The Client Problem Competition (CPC) is an annual student team competition held at the Association for Applied and Clinical Sociology (AACS) conference every year. The 2026 conference will be hosted entirely online on October 16th and 17th. All participants, including students and faculty mentors, will need to be current members of AACS and register for the conference.
The teams consist of 2 to 6 undergraduate students, under the guidance of a faculty member, attempting to solve the client’s problem. The 2026 client and problem will be announced about a week before the conference.
This event provides students with the opportunity to utilize their sociological skills, experience teamwork, and serves as a valuable network for the next generation of practicing sociologists. The teams will present their solution to the client representative(s) and members of the AACS executive committee at the 2026 conference in a session that is open to all conference registrants.
The first place winning team’s university or college receives a plaque and the members of the team receive 4 years of free membership with AACS.
For more information about this event, please contact the program chair at jlchamberlain@
Faculty Advisors should register their teams for the competition via the form linked below no later than October 5th 2026.
Note: If you are a faculty sponsor for more than one team then you will need to submit this form for each team that you are advising.
Note: participants are not fully registered for the conference or CPC competition until they complete the conference registration form and pay their registration fee.
Note: if you would prefer to pay for the team as a whole through an invoice please contact Fonda Martin at SAC_AACS@emich.edu with this request.
You must be a current member (Joined or Renewed on or after August 1, 2026) to participate in the CPC.
You can join or renew your membership to AACS HERE — Join AACS – AACS