Policy Pitch Competition

• Register by filling out this form by Tuesday, November 19.

• (Optional) Attend an Info Session at CASL Atrium, 1st Floor on November 20, 10 AM – 12 PM

Submit your written proposal by Thursday, November 21. 

The final competition will be held on Wednesday, December 4, from 4:30-6:30pm in CASL 1030

The top submissions to our Policy Pitch Competition present their topics in a five-minute format, promoting a specific national, state, local, or university policy. Slides are encouraged but not required. A panel of judges that include public policy experts and practitioners select three winners from 10 finalists.

Winning presentations receive monetary prizes, from $500 to $200.

Any current UM-Dearborn undergraduate student with an original policy proposal is eligible to participate. No prior policy experience or background is required.

Not at the moment. All presentations are individual. 

• Register by submitting a short application
• When your registration is approved, submit a written policy proposal
• The selection committee chooses 10 top pitches. If your pitch makes it to the top 10, you will present it in person at the final round 

For the deadlines and the details, please watch for the announcements or the updates on this page. 

The proposal must include the following sections:

• Identify a policy problem (50 words)
• Describe the selected policy problem (150 words)
• Describe the current policy, key policy players, and why policy improvements are needed (150 words).
• Identify your target policy decision-makers (50 words) 

Provide specific policy recommendations (100 words)

Yes, we will offer one-on-one informational sessions. Our MPAP graduate students will help you start your proposal by identifying your policy topic and framing your policy issue.

For the details, please watch for the announcements or the updates on this page. 

Of course! Guests are welcome to attend the final round of Policy Pitch Competition presentations. We will serve pizza and cookies too!

• First place: Wasey Rehman, “Bridging the Digital Divide in Education by Revising UofM’s Procurement Policies” 
• Second place: Zhalgas Tileumuratin, “ Shaping the future of education. AI Policy Reform for a Better Tomorrow”

• Third place: Ishita Desai, “Prioritizing investment in local small businesses with Qualified Opportunity Zones” 

  

• First place: Penny Kane, "Eliminating College Admission Barriers for Formerly Incarcerated Citizens upon Their Reentry." 
• Second place: Shouryan Nikam presented, "Eliminate Michigan’s Subminimum Wage." 
• Third place: Hassan Ibrahim presented, "Requiring Computer Science Education in Public Schooling."