Program Overview
Houston Policy Challenge (HPC) is an annual program and competition that lets students learn about and respond to a policy issue facing Houston leaders and residents. HPC is led by a small team of student coordinators advised by staff from the Center for Civic Leadership. HPC coordinators collaborate with Rice faculty and community experts, and develop resources, curriculum, and programming that guide participants through issue research, community engagement, reflection, and individualized team advising. HPC program participants work in teams to develop community-focused policy proposals which they present to a judges’ panel of local leaders in mid to late spring.
2022-23 HPC Coordinators will grow as civic leaders by:
- Learning deeply about educational equity, including specific challenges and current policies in the Houston area.
- Engaging directly with Houston area issue leaders and stakeholders.
- Introducing students from a variety of backgrounds and perspectives to civic leadership through an engaged, community-focused approach to advocacy and public policy.
- Designing resources and events that will educate participants about the selected issue and prepare them to develop their own policy proposals.
Position Timeline
HPC coordinator responsibilities begin in summer of 2022 and finish shortly after the competition event in March 2023.
Summer 2022 - HPC Coordinators will work together to:
- Research the policy issue and produce a written report that includes a general overview of the issues area and summaries of several locally-pertinent issue subtopics.
- Identify key Houston area issue stakeholders for eventual involvement in curriculum and/or participant group outreach.
- Develop drafted curricular outline and programmatic structure for HPC participants (i.e. timeline of events, Canvas course of resources, etc.)
- All of this may be done remotely.
Fall 2022 - HPC coordinators will work together to:
- Lead recruitment efforts including info sessions and publicity (with support from CCL Communications Specialist).
- Complete drafted curriculum and program structure, ensuring Canvas course, kick-off event, and advising structures are ready for participants.
- This includes drawing on stakeholder map to identify campus and community experts to serve as co-educator panelists in curricular events, and panelists/judges in dress rehearsal and competition events.
- Lead all program events (kick-off and community panel).
- Advise participant teams in their early policy development stage.
Spring 2022 - HPC coordinators will work together to:
- Plan and execute remaining program events (faculty panel, dress rehearsal, competition).
- Advise participant teams in their mid and late policy development.
- Facilitate post-competition final reflection.
Click the following link to start your application: How to Apply
Please contact Morgan Kinney, Associate Director in the Center for Civic Leadership, at mbk3@rice.edu with any questions or concerns.