What are the ACEF Judges Institutes? What is the difference between the ACEF Judges Institutes and the ACEF Graduate Institutes?

The ACEF Judges Institutes are the week long Basic Institutes which cover: Anatomy, Movement, Judges Approval Process, Judges Ethics, and Management Guidelines for Judges, Ring Management and Procedures, AKC Rules, Regulations and Guidelines, and more. During the Judges Institutes, occasionally actual dogs are used to demonstrate Wicket measuring or types of movement. The ACEF Judges Institutes ARE NOT breed specific.

The Graduate Institutes are the Institutes in which all the individual breeds in an AKC Group are presented. These Institutes are held in conjunction with dog show clusters to make the individual breeds more readily available to the students. Students interested may choose to schedule ringside observations and mentoring.

How long do the ACEF Judges Institutes last?

The Judges Institutes last approximately 5 days. This Institute begins with Registration and an Informal Social on a Saturday evening usually around 6:30pm. It ends with a Graduation Dinner on Thursday night and check out on Friday morning.

What does my tuition fee include?

Your tuition includes four Lunches, all Course Material, Thursday Night’s Graduation Banquet and a Certificate of Graduation.

I want to make my Airline reservations. When is the best day to come in and when can I expect to finish?

Since the Institute usually starts at 8:30 a.m. on a Sunday, it is best to arrive the day before, which would be Saturday. Student registration at the Host Hotel is held on Saturday usually between 6:30pm – 7:30pm. The Institute is completed following the Graduation Banquet on Thursday night.

Should I make reservations at the Host Hotel? What if I want a roommate to save expenses? What if I want to come in prior to the Institute or if I want to stay additional nights?

DO NOT make hotel reservations at the host hotel as this is included in the ACEF Judges' Institute Tuition.

If you would like a roommate, to save expenses, please indicate that on your registration form in the appropriate spot. If you are requesting a roommate, you will be paired up with another person requesting a roommate.

Your registration only includes the 6 nights the Judges Institute is held. If you want to come in prior to the Institute or stay additional nights, let the hotel know by making your reservation for those additional nights.

What about transportation from the Airport to the Hotel?

Most of the Hotels we use provide Airport to Hotel transportation. Additional links concerning transportation will be available on the JUDGES INSITUTUE page. You may want to check with the host hotel directly for airport transportation and to various attractions.

What if I can only attend part of the Institute? Can I register for only those days? Will I be able to get a discount because I’m not attending the entire ACEF Basic Institute?

If you can attend only part of the Institute, please indicate which days you will be attending on the registration form. Call 703-461-5656 for daily costs.

Will I receive a certificate from the ACEF for attending the Judges Institute?

Students will receive one Graduation Certificate for attending this Judges Institute. If you are unable to attend the entire Institute, your certificate will indicate those courses that you did attend.

I would like to bring a guest to the Thursday Graduation dinner. How much does this cost and when should I pay for this?

You are welcome to bring a guest to the Graduation dinner. Please call 703-461-5656 for dinner guest cost. You can include the total dinner amount with your registration fee.

When will the week’s schedule be available?

The schedule of courses and times will be included in your class book. It will NOT be sent to you prior to the Institute. We will do our best to post the schedule on our web site as soon as we have it completed. The schedule is generally not complete until approximately 2 weeks prior to the Institute. Even then, there are sometimes last minute changes that are necessary.

When I send in my Registration Form and tuition, will I be contacted further? How will I know I have a spot in the Institute?

If you wish conformation of registration, send a SASE along with your Registration Form. You can assume that you are enrolled, unless you hear from us otherwise. You will not be contacted further unless there are last minute changes that may affect you. However, by checking the ACEF web site you should be able to obtain any information you may need. Any changes or special last minute information will also be posted on the web site.

UPDATED: July 30, 2010 by Nina Marie Sherrer

Get the latest ADOBE ACROBAT READER free to read the PDF files:

GET ADOBE READER