear from a series of presenters regarding a specific topic.
Title.
Description.
o Maximum of 250 words.
o Define your session’s goal, outcomes, content, and type as clearly as possible. Indicate what participants will experience during the session, and what skills, knowledge, or tools participants will gain. If applicable, include the audience understanding or experience level of your session information (beginner, intermediate, advanced, or a mix of all levels).
Primary contact information.
o The primary contact will receive all correspondence regarding the submission and is responsible for sharing information with co-presenters.
Additional presenter(s) information.
o Include name, (post-nominal title), email, and institution/organization.
Presenter accommodations.
o Each session will have a screen and projector. Presenters will need to provide a computer for their presentation. If you have any other room set-up, technology, or accessibility needs for your presentation, please provide further details in this section and someone from the conference planning committee will reach out to you. We will do our best to accommodate you.
The proposal submission deadline is Monday, December 11, 2023, at 11:59 p.m. EST. No changes to topics and/or descriptions will be accepted after the submission deadline.
Review and notification process. The ACE 2024 conference committee will review all session proposals and may recommend changes (e.g., combining sessions, different track, etc.). Final acceptance and scheduling are at the discretion of the committee, dependent on conference goals and schedule availability. The committee will notify proposal submitters of acceptance decisions by February 3, 2024.

Crisis and Issues Management 2 | Issue Management: Materials submitted should document efforts to identify an issue that threatens or could threaten an organization. The programming to manage that issue to effectively support the organization should be explained. Explain how and why this program was conceived and how it was implemented. Describe goals and audiences.

Issues by their nature often span multiple years. The entry should focus on issue management work completed in the previous year and define the time that the work is focused on. If work on the issue was entered in a previous year, this entry must demonstrate significant change in strategy or implementation.

Materials submitted must include an integrated strategic plan that identifies the issue and its context; target audience(s) and goals; description of strategies, activities and/or tactics adopted; message development; communications vehicles used [face to face meetings, town meetings, materials produced (e.g., brochures, sales letters, news releases, ads, PSAs)]; and/or a description of the promotional event(s) and activities completed; and an assessment of the efficacy of the communication effort. The assessment of results need not be complicated, formal or expensive, but it should provide some indication that the goals outlined in the strategic plan were achieved as a result of the issues management effort.

Judging criteria: Issue identification/analysis 40% Planning/development/execution 40%, Results 20%

Electronic Media, Video & Audio 1 | Social media videos Videos produced primarily for social media (may be distributed across other platforms later) such as Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, etc. These may include odd formatting such as square and vertical videos, generally short duration (under two minutes), and may be produced on mobile devices.

Judging criteria: Design 20%, Content 20%, Technical Quality 20%, Creativity/Artistic Style 20%, Effectiveness 20%

Judges will consider a project's budget and the use of available resources.


Notes for all classes:

  • Video class may include videos of any length unless otherwise noted.
  • If total video length is over 10 minutes, please submit a 10-minute sample.
  • Unless otherwise noted, video series are welcome in any class, but no more than three 10-minute samples should be entered.
  • Videos should be submitted in classes for which they were originally produced. Although they may be re-purposed for videos that might fit other categories later, they should be judged in the category most appropriate for the original production.

Electronic Media, Video & Audio 2 | Profile videos Videos that focus on telling a particular person’s story. These may feature researchers, students, Extension agents, or donors among others. Videos may be for web, broadcast, or other distribution.

Judging criteria: Design 20%, Content 20%, Technical Quality 20%, Creativity/Artistic Style 20%, Effectiveness 20%

Judges will consider a project's budget and the use of available resources.

Notes for all classes:
· May include videos of any length unless otherwise noted.
· If total video length is over 10 minutes, please submit a 10-minute sample.
· Unless otherwise noted, video series are welcome in any class, but no more than three 10-minute samples should be entered.
· Videos should be submitted in classes for which they were originally produced. Although they may be re-purposed for videos that might fit other categories later, they should be judged in the category most appropriate for the original production.

Electronic Media, Video & Audio 3 | Motion graphics/augmented reality/virtual reality/animation Video products that use animation, motion graphics, augmented, or virtual reality as the primary ways of conveying information. Entry may be distributed across a range of platforms.

Judging criteria: Design 20%, Content 20%, Technical Quality 20%, Creativity/Artistic Style 20%, Effectiveness 20%


Judges will consider a project's budget and the use of available resources.


Notes for all classes:

  • May include videos of any length unless otherwise noted.
  • If total video length is over 10 minutes, please submit a 10-minute sample.
  • Unless otherwise noted, video series are welcome in any class, but no more than three 10-minute samples should be entered.
  • Videos should be submitted in classes for which they were originally produced. Although they may be re-purposed for videos that might fit other categories later, they should be judged in the category most appropriate for the original production.

Electronic Media, Video & Audio 4 | Promotional, recruitment, and fundraising products Video productions specifically used for promotion, recruitment, and fundraising. Entry may be distributed across a range of platforms.


Judging criteria: Design 20%, Content 20%, Technical Quality 20%, Creativity/Artistic Style 20%, Effectiveness 20%

Judges will consider a project's budget and the use of available resources.

Notes for all classes:
· May include videos of any length unless otherwise noted.
· If total video length is over 10 minutes, please submit a 10-minute sample.
· Unless otherwise noted, video series are welcome in any class, but no more than three 10-minute samples should be entered.
· Videos should be submitted in classes for which they were originally produced. Although they may be re-purposed for videos that might fit other categories later, they should be judged in the category most appropriate for the original production.

Electronic Media, Video & Audio 5 | Informational, news or educational video production Video productions designed for noncredit educational and informational uses and function as standalone videos (or series) or for training purposes or for paid/credit-based class settings. These productions may be distributed through web channels or broadcast or be viewed in meetings or workshops, by individuals or groups. Includes how-to videos, public service announcements, etc.

Judging criteria: Design 20%, Content 20%, Technical Quality 20%, Creativity/Artistic Style 20%, Effectiveness 20%

Judges will consider a project's budget and the use of available resources.

Notes for all classes:

· May include videos of any length unless otherwise noted.
· If total video length is over 10 minutes, please submit a 10-minute sample.
· Unless otherwise noted, video series are welcome in any class, but no more than three 10-minute samples should be entered.
· Videos should be submitted in classes for which they were originally produced. Although they may be re-purposed for videos that might fit other categories later, they should be judged in the category most appropriate for the original production.

Electronic Media, Video & Audio 6 |Audio news, programs, podcasts, spots Submit a special, documentary, regularly produced program, regularly produced podcast, public service spot or other spot prepared for use on a commercial or noncommercial outlet for broadcast or Internet distribution. If submitting programs from a series, samples from up to three separate programs may be submitted. If submitting spots, submit no more than five spots in a series with no spot longer than 60 seconds. Cue sheet(s) should accompany entries where applicable.

Judging: Planning and concept 25%, Content presentation 25%, Technical quality 25%, Creativity/artistic style 25%


Judges will consider a project's budget and the use of available resources.

Electronic Media, Video & Audio 7  | Electronic media, video &  audio for diverse audiencesSubmit in the class if your electronic media, video & audio shows consideration for audiences with diverse backgrounds or is inclusive of people from diverse backgrounds.

Judging criteria: Planning 30%, Quality of materials and message 50%, Evaluation 20%

Judges will consider a project's budget and the use of available resources.

Notes for all classes:

  • Video class may include videos of any length unless otherwise noted.
  • If total video length is over 10 minutes, please submit a 10-minute sample.
  • Unless otherwise noted, video series are welcome in any class, but no more than three 10-minute samples should be entered.
  • Videos should be submitted in classes for which they were originally produced. Although they may be re-purposed for videos that might fit other categories later, they should be judged in the category most appropriate for the original production.
Association for Communication Excellence