Ethics is the foundation of success in construction management. And, developing an appreciation for ethics starts at the ground floor in classrooms around the country.

At the American Institute of Constructors (AIC) we place a high value on ethics, which is why we host an annual ethics competition involving schools and universities from around the country.

We encourage you to register a team for the virtual 2026 AIC Collegiate Ethics Competition, which will take place during the Spring 2026 semester. Registration is now open as of November 6, 2025, and registration will run through February 13, 2026.

Find out about this opportunity to provide students with real-world experience and exposure to ethical situations they will encounter in their careers.

Key Dates for the 2026 AIC Collegiate Ethics Competition

Our annual ethics-based competition brings together students and faculty from Construction Management degree programs nationwide. This competition will test each student’s knowledge and critical thinking skills in responding to a real-life ethical situation.

During the competition, we will discover which students have cultivated an appreciation and understanding of ethics in the construction industry. Take note of the following key dates for your school or university to participate:

• Registration Dates: November 6, 2025 – February 13, 2026
• Program Dates: February 19, 2026 – April 10, 2026

When you register you will need to submit the name of your school, the names of each participating student, and the name of the coach supporting the team. Schools that complete their application accurately and thoroughly will be considered for the competition.

Then, during the actual competition, your team will be required to participate in virtual meetings. Each of the following pre-competition meetings and competition sessions will be held over Zoom:

• Mandatory Pre-Competition Meeting: February 19, 2026
• Ethical Prompt Issued: February 23, 2026
• Question Appointments: February 23 – March 6, 2026
• Written Response Due Date: March 20, 2026
• Invitations to Oral Presentations (AIC to send): March 27, 2026
• Oral Presentations Date: April 3, 2026
• AIC Ethics Competition Awards Event: April 10, 2026

Each team will be given the same ethical prompt to respond to. The prompt will be issued after the pre-competition meeting that outlines how the competition works. Your team will also be assigned an identification number for the competition at the pre-competition meeting.

During the awards event on April 10, we will announce the overall team rankings and the winners of the written and oral responses. We will also present individual awards to the highest-performing individuals, followed by a debriefing and Q&A session to conclude the contest.

Eligibility for Colleges with Construction Management Programs

We ask that each school or university interested in participating in the program meet the fundamental eligibility requirements. Teams must also guarantee their ability to participate in the competition throughout the contest period.

– Who can enter the competition? Any accredited construction program may enter a single team in the competition.

– How many members per team? Each participating institution will create its own team consisting of up to 4 undergraduate students.

– How does the actual competition work? Each team will prepare a written report responding to the ethical prompt, then a select number of teams will be invited to present oral arguments. These are the key elements:

• Each team will respond to the Ethics Prompt with a written report for review by a panel of AIC members.
• Invited teams will prepare and deliver an oral presentation to a panel of AIC judges over Zoom.
• Both the written report and the oral presentation will be considered during the judging.

– For a list of official rules, we ask you to review the information in the registration form.

Will You Join Our List of AIC Ethics Competition Winners?

Each participating student will gain unmatched experience from the competition, preparing them for their careers. It’s also an excellent forum to collaborate with peers and learn from industry professionals.

Over the past several years, there has been outstanding representation from higher education institutions across the country. Take a look at our most recent winners.

2025 Winners:

• University of North Florida (UNF)
• California Polytechnic State University (Cal Poly)

2024 Winners:

• University of North Florida
• Wentworth Institute of Technology
• California Polytechnic State University

2023 Winners:

• University of North Florida
• California Polytechnic State University
• University of Houston

2022 Winners:

• University of North Florida
• Eastern Michigan University
• University of Houston

After four consecutive victories, can anyone de-throne the University of North Florida? Take a moment to read the 2025 competition results to learn more about our most recent winners and the ethical issues addressed during the competition.

We are looking for leading higher education institutions to participate in the 2026 AIC Collegiate Ethics Competition. Register your school today to join the field.

Have questions about signing up? Email [email protected] to ask us about registration. We look forward to another exceptional competition!