The SEC Creates a New Playbook for Academic Innovation

With 16 universities across 12 states, the Southeastern Conference is empowering leaders in education, business, and innovation.

From cutting-edge artificial intelligence initiatives to innovative experiential learning opportunities, the SEC is spearheading transformative programs that are redefining the academic landscape. While renowned for athletic dominance, the Conference’s strength extends beyond competitive sports as it deepens its commitment to academic excellence and student development.

Innovation and Research at the Forefront

AI in the SEC

Since the creation of the SEC Artificial Intelligence Consortium in 2021, the Conference has been at the forefront of convening discussions and developing programs that advance artificial intelligence training. By fostering collaboration across its member universities, the SEC is encouraging the sharing of resources, ideas, and research, ensuring AI is not only integrated into various academic fields but also accessible to all.

The Conference has developed artificial intelligence programming through the SEC AI Consortium, including an AI in Sports Panel during the 2024 SEC Football Media Days. The panel explored AI’s impact on sports by covering generative AI, prospect management, marketing and more.

Since its inception, the Conference and its member universities have organized numerous AI initiatives that include the virtual SEC Generative AI Forum and Teaching with AI in the SEC, an online course that provides tangible resources for integrating AI into teaching instruction.

From the SEC Generative AI Forum

SEC Faculty Travel Program

One of the central components of the SEC’s academic success is providing support for faculty members. The SEC Faculty Travel Program encourages cross-campus collaboration, allowing faculty members to advance their teaching, research, and service efforts with other SEC faculty members. Whether it’s sharing their expertise with students, conducting collaborative research, or fostering partnerships between institutions, the SEC Faculty Travel Program helps break down barriers and promote academic growth.

Participating faculty members have produced a variety of projects that underscored the work being produced throughout the SEC. The 2024-25 cohort will travel across the SEC to discuss their work in fields such as pharmacy, education, political science and psychology. The program also extends to the arts, with faculty collaborations leading to musical performances and masterclasses across multiple campuses.

“Having that time with your collaborators and understanding the different institutions that you are coming from, because they are all different in the SEC, is an often unappreciated, but necessary, part of projects,” said Dr. Renã Robinson, a past recipient from Vanderbilt University whose travel assisted in a $2.04 million grant from the National Institutes of Health to support underrepresented minority faculty in biomedical research.

“Having the space and time to work out research ideas was really useful and having a travel grant gives you the freedom to do that in ways traditional grant funds wouldn’t support.”

Shaping Future Champions

The SEC’s commitment is perhaps best illustrated by its focus on student development. The SEC isn’t just about gameday victories—students are also participating in academic-based competitions for the top honors.

Entrepreneurship in the SEC

The SEC Student Pitch Competition showcases young entrepreneurs as teams of students representing SEC universities compete in a business pitch competition. Students present their innovative ideas to a panel of judges to determine those most worthy of a funding investment.

In the summer of 2024, the Conference expanded its academic competition portfolio by creating a business development program in partnership with Regions, the official bank of the SEC, that highlights the entrepreneurial ventures of student-athletes.

SEC Start Up: A Student-Athlete Pitch Competition focuses on the businesses created by SEC student-athletes. Like the Conference’s existing programming in support of student entrepreneurship, SEC Start Up provides additional exposure and resources for students while recognizing the SEC’s collective commitment to teaching, service and research.

“Supporting student entrepreneurship not only helps individual students but has the potential to help strengthen economies throughout our footprint, while nurturing the next generation of leaders and innovators,” SEC Commissioner Greg Sankey said. “The expansion of our business and innovation programming compliments the economic and workforce related impacts of SEC institutions.”

SEC MBA Case Competition

The SEC MBA Case Competition provides opportunities for SEC business schools to showcase their students’ skills at solving simulated, real-word problems faced by a large corporation. Past partners include companies like FedEx, Valvoline and Aflac.

Participating teams have approximately 24 hours to prepare their recommended solutions and present them to company executives.

“You always hear about the SEC tied to sports or sporting events, and that’s really the only front-facing thing that people associate with Conference,” said John Clary, a past participant and winner from the University of Alabama. “But the reality is we go so much deeper than just sports. We show excellence in everything we do, and we are proud of the work we do. It’s so amazing that the SEC has this academic experience for us.”

It Just Means More

Throughout all its initiatives, the Conference is a leader in academic innovation, preparing students and faculty alike for future challenges and opportunities.

Beyond these collective programs, each of the 16 member institutions stand as a powerhouse. They bring a positive effect to their community, state, region and beyond through their economic impact, research advancements and service efforts.

With a playbook that is changing lives for the better, SEC universities are proving that their collective success extends far beyond the field or the court.

Since 2011, the SEC has supported the teaching, research and service mission of its member universities through a variety of programs and activities. Learn more at TheSECU.com

This content was paid for and created by Southeastern Conference. The editorial staff of The Chronicle had no role in its preparation. Find out more about paid content.