CHARLOTTE, N.C. (theACC.com) – As part of the Atlantic Coast Conference’s continued commitment to diversity, inclusion, social justice and racial equity, the league has announced plans for the conference’s fifth annual ACC Winter Unity Week, which will be held February 13-23.
ACC Unity Weeks are an initiative of ACC UNITE and have been developed in conjunction with the conference’s 18 member institutions. The 2024-25 academic year will be the fifth in which the league has celebrated Unity Weeks in each of the Fall, Winter, and Spring competition seasons.
"We commend our members for their ongoing commitment to prioritizing diversity, equity, and inclusion," said ACC Commissioner Jim Phillips, Ph.D. "As a conference, we remain steadfast in our focus on working directly with our outstanding student-athletes to foster positive change. We take great pride in our ACC UNITE initiative and the collaborative efforts of this committed group."
The theme for the three Unity Weeks (Fall, Winter, Spring) during the 2024-25 academic year is “COMMUNITY, CULTURE, and CUISINE,” a continuation of this year's Unity Tour theme. ACC encourages schools to highlight the following on their campuses:
- Student-athletes, coaches, and staff engaging with the local community.
- Education and connection with different cultures in the community.
- Incorporation of cuisine from the community.
During each Unity Week, the Conference office will focus ACCN and social media coverage on one institution per weekday. Schools that will be highlighted during Winter Unity Week are:
- Thursday, February 13: Boston College
- Friday, February 14: Notre Dame
- Monday, February 17: Louisville
- Tuesday, February 18: SMU
- Wednesday, February 19: NC State
- Thursday, February 20: Miami
- Friday, February 21: Clemson
A moment of unity will occur before or during ACC competitions throughout the week. Each of the ACC’s winter sports in men’s and women’s basketball, fencing, gymnastics, men’s and women’s swimming & diving, men’s and women’s indoor track & field and wrestling will be in action, with two championships taking place over the week in the 2025 ACC Swimming & Diving Championships (February 18-22) and the 2025 ACC Fencing Championships (February 22-23).
ACC’s initiatives during Unity Weeks:
- Social Media: All league social handle profile pictures will feature the ACC UNITE logo.
- UNITE logo inclusion intermittently on ACC Network TV broadcasts.
- Provide UNITE-themed promotional items to distribute to student-athletes and coaches.
- Produce video content/programming (i.e., UNITE Award winners panel discussion, student-athlete leaders discussion panel, etc.).
- ACC Network (ACCN) will conduct interviews throughout the week on the impact of Unity Week and why it is important.
- The Conference office will focus ACCN and social media coverage on one institution per weekday throughout the three Unity Weeks throughout the year.
- Conference office staff will participate in an educational session related to the identified theme.
ACC Unity Statement
“We, the ACC, are committed to seeing each other as equals and treating each other with respect and dignity at all times; recognizing that our differences don’t divide us, but they make us stronger.”
About the ACC
The Atlantic Coast Conference, in its 72nd year and 18 members strong, stands as one of the most competitive and revered intercollegiate conferences in the nation. ACC members including Boston College, Cal, Clemson, Duke, Florida State, Georgia Tech, Louisville, Miami, North Carolina, NC State, Notre Dame, Pitt, SMU, Stanford, Syracuse, Virginia, Virginia Tech, and Wake Forest are dedicated to upholding the league's founding values of academic excellence, athletic competition at the highest level, and integrity. The ACC supports 28 NCAA sports, with 15 for women and 13 for men, and its member institutions span 12 states. In August 2019, the ACC and ESPN partnered to launch ACC Network (ACCN), a 24/7 national network exclusively devoted to ACC sports and original programming. For more information, visit theACC.com and follow the ACC on Instagram (@accsports), Twitter/X (@theACC) and Facebook (facebook.com/theACC).