Closing Day of ACEx2025 to Feature Dynamic Speakers on Crucial Topics
January 27, 2025

​Democracy, demographic changes, and the Carnegie Classifications are among the issues a range of experts will examine on the final day of the ACE Experience 2025 (ACEx2025), the premier higher education convening Feb. 12-13 in Washington, DC.

Following dynamic Breakfast and Learn sessions, attendees will come together for a session featuring former U.S. Senator and Ambassador Jeff Flake on the current state of American democracy and its intersection with higher education. Drawing on his career in public service, Flake will explore the political dynamics shaping the nation, discuss their implications for colleges and universities, and offer attendees actionable strategies to address emerging challenges.

Following Flake’s session, an array of experts including Robert Santos, director of the U.S. Census Bureau, will explore how demographics are changing as well as the critical implications of these variances. The expert panel will discuss how shifting demographics present both challenges and opportunities for higher education and how they could impact campuses.

The final main stage event of ACEx2025 will be a deep dive into the new era for the Carnegie Classifications. Following an overview of how the revised Classifications better reflect higher education, a panel of presidents will share firsthand experiences of how research affects undergraduate education and serves as a vital component of their institutions’ missions. Attendees will gain insights into how the new designations account for various research outputs, collaborative efforts, and cross-disciplinary work that is reshaping the academic landscape.

These sessions will build on an energizing opening day of ACEx2025 that will feature an array of discussions on the most critical issues impacting higher education, including concerns of college presidents, college athletics, and much more. ACE will also assemble member presidents and chancellors from across the country for its inaugural Capitol Hill advocacy day on Feb. 11 to engage directly with policymakers and advocate for higher education.

The ACEx2025 Schedule at a Glance showcases what attendees can anticipate, and additional speakers and sessions will be announced leading up to the convening. Click here to view a thorough overview of sessions and events that have been announced.

ACEx2025 is open to leaders at every level who are influencing the future of higher education. Register by Jan. 30 to secure a discounted rate and ensure you can attend this year’s premier higher education convening.