Now in our 11th year, Up to Us is pleased to launch its new Case Competition during the Spring 2023 semester. 

Details

  • What: The Up to Us Case Competition asks students to consider complex policy problems through a fiscal lens and develop innovative solutions. Students will respond to prompts addressing the rising national debt in the context of growing climate concerns, the affordability of higher education, or rising healthcare costs. They will be asked to propose creative yet practical solutions that consider the often competing - yet critical - aspects of the policymaking process: sound policy development, prudent fiscal management, and long-term political feasibility. 

  • Who: Faculty and staff members of the American Association of State Colleges and Universities (AASCU) will integrate the Up to Us Case Brief into their Spring 2023 courses. Faculty and staff must apply to join this fall's Civic Solutions cohort to participate in the spring semester. 

  • Where: Colleges and Universities located in the United States

  • When: Applications to join the fall Civic solutions cohort are now closed. The competition will occur from January 2023 through April 2023. 

Participating faculty will access various resources and learning tools that support students in their journey to develop fiscal thinking skills. One student from each of the Top 5 teams will be invited to present their solutions at AASCU'S 2023 Civic Learning & Democratic Engagement Meeting. The meeting will take place from May 31 - June 3, 2023 in Boston, Massachusetts.

Timeline

  • January 1: Faculty and staff accepted into the American Democracy Project's Civic Solutions cohort will begin integrating the case brief into their spring courses or co-curricular initiatives

  • March 1: Deadline to submit Case Plans, which include the chosen prompt(s), course, mode of integration, and the number of students

  • March 13: Deadline for optional Early Bird Review. Submit your solution draft to Up to Us if you would like us to provide preliminary feedback

  • April 14: Final Case Competition Submission and Expense Report Due

  • May 8: Winners are notified

  • May 31 - June 3: One student from each of the top 5 teams will attend the 2023 Civic Learning and Democratic Engagement Meeting to present their solutions

Applications to join the fall Civic Solutions cohort are now closed. Faculty and staff accepted to the cohort will facilitate the case brief during the spring semester.

Through the Case Competition, students will: 

  • Develop a fiscal lens to better understand the trade-offs involved in policy decisions

  • Research existing policy proposals as inspiration for their solution

  • Create a durable, practical solution using bipartisan perspectives

  • Craft a logical, coherent argument with external support

  • Expand their presentation skills to deliver a concise, informative solution

  • Gain access to the nationwide Up to Us alumni network

Faculty and staff involved in the American Democracy Project's Civic Solutions cohort will: 

  • Engage in opportunities to share struggles and successes with colleagues nationwide

  • Employ creativity and policy expertise to incorporate experiential learning into at least one spring course or co-curricular initiative

  • Gain feedback and coaching on design thinking solutions

  • Receive a $300 stipend from the American Democracy Project to be used as participants see fit

  • Receive $300 in competition funding from Up to Us to execute final solutions

U2U Group Photo

Prizes: 

  • First place team will win $5,000

  • Second through fifth-place teams will each win $1,000

  • Students will be eligible to apply to Up to Us paid fellowship and internship programs

  • Students will be eligible to apply for course scholarships to Harvard Business School Online

  • One student from each of the top 5 teams will receive an all-expenses-paid professional development trip to the 2023 Civic Learning and Democratic Engagement Meeting in Boston, MA, from May 31 - June 3, 2023. At least one student from each team is required to present their solutions at this conference. 

  • The winning team may participate in traditional and social media interviews and content.

Applications to join the fall Civic Solutions cohort are now closed. Faculty and staff accepted to the cohort will facilitate the case brief during the spring semester.

This program is in partnership with

BPC Logo
American Democracy Project