Annual Student Policy Challenge

Develop a plan that addresses health care at the city, county, or state level. You can expand, adjust, and improve upon existing grants or programs by identifying what the existing policy is, clearly identifying the opportunity to improve, and explaining how you will solve for that. Or you may create something completely new! Your plan must identify a funding source or sources and must comply with local and federal regulatory structures and laws.

To help refine proposals, participants are encouraged to attend Workshop office hours, available at the Portman Center for Policy Solutions (CCH 5103) on Wednesday, October 22, 3:00–4:30 p.m.

Written proposals must be no more than two pages single spaced with a minimum of 10-point font and standard margins. Supporting graphics and a works cited page will not count toward the page count.

Judges will review proposals based on the following criteria:

• Purpose: Have you clearly outlined how your team’s proposal will answer the challenge prompt?

• Impact: Are all stakeholders identified and included in the development of the proposal?

• Sustainability: Is this a realistic long-term solution?

• Process: Has your team identified a timeline, proponent, and opponents for the proposal?

• Creativity: Is your proposal a fresh take on the issue?

• Financing: Does your plan clearly identify how it will be financed?

• Presentation: Was the proposal clearly articulated? For finalist in-person visual presentations, was the team able to answer judges’ questions?

• Overall Quality: Is the evidence well researched? Is the problem well articulated? Does the proposal follow the evidence? Are all the elements (need, evidence, solution, financing, method of enactment) included? Were citations provided?

The contest is open to all UC undergraduate students and no prior policy background or coursework is required. Teams may have 2 to 4 participants.

All participants must be present at the in-person finals to be eligible for the $300 award and to represent UC at the Institute of Politics Policy Challenge Super Bowl.

Who is eligible to participate?

This contest is open to all current University of Cincinnati undergraduate students, regardless of major/course of study.

Is past experience in the subject area required to participate?

No prior policy background or coursework is required. Just bring your well-seasoned ideas.

How many people can join a team?

Teams must have a minimum of two members and a maximum of four.

What proposal advising is available to teams, and what are the per-team limits?

All students are welcome to the September 24 info session and October 22 workshop office hours.

Each registered team is eligible to sign up for and participate in one 30-minute session with a faculty mentor. Sessions are not guaranteed and are subject to faculty advisor availability. Sign-up priority will be given to teams that attend the Oct. 22 workshop. 

Teams that continue to the finalist round will be paired with a policy mentor; Portman Center staff will facilitate scheduling of one virtual meeting (max. 30 minutes). 

How long can the proposal be?

No more than two pages single-spaced with a minimum of 10-point font and standard margins. Supporting graphics and a works cited page will not count toward the page count.

Can edits be made to proposals after it has been submitted?

If the submission deadline has not yet passed, you can resubmit an edited proposal once. No edits will be accepted past the deadline.

Is a visual presentation required?

First-round submissions will include written proposals only. Finalists will be notified by November 3 and will be provided a slide deck template. Finalists must submit their slides by November 17 for the in-person presentations on November 20.

Can there be changes to a team’s composition after registration?

Teammates can be removed, but no one can be added once a team has registered. All changes must be emailed to PortmanCenter@uc.edu.

What does the winning team receive?

Each member of the winning team will receive $300 and the opportunity to travel to Chicago to present their proposal in an inter-university competition at the University of Chicago Institute of Politics.

2024–25 Urban Rural Policy Challenge

Our first university-wide contest solicited undergraduate student proposals to address challenges facing both urban and rural communities. Acting as lawmakers or nongovernmental organizations, students developed budgeted plans to address broadband expansion, childcare access, food insecurity, healthcare access, economic development, or substance use disorder.

Five finalist teams presented to guest judges Greg Hartmann (Partner, KMK Law), Liz Keating (Vice President of Government Affairs and Advocacy, Cincinnati USA Regional Chamber), and Karen Ryan (Executive Director of Government Relations, University of Cincinnati). The winning team received an award of $300 per team member and continued on to compete with teams from other universities at the University of Chicago Institute of Politics in February 2025.