ACEx2026 to Feature State of Higher Education Address, Sessions Around Pressing Topics

ACEx2026, anchored by the ACE Annual Meeting Feb. 26-27, will empower campus leaders to foster innovation and resilience and champion higher education's vital role in building our nation's future. It will address the array of pressing challenges facing institutions, from federal funding cuts and other policy issues to demonstrating the value of higher education. Register now to take advantage of the Early Bird Registration pricing, which ends Oct. 27.

ACE President Ted Mitchell will open the Annual Meeting with an address on the state of U.S. higher education and what is ahead for campuses, policymakers, and students alike. Mitchell's speech will set the tone for the meeting, which will feature sessions on innovation, policy, and leadership across the higher education landscape.

Among the many sessions will be Inside Higher Ed's always-popular session on what is keeping presidents up at night. Inside Higher Ed Editor in Chief Sara Custer will give an exclusive look at results from the publication's 2026 survey of college and university presidents, which polled leaders on federal policy, free speech on campus, the value of a degree, AI, and more. A panel of presidents will then discuss the findings and share their own experiences of leadership over the last year.

In addition to the ACE Annual Meeting, ACE member presidents and chancellors can participate in ACE on the Hill on Feb. 25, a high-level policy engagement event that will connect campus leaders directly with lawmakers. The ACE Women's Network Leadership Conference and Women's Leadership Dinner will take place Feb. 27-28, as will the ACE Council of Fellows Gathering.

Click here for more information about ACEx2026 and to register.