Annual Student Policy Challenge
The Portman Center challenges University of Cincinnati students across majors to propose solutions to significant issues in local and national politics. Participating teams present their proposals to expert guest judges and are encouraged to bring their proposals into action by sharing their research with lawmakers and other public changemakers.
The 2025–26 Policy Challenge will be announced in fall 2025.
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.
