Frequently Asked Questions

Registration is open from October 4, 2024 to May 16, 2025.

What is the cost to attend?
General Registration at $1,000 USD Early Bird until Feb. 28, 2025; $1,500 after

Student Registration at $600 USD

 Click here to register.

What is included in registration? 

• Full Conference Access: Enjoy complete entry to all aspects of the conference, including lectures, plenary sessions, and workshops.
• Meals: Benefit from all-inclusive meals provided throughout the event, ensuring you stay energized and engaged.
• Networking: Engage with fellow attendees during meals and breaks, creating opportunities to build valuable connections throughout the event.
• Acton Book Shop: Browse and purchase from our on-site Acton Book Shop, featuring a curated selection of books and resources.

Please Note: General and Student Conference Registration attendees are responsible for all additional costs related to attending AU 2025, including lodging and travel expenses. 

Is a group registration available? 

We’re excited to offer discounted conference rates for groups of five or more attending Acton University 2025! To qualify for the discounted rate, groups must be affiliated with an official organization, such as a nonprofit, university, or church.

Group Rates:

• Shared Hotel Room (2 guests per room): $750.00 USD per person
• Single Hotel Room: $1,000.00 USD per person

What's Included: 
Both options cover all conference-related costs, including meals and lodging for the week. Accommodations are provided in either shared or single hotel rooms. (Travel expenses are not included.)

Important: 
Group registration closes May 16, 2025.

To inquire about registering your group for Acton University, click here and submit a formal request.
 

All conference applicants may apply for financial assistance to help off-set the costs to attend Acton University. The request for financial assistance is found in the conference application form under the heading “Fellowship Application” and must be completed to be considered. Limited financial assistance may be awarded for travel costs or for conference fees to qualifying applicants based on availability.

Fellowship Application Information:

• International Application 
  • Open: October 4, 2024 – February 28, 2025
• Domestic Fellowship Application
  • Open: December 6, 2024 – May 2, 2025 

Click here to apply for a fellowship.

Is travel funding available?

There is limited financial assistance for travel expenses available to qualifying applicants. Travel scholarships are only considered for specific fellowships. If you would like to request financial assistance to travel to Grand Rapids for Acton University, please answer the questions found in the “Fellowship Application” section at the end of the Acton University application form.

Is financial assistance for the conference fee available? 

Fellowship programs and other financial assistance for the conference fee is available to qualifying applicants. This financial assistance may include additional requirements before or after the conference and the amount of funding may vary.

• If you have been invited to apply for a specific fellowship program to attend Acton University 2025: Please answer the related question in the “Fellowship Application” section at the end of the application form. Be prepared to provide the name of the fellowship program and the name of person who invited you to apply.
• If you would like to request financial assistance for the conference fee, but have not been invited to apply for a specific fellowship program to attend Acton University 2025: Please answer the related question found in the “Fellowship Application” section at the end of the conference application form. Financial assistance will be awarded to qualifying applicants based on availability.

Who attends Acton University?

Everyone with a personal and/or professional interest in religion, liberty and market-based economics is invited to apply. Typical Acton University attendees include…

• Students: Undergraduate and graduate
• Academics: Professors and researchers
• Faith-based Leaders: Pastors, priests, rabbis, seminarians, church staff, and congregational lay leaders from many faith traditions
• Non-profit Leaders: Founders and development professionals
• Business Leaders: Start-up entrepreneurs to established businesspeople and everyone in between

What is an Acton Alumnus?

Anyone who has attended Acton’s four core lectures is an Acton alumnus. These lectures cover the foundations of:

1. Christian Anthropology

2. Natural Law

3. Basic Economics

4. Good Governance

This includes past attendees of Acton University, Toward a Free and Virtuous Society (FAVS), City FAVS, and Liberty & Markets colloquia.

How old do you need to be to attend Acton University?

Acton University is intended for adult attendees who are 18 years old on or before June 23, 2025. Minor attendees will only be accepted if they are accompanied by a legal guardian, who is also accepted to the conference. All minor attendees must have access to a personal email, distinct from their legal guardian. There are no discounts for minors or their attending guardians.

All attendees must submit an application to attend Acton University and be approved to attend the conference. Unregistered attendees, regardless of age, are not allowed to attend or participate in the conference or related activities.   

Can my spouse attend with me?

• Yes. All conference attendees are responsible for securing their own hotel arrangements, so your spouse is welcome to travel with you and share your room.
• If your spouse is not officially registered and accepted to AU, they will NOT be able to participate in any of the conference activities (i.e. meals, breaks/hospitality, and lectures).
• If your spouse is accepted to the conference, please note that both of you must complete the online registration process (and subsequent tasks) separately.

Where does Acton University take place?

Acton University is held at the DeVos Place Convention Center along the Grand River in beautiful downtown Grand Rapids, Michigan.

Where is the nearest airport?

• Participants travelling by plane fly into the Gerald R. Ford International Airport (GRR), which is located 13 miles (approx. 15-20 minutes) southeast of downtown Grand Rapids.
• Further details regarding arrival and departure will be available to participants after acceptance.

I plan to drive to Grand Rapids – is there any parking available?

• If you are staying at the Amway Grand Plaza hotel, the Amway Grand Plaza Parking Ramp is located at 216 Pearl St NW, Grand Rapids, MI 49503. Parking in this location is included with your room reservation. 
• If you are driving to the conference and not staying at the hotel, a parking voucher may be picked up at the registration table. Eligible parking lots include:
  • DeVos Place Parking Garage (7 Bridge St NW, Grand Rapids, MI 49503)
  • Government Center Parking Garage (300 Monroe Ave NW, Grand Rapids, MI 49503)

Can I travel by bus or train?

Downtown Grand Rapids has a train station and bus station. Both are located less than 2 miles (approx. 6 minutes by car) from the conference site and area hotels

Amtrack: 440 Century Ave SW, Grand Rapids, MI 49503

Greyhound Bus: 250 Grandville Ave, Grand Rapids, MI 49503

What is appropriate attire for the conference and what should I bring?

• Business casual.
• For the evening plenary and dinner, some attendees wear a suit coat and/or tie, and women dresses. Not formal, but a step up from business casual.
• We recommend that everyone bring an umbrella and light jacket/sweater. June in Grand Rapids is generally beautiful, but always brings with it the element of surprise! People often react to air-conditioning in different ways; plan to bring a sweater/jacket if you tend to be cold in large public venues.

Is there a shuttle service from the airport to the conference?

• Acton is offering a complimentary shuttle service to and from the Gerald R. Ford International Airport (GRR) and Amway Grand Plaza Hotel. The shuttle will operate as follows: 
  • Monday, June 23, 2025– 11:00am until 6:00pm
  • Friday, June 27, 2025 – 6:00am until 12:00pm (noon)
• When you arrive on Monday, June 23, shuttles will be located outside the luggage claim east door exit. If you are in need of assistance or have any questions a representative at the Experience Grand Rapids kiosk will be happy to help you.
• Acton University does not arrange for transportation to or from the airport outside of these assigned times. If for any reason, you miss the complimentary shuttle service as outlined above, you will be responsible for the additional travel costs incurred.

How do I submit a hotel request?

Acton has reserved a room block at the Amway Grand Plaza Hotel, conveniently located within walking distance of the DeVos Place Convention Center.

Request Process:

• Accepted participants can submit a hotel request within their registration form.
• Detailed instructions on how to reserve a room in the AU hotel block will be provided to accepted applicants.
• Acton will confirm your lodging arrangements before the conference.

Important Notes:

• If you choose to book a hotel outside the conference room block, you will be responsible for all costs.
• Rooms in the AU block are within walking distance. If you choose other accommodations, any commuting costs will be your responsibility.

Room Rates:

• Single Room (1 King Bed): $176.00 per night
• Double Room (2 Queen Beds): $176.00 per night

For any questions about hotel reservations, please email us at [email protected].

What is the hotel address?

Amway Grand Plaza, Curio Collection by Hilton
Address: 187 Monroe Ave NW, Grand Rapids, MI 49503

What time is hotel check in and check out?

Check in: June 23 after 4:00 PM
Check out: June 27 by 11:00 AM

Will meals be provided?

Yes. The cost of meals, evening receptions, and beverages for the duration of the event are included in the conference fee for all accepted attendees.

Are you able to accommodate food related allergy/dietary restrictions?

We understand that some guests may have dietary restrictions. Please indicate your dietary requests in your conference application and we will do our best to accommodate them. We cannot guarantee requests not included in the conference application.

When I'm filling out the registration form, why can't I choose certain presentations? 

• First-time attendees are required to attend Acton’s Core presentations, which are offered during sessions 1 through 4. If you are NOT an alumnus, you must take the 4 Core presentations.
• Returning attendees and other Acton alumni have the option to choose from alternative presentation offerings.

What are the Core Presentations?

The four (4) Core presentations provide participants with the essential overall framework and intellectual context for liberty, freedom, economics, and Judeo-Christian anthropology. These presentations are a vital step in the exploration of the various themes and topics addressed throughout the week. We require that all first-time participants, non-alumni, attend the Core lectures.

Is it possible to bypass the Core lectures?

• No. All first-time Acton University participants are required to attend them.
• Contact the AU team with any questions.

Can I attend Acton University if I do not have a valid visa to travel to the United States?

Please be advised that Acton University does not accept registrations from attendees who do not possess a valid United States travel visa. If you require assistance in obtaining a visa, we encourage you to apply for our International Fellowship Program, which is designed to support participants in navigating the visa application process. Thank you for your understanding.

Can I attend Acton University if I am based outside of the United States, but currently have a valid visa to travel?

Yes, you will need to provide documentation of a valid visa in the Acton University registration form.

How do I apply for a US travel visa?

Accepted attendees are responsible for obtaining their own U.S. travel visas. The Acton Institute can provide supplemental conference documentation if needed, but it is not responsible for any visa application fees. For assistance with documentation, please contact the Acton University team.

Unable to attend Acton University in person this year? All the lectures and classes from previous years of Acton University are available to stream right now at Acton On-Demand.

Acton On-Demand is the home to years of great Acton programming, lectures, films, interviews, and much more. And all the classes and plenary lectures from Acton University 2025 will be available on Acton On-Demand by late July 2025. So keep an eye out for that.

Register for a free account today and gain access to hundreds of videos featuring signature Acton Institute content at ondemand.acton.org.

When is Acton University 2026 scheduled?

Acton University 2026 will take place June 22-25, 2026 in Grand Rapids, Michigan.