Introducing ACCI

Since 1953, the American Council on Consumer Interests (ACCI) has been--and remains today--the leading membership organization for academics and other professionals involved in consumer and family economics. The ACCI Headquarters Office is in Evansville, Indiana. For additional information contact Us.

Vision Statement
ACCI is the leading consumer policy research and education organization consisting of a world wide community of researchers, educators and related professionals dedicated to enhancing consumer well-being. ACCI promotes the consumer interest by encouraging, producing and communicating policy-relevant research.

Mission
The mission of ACCI is to enhance consumer and family economic well-being by promoting excellence in research and educational programs.

ACCI fulfills its mission through activities that include:
  • a multidisciplinary conference where high quality scholarship on consumer and family economic issues is presented and discussed
  • a peer-reviewed, multidisciplinary journal that publishes cutting edge scholarship focusing on consumer and family economic issues
  • special projects that promote the exchange of ideas between researchers, students, educators, policy makers and advocates interested in consumer and family economic issues

Goals
  • To advance knowledge by identifying issues, stimulating research, promoting education, and informing policy.
  • To provide for the professional development of the membership by creating, maintaining and stimulating interactive communication among advocates, business representatives, educators, policy makers, and researchers through publications, educational programs, and networking opportunities.

History
On November 5, 1952, Colston Warne (President of Consumers Union) inquired by letter whether Ray Price and Henry Harap would be 'interested in launching a consumer education association.' Warne stated that Consumers Union would contribute financial support to bring several persons together for that purpose. Price and Harap met with Warne in Chicago and approved the proposal. Twenty persons accepted an invitation to attend a planning session at the University of Minnesota. These 'Charter Members' were primarily college and university professors. They approved the selection of an executive committee which was given the following charge: prepare a plan for permanent organization, prepare a budget and obtain financial assistance, choose an executive secretary, and define its functions. The Executive Committee met in Washington on June 1, 1953, after which the planning group proceeded with the recruitment of members, publication of newsletters and pamphlets, and the organization of an annual conference. The American Council on Consumers Interests was formally established in 1953. Initially, the organization was called the Council on Consumer Information; it was changed in 1969 to the American Council on Consumer Interests. ACCI was established for the purpose of stimulating the exchange of ideas among persons interested in the welfare of the consumer; to be non-political and take no stand on issues of public policy; its sole purpose to contribute to more effective fact-finding and dissemination of consumer information. The first annual ACCI conference was held in 1955 in Dayton, Ohio.