Harris Policy Innovation Challenge 2023-2024 Official Rules

1. Eligibility:

Eligible entrants must be current students matriculating at the University of Chicago who are 18 years and older, who register by October 13, 2024 at 5:00 PM CT, and whose entry, participation and receipt of the award will not violate applicable law. Students may enter individually or in teams with the stipulation that each team must include at least one graduate student currently matriculating at University of Chicago Harris School of Public Policy (“Sponsor”). No purchase is necessary to enter, and no purchase will improve an entrant’s chance of winning. All entrants agree to have submissions and presentations made public, at the sole discretion of Sponsor.

2. Sponsor:

The Harris Policy Innovation Challenge (the “Challenge”) is sponsored by The University of Chicago Harris School of Public Policy, located at 1307 E. 60th Street, Chicago, IL 60637.

3. Agreement to Official Rules:

Entering the Challenge constitutes entrant’s full and unconditional agreement to and acceptance of these Official Rules and the decisions of the Sponsor and its representatives, which are final and unappealable. Winning an award is contingent upon being compliant with these Official Rules and fulfilling all other requirements set forth herein.

4. Timeline:

Registration for the Challenge begins on October 2, 2024 at 9:00 a.m. CT and ends on October 13, 2024 at 5:00 PM CT. All entrants, along with their teammates (if applicable), must submit a 1,500 word policy memo, with unlimited length appendices, proposing their solution for the Chicago pension crisis by February 23, 2025, at 11:59 p.m. CT. On or about March 4, 2025, a panel of experts, selected by the Sponsor, will select three individuals and/or teams (“Finalists”) to move on to the next and final round of competition. On or about April 3, 2024, each Finalist will be asked to give a 15-minute presentation of the proposal outlined in their qualifying memo for a panel of judges to be determined.

5. How to Enter:

Entrants must register online by 5:00 PM CT on October 13, 2024 by visiting our website (harris.uchicago.edu/HPIC) and following directions to complete and submit the Harris Policy Innovation 2023 Entrant Form . Entries are subject to the Sponsor’s privacy policy.  (Limit one entry per person or team.)

6. Selection and Notification of Finalists and Winner:

Odds of winning will depend on the number of entries received. Finalists will be notified by email of their opportunity to advance and must confirm ability to participate in the final round within five (5) calendar days of the first attempt to contact. If any Finalist is unable to participate in the final round (or does not timely respond to the Finalist notification), a new individual or team will be selected to take their place.

There will be one winner selected based on the novelty, efficacy, and political feasibility of the proposal. The winner will be announced at a culminating event on or about April 3, 2025. In the event of a tie, a single Finalist will be recommended to the selection committee based on the quality of participation throughout the seminar.

7. Award:

Winner - $10,000

8. General Terms:

The Sponsor may, at any time in its sole discretion, suspend or terminate the Challenge. The Sponsor reserves the right in its sole discretion to disqualify any individual or team it finds to be tampering with the operation of the Challenge or to be acting in violation of these Official Rules or in an unsportsmanlike or disruptive manner. Any attempt by any person to damage the website or undermine the legitimate operation of the Challenge may be a violation of criminal and/or civil law, and should such an attempt be made, the Sponsor reserves the right to seek damages (including attorney’s fees) and any other remedies from any such person to the fullest extent permitted by the law. Failure by the Sponsor to enforce any provision of these Official Rules shall not constitute a waiver of that provision by Sponsor.

8. Release and Limitations of Liability:

By entering the Challenge, entrants agree to defend, release, indemnify and hold harmless the Sponsor, and its parents, subsidiaries, affiliates, advertising and promotion agencies, other companies associated with the Challenge, and each of their respective officers, directors, trustees, employees, shareholders, representatives, and agents (the “Released Parties”) from and against any claim or cause of action arising out of entry or participation in the Challenge or acceptance, receipt or use of the award (including any travel or activity related thereto), including, but not limited to: (a) any technical errors associated with the Challenge, including lost, interrupted or unavailable Internet Service Provider (ISP), network, server, wireless service provider, or other connections, availability or accessibility or miscommunications or failed computer, satellite, telephone, cellular tower or cable transmissions, lines, or technical failure or jumbled, scrambled, delayed, or misdirected transmissions or computer hardware or software malfunctions, failures or difficulties; (b) unauthorized human intervention in the Challenge; (c) mechanical, network, electronic, computer, human, printing or typographical errors; (d) application downloads, (e) any other errors or problems in connection with the Challenge, including, without limitation, errors that may occur in the administration of the Challenge, the announcement of the Finalists and/or the winner, the suspension or termination of the Challenge, the submission or processing of entries; or (f) injury, death, losses or damages of any kind, to persons or property which may be caused, directly or indirectly, in whole or in part, from the entrant's participation in the Challenge or acceptance, receipt or use of the award (including any travel or activity related thereto). ENTRANT AGREES THAT IN ANY CAUSE OF ACTION, THE RELEASED PARTIES’ TOTAL LIABILITY WILL NOT EXCEED THE COST OF ENTERING AND PARTICIPATING IN THE CHALLENGE, AND IN NO EVENT SHALL THE ENTRANT BE ENTITLED TO RECEIVE ATTORNEY’S FEES. RELEASED PARTIES ARE ALSO NOT RESPONSIBLE FOR ANY INCORRECT OR INACCURATE INFORMATION, WHETHER CAUSED BY SITE USERS, TAMPERING, HACKING, OR BY ANY EQUIPMENT OR PROGRAMMING ASSOCIATED WITH OR UTILIZED IN THE CHALLENGE. ENTRANT WAIVES THE RIGHT TO CLAIM ANY DAMAGES WHATSOEVER FROM THE RELEASED PARTIES IN CONNECTION WITH THE CHALLENGE, INCLUDING, BUT NOT LIMITED TO, PUNITIVE, CONSEQUENTIAL, DIRECT, OR INDIRECT DAMAGES.

9. Disputes:

Except where prohibited, each entrant agrees that any and all disputes, claims and causes of action arising out of, or connected with, the Challenge or any award shall be resolved individually, without resort to any form of class action, and exclusively by the appropriate court located in Illinois. All issues and questions concerning the construction, validity, interpretation and enforceability of these Official Rules, entrants rights and obligations, or the rights and obligations of the Sponsor in connection with the Challenge, shall be governed by, and construed in accordance with, the laws of Illinois, without giving effect to any choice of law or conflict of law rules, which would cause the application of the laws of any jurisdiction other than Illinois