Attention Collegiate Community:
Details for the 2026-2027 AMA Competition Season – including competition guidelines, judging rubrics, sign-up forms and prize outlines are noted below.
As a gentle reminder, please make sure all incoming chapter leaders & e-board members are listed in your Chapter’s Community Admin Portal to ensure they receive important announcements and competition updates from the AMA.
Competition Objectives
The Website Competition recognizes chapters that strategically integrate their website into their overall marketing communications efforts and chapter operations. Chapters should demonstrate how their website supports organizational goals and provides evidence of website effectiveness.
Entry Requirements
To enter the competition, your chapter must:
- Be an active AMA Collegiate Chapter in good standing
- Have an active Collegiate Chapter (or school) website link
Submission Requirements
- Chapters will provide a written summary using the provided template noting how their website has met the criteria within the rubric. 600 word maximum not including titles, subtitles and school identification. Written summary can include links to specific active web pages. No images, screenshots or design elements beyond typography.
- Important Reminder: Save the final written summary as a PDF using the following naming format: “University Name_Website Competition_Written Summary.pdf” and submit it to the website.
- An active link to the chapter website must be submitted and functional during the judging time period. Chapters that submit a non-functioning link will not be evaluated.
How is the Competition Judged?
This competition will go through one round of judging by AMA Collegiate faculty and marketing professional volunteers and will be overseen by the AMA Collegiate Chapters Council. If the judging scores are close, a second round of judging will be executed to identify the top winners.
Judging Criteria and Points Ranking
Chapters can score up to 30 Points – Download Competition Rubric (full list of judging criteria and judging elements)
Criterion One: Experience in creating a user-friendly organized and designed chapter website (Up to 5 Points)
User Experience
Explain how your chapter has created a user friendly organized and designed chapter website.
- Navigation is Intuitive – users find what they need without confusion
- Clear Information Hierarchy – headings/menus/content structured logically
- Consistency in buttons/fonts/colors and layouts over all pages
- Design is visually engaging without being overwhelming
- Key actions are easy to complete – visitors can quickly find how to join, contact the chapter, register for events, or access important information
Criterion Two: Experience in developing target-market(s) focused content and design on chapter website (Up to 5 Points)
Targeted Content & Design
Explain how your chapter developed target-market(s) focused content and design within your website.
- Audience Alignment – Clear understanding of the target market(s) of the Chapter in the design and content look and voice
- Content Relevance – Clear understanding of the information target market(s) are looking for and is up to date
- Value Proposition – Benefits of chapter participation options for involvement are clearly noted
- Cultural Relevance – Represents the specific chapter’s community and activities
Criterion Three: Experience in integrating the chapter website into chapter operations (Up to 5 Points)
Chapter Operations
Explain how your chapter has integrated your website into chapter operations.
- Website is clearly used as central operations communication tool
- Examples:
- Event information
- Post-event updates
- Membership information
- Leadership Directory
- Sponsor Recognition
- Examples:
Criterion Four: Experience in implementing and measuring strategic goals for the chapter website (Up to 10 Points)
Strategic Alignment & Website Performance
Strategic Alignment: What is the primary purpose/goal of your chapter website, and what elements have been included to support it?
Website Performance: Based on your chapter’s primary website goal, identify up to three (3) key performance indicators (KPIs) used to measure success. Explain why these metrics are important and summarize how you plan to measure them.
- The website supports the Chapter’s stated strategic goals for the tool and KPIs are aligned
- Examples Strategic Alignment
- Website content supports stated goals (targeted pages, messaging)
- Calls to action support the stated goals (enews sign ups, RSVPs, contact us form, social media links, membership sign ups, chapter operations)
- KPIs are connected to the stated goals
- Examples Website Performance
- New member applications
- Event registrations
- Website traffic
- Returning visitors
- Sponsor inquiries
- Resource downloads
- Average session duration
- Examples Strategic Alignment
Criterion Five: Experience in leveraging AI to improve chapter website (Up to 5 points)
Strategic Use of AI
Describe how your chapter used AI to improve website effectiveness, content quality, user experience, analytics, SEO, or operational efficiency. What decisions did your chapter members make based on AI-generated recommendations or insights?
- Chapter leveraged AI to improve the chapter website’s effectiveness, content quality, user experience, analytics, SEO, operational efficiency or another area.
- Permitted AI Uses:
- Content creation and editing
- SEO optimization
- Website analytics interpretation
- User experience improvements
- Accessibility enhancements
- Content planning and management
- Permitted AI Uses:
Important Reminder: An active link to the chapter website must be submitted and functional during the judging time period. Chapters that submit a non-functioning link will not be evaluated. Remember to ensure that your website remains current and updated even after submission. Judges will assess your website within a specified timeframe. While attendance at the AMA International Collegiate Conference (ICC) is encouraged, it is not mandatory for eligibility to win.
Competition Prize
Winners will be announced at the AMA International Collegiate Conference. This competition will award one winner in each of the following placements:
- 1st Place – $250 and AMA Certificate
- 2nd Place – $150 and AMA Certificate
- 3rd Place – $100 and AMA Certificate
Questions?
Contact AMA Support at collegiate@ama.org.
Calling All AMA Volunteers!
Want to make an impact and support the AMA Collegiate Community?
Here’s your chance – AMA is looking for volunteers to help judge our Collegiate Opportunities.
Learn more and sign up today, visit the AMA Collegiate Volunteer Page.