Student Organizations

Getting Involved

Student life at the Harris School includes a wide variety of extracurricular activities-from academic workshops and discussions to community development and group outings. Harris School student organizations include:

Community and Economic Development Organization (CEDO)
CEDO is a collaborative student-led venture between the School of Social Service Administration (SSA) and the Harris School. Our aim is to sponsor activities that promote community awareness, foster sustainability, and improve the quality of life in underserved neighborhoods. We strive to achieve this through an array of volunteer opportunities, speaker/forum events and learning partnerships with local initiatives. For information on current projects or with any questions, please contact cedo@listhost.uchicago.edu.

Chicago Environmental Policy Association (CEPA)
The purpose of CEPA is to promote the connection between environmental policy analysis and practical application by encouraging environmental policy discussions, attracting environmental policy speakers and enhancing the Environmental Policy concentration at the Harris School.

Committee on International Affairs and Public Policy (CIAPP)
The Committee on International Affairs and Public Policy (CIAPP) is a student-led organization dedicated to informing students of current international issues. CIAPP helps students engage in discussions about prevailing global matters and hosts internationally focused discussion. Students, through interaction with the global community and leading intellectuals, gain a first- hand understanding of how to effectively work towards improving conditions around the world.

Chicago Policy Review
Published annually by Harris School students, CPR analyzes and responds to current public policy debates and contains diverse perspectives from academics, policy professionals, and students. Establishing links between theory and practice, CPR offers a forum for rigorous and analytical policy review.

Education Policy Interest Coalition (EPIC)
As students at the Harris School of Public Policy, we hope to stay true to Irving B. Harris' mission of improving the lives of children through our focus on education. To that end, we focus on fostering dialogue about education-related topics, broadening our knowledge of education issues, partnering and sharing information with other Harris School organizations, and engaging with Chicago schools and students through service projects and field trips.

IBH Consulting
The mission of IBH Consulting is to connect Harris School students interested in pursuing careers in management consulting and working to support the development of general management and strategy skills

Latin America(n) Matters (LAM)
Latin America(n) Matters seeks to promote the discussion and better understanding of economic, social and political issues in Latin American countries through a public policy approach. In that character, LAM will promote activities to increase the awareness of the economic, social and political situation in Latin America from a public policy perspective, both at the Irving B. Harris School of Public Policy and at The University of Chicago; establish an information channel for Latin American issues among LAM members and non members, taking advantage of the diversity of origin of our members; and promote a better understanding of the culture and idiosyncrasy of Latin American countries within the University of Chicago community

Minorities in Public Policy Studies (MIPPS)
MIPPS serves as an academic, social and cultural resource for policy students in the Harris School whose goals are to: raise awareness concerning issues pertaining to minority students of the Harris School and the greater community; increase the number of minorities at the Harris School; and promote civic participation within the Harris School, the University of Chicago and the greater community.

Out in Public Policy (OIPP)
OIPP is a student group at the Harris School for those interested in policy issues pertaining to gay, lesbian, bisexual and transgendered peoples. OIPP serves as both an educational and social resource, and is open to students of any sexual orientation.

Public Policy Student Association (PPSA)
PPSA is the elected student representative body of the Harris School. It serves as an advocate; communicating student concerns to the faculty and administration. It is comprised of 6 committees, a student ombudsman, a graduate student council representative and the office of the president. Each is responsible for a different area of Harris students' lives, while the President's office is a communication and oversight body. In addition, the PPSA works to foster a strong community within and beyond the Harris School through a variety of events, activities, and community service efforts, as well as support and allocate funds for Harris School student organizations.
Finally the PPSA organizes and oversees the Amy Bosman Auction and Fellowship, that allows 3-6 students to participate in non-paid internships with higher callings.

Women in Public Policy (WIPP)
Women in Public Policy (WIPP) facilitates committees and activities that promote advancement of girls and women through thoughtful consideration of public policies and their social implications. We seek to achieve these goals through professional development and alumni networking, academic development, advocacy and service learning. Drawing from the broad academic disciplines at the University of Chicago, this student-run organization serves as a resource to provide an opportunity for a student voice for women. WIPP is open to all interested women and men and encourages students with diverse experiences to work together to create a world more balanced in opportunity.