Each quarter, the Institute of Politics challenges UChicago students to come up with and present solutions to major issues in local, national, and global politics. Registration for our Fall 2023 challenge is now open!
Affordable Housing
The Institute of Politics is hosting its fourth university-wide contest soliciting student-generated policy solutions to solve the affordable housing crisis.
Your challenge is to present a plan on how you would improve housing affordability in a city or rural area of your choice. You can expand upon existing grants or programs, alter the housing market through new lending programs or other funding structures, zoning laws, incentive or regulatory programs - think about rules tied to highway funding - or forming a public-private partnership. The possibilities are endless but remember - you have to get it through the US Senate and you must explain, if relevant, how you will pay for your plan.
The contest is open to ALL STUDENTS and no prior policy background or coursework is required.
Students will compete in teams of 2-5 participants and present proposals to a panel of experts.
Each member of the winning team will receive $500.
Attend an info session at the IOP on Wednesday, October 4 at 12:00 p.m. CT to answer any questions you may have (optional and no registration is required). Lunch will be provided.
Register your team’s participation by Sunday, October 15 at 11:59 p.m. CT. Only 15 teams will be allowed to participate. Not all teams who register may make it to the first round of the competition, with mentors and judges helping ensure the strongest proposals make it to the pitch mixer.
Participate in competition mentor office hours (optional) between October 16 and November 3.
Submit your team’s proposals here by Sunday, November 5 at 11:59 p.m. CT.
Share your team’s slide deck (if there is one) with IOP staff by Tuesday, November 7 before 11:59 p.m. CT.
Attend and present at the pitch mixer on Thursday, November 9 at 5:00 p.m. CT. Three finalists will be named.
Finalists will present their proposals on Monday, November 13 at 5:00 p.m. CT. A winner will be named.
The Institute of Politics and the Kiphart Center for Global Health and Social Development challenged students to present a plan to attack hunger anywhere around the globe – from conflict zones to your own college campus and anywhere in between – formed through their specific area of study or interest.
The Institute of Politics and the Center for Effective Government joined forces for a university-wide contest soliciting student-generated policy solutions to fix Chicago’s transit system.
The Institute of Politics teamed up with the Harris School of Public Policy for a contest soliciting student-generated policy solutions to the student-debt crisis.
