Overview

This two-week session takes place from July 14th to July 27th at University of San Diego in California. It is open to Public Forum, Lincoln-Douglas, and World Schools debaters and is suitable for debaters of all experience levels, circuits, and competitive ambitions. It is especially recommended for students looking for a smaller environment with more individualized attention. 

World Schools Debate

For those unfamiliar, the National Speech and Debate Association describes World Schools Debate as the following:

World Schools Debate is a unique and dynamic form of debate, unlike any other practiced in the United States. World Schools Debate is a dynamic format combining “prepared” topics with “impromptu” topics, encouraging debaters to focus on specific issues rather than debate theory or procedural arguments. This highly interactive style of debate allows debaters to engage each other, even during speeches. This challenging format requires good teamwork and in-depth quality argumentation.

WSD is one of the most accessible forms of debate in the speech and debate community. It is the perfect format for students to learn about the world and impress themselves as they put themselves out there. It is the perfect activity for coaches looking to prove to parents and administration that debate does matter. It is a perfect format for an activity that forgets that if we do not promote accessibility in our community, none of the great values of debate matter.

university of san diego

Overlooking the city of San Diego, Mission Bay, and the Pacific Ocean, the University of San Diego creates an ideal learning environment for students. US News and World Report has USD ranked as the #98 national university, #54 best value schools, and 14th in best undergraduate engineering. The University of San Diego has received the #14 national ranking for best campus food from the Princeton Review, placing it as #1 among all west coast institutions.

LODGING AND FOOD

Students and staff will stay in USD dorms. Most students will share a room with another camper. Roommate request forms will be sent out in the spring after students have registered. 

VBI tuition covers three meals per day for students in the Hahn University Center.

TRAVEL

Students arriving by plane should plan to land no later than 3 PM on July 14th and students arriving by car must be on campus by 4:00 PM. Students may arrive beginning at 7 AM.  We recommend trying to arrive as early as possible. All students must be off campus by 12 PM on July 27th. If you are unable to make this times work, please contact us as early as possible so that arrangements can be made. 

VBI will provide transportation by hired shuttle to and from San Diego International Airport (SAN) to students arriving and departing within the designated travel window (7 AM - 3PM). Students will be greeted at baggage claim by staff wearing VBI t-shirts and holding signs. The airport transportation fee is $100. Students arriving outside of the travel window are responsible for providing their own travel. 

Frequently asked questions

Answers to frequent questions about VBI San Diego can be found here.