The AUDL’s summer programming is only able to happen each year thanks to the dedication of our larger debate community. Alumni, coaches, current debaters, Emory staff, and others come together to help make our camps a success. Please find information below if you are interested in working or volunteering at the Atlanta Urban Debate Institute. If you have any questions or concerns, email us at atlantadebate@gmail.com.

The deadline to apply for any position for this year’s summer programming is April 24, 2026.

Coach Programming - Fellows & Observers (New Process!)

We will have 2 programs available for coaches during the 2026 Atlanta Urban Debate Institutes. There is a general interest form for coaches who would like to participate in either program (described below); AUDL staff will follow up individually with each coach to discuss what they are looking to get out of participation and what kind of support would be most helpful. AUDL staff will reach back out in May to offer coaches positions in one or both programs.

The Atlanta Urban Debate League Coach Leadership Fellows program is designed for coaches who want a week-long, in-depth experience in learning and teaching debate. Coach Leadership Fellows are placed in classes at our summer debate institutes as co-instructors with AUDL staff and debaters hired as instructors in our programs.

The goal of this program is for coaches to engage in experiential learning through both instruction and observation. Coaches are responsible for fostering a positive debate institute experience that results in growth of the debaters, as well as their own professional development. Staff and instructors are required to be highly collaborative inside and outside their respective labs. No previous coaching experience is required to sign up for the Coach Leadership Fellows program, but Fellows must be coaches at AUDL member schools. This program is a great way for coaches to build connections with the wider AUDL community.

The Coach Observation Program is a new offering for AUDL coaches who would like to learn more about debate, the year’s topic, and teaching debate-specific skills during the Atlanta Urban Debate Institute without the instructional obligation that comes with being a Coach Leadership Fellow.

Coach Observers are invited to observe select large group and breakout sessions during the AUDI. Observers may also choose to serve as paid judges for practice debate rounds on Friday. This is NOT a paid position (with the exception of optional Friday judging), but it is a great way for coaches to develop their debate knowledge and connect with members of the wider AUDL support network.

Please find details on coach programming here.

Lab Instructors

The lab instructor role offers the opportunity for adults who are at least one year out from high school passionate about debate education to teach rising 6th-12th students and get them excited about debate. Lab instructors will help foster a positive debate institute experience that results in growth of debaters and aids in their own professional development. Lab instructors should have debate experience and/or a background teaching debate outside of the AUDI.

Please find details on the lab instructor position here.

Junior Instructors (Volunteer Role)

The junior instructor role offers the opportunity for select rising high school students and recent high school graduates to have a week-long experience in teaching and learning debate as co-instructors at our middle school summer camps. Junior instructors will help foster a positive debate institute experience that results in growth of younger debaters and aids in their own professional development. Junior instructors must have completed at least 2 years of high school and been actively involved with an AUDL debate program during the 2025-2026 school year.

Please find details on the junior instructor position here.