Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

About the Harris School

Visit Information

Recruiter Information



About the Harris School

Who was Irving B. Harris and why was your school named after him?

Irving B. Harris was a successful businessman but even better, he was a remarkable philanthropist. He dedicated his life to improving the well-being of children and the disadvantaged. In 1986, he provided an endowment that launched the Harris School. His mission for the school (and it continues today) is to empower scholars to seek impartial policy-relevant knowledge and train leaders to put that knowledge to work for the public good.

What separates your students and program from other policy schools?

What makes our program unique is the core. The core is comprised of various disciplines and fields such as economics, political science, statistics, econometrics, political economy, program evaluation etc. Our program provides students the ability to develop the skills needed to be effective leaders in their chosen careers by honing technical and analytic skills.

What percentage of students go to work in the federal, nonprofit, or public sectors?

Typically, a third go on to work federally, a third go on to work for non-profits and a third go on to work in the public sector.

What percentage of students remain in Chicago upon graduation?

Typically, 38% of recent graduates continue to live in Chicago upon graduation.

What percentage of students are minorities?

About 5% of our students are minorities.

Where can I find a list of classes?

Just go to our website’s homepage and under Programs, click Courses.

 

Visit Information

Is there a list of area cabs I can call?

You can find cab information on our Directions page.

Is there a shuttle that goes to the airport?

You can find various shuttle options on our Directions page.

How safe is it to take the train (CTA) or Metra?

Metra is definitely closer than taking the CTA but both are fine to take. The Metra is a lot quieter and cleaner to ride in than the CTA but for the time you plan to use it, you should be just fine on both options.

Where can I park?

The Harris School has a parking lot behind the building and with due notice can reserve a parking pass for visitors.

Where can I find a map of the University of Chicago?

You can find maps of the University, Hyde Park, and the Chicagoland area on our Maps page.

Where is the Harris School located? (Where is Woodlawn Ave.?)

The Harris School is located at 1155 East 60th Street, on the corner of 60th & Woodlawn. Woodlawn is a mile west of Lake Shore Drive and/or a mile east of Cottage Grove.

Where is the campus bookstore?

The University of Chicago Barnes and Noble Bookstore is located at 970 East 58th Street. To get there from the Harris School, just exit our building and walk west on 60th to Ellis, cross the midway, continue walking north to 58th, the bookstore will be on your left.

Is it possible to stay and dine at the Quadrangle Club?

Guests are allowed to stay and dine at the Quadrangle Club. For reservations or more information on dining you can access their website here.

Do you have a list of restaurants in Hyde Park?

While this list may not be comprehensive, it provides a great overview of Hyde Park dining.

Is there a list of area hotels?

The Harris School has a special arrangement with the Hilton Hotel. They offer a discounted room rate as well as a complimentary shuttle from the hotel to campus each morning. You can make reservations directly through the Hilton registration site.
The University of Chicago's International House also offers short-term and long-term housing with more information available on their website.
In addition, several other area hotels offer discounted rates for University of Chicago guests. Be sure to mention that you are visiting the University when you book your stay. You can find a list of area hotels here. 

Where can I find a list of upcoming Chicago events?

You can either access the City of Chicago website for Things to Do In Chicago or the University of Chicago Student Life website for City Life.

What do tourists typically do while in Chicago?

Again, you can access the City of Chicago website for Things to Do In Chicago or the University of Chicago Chicago Life website for Touristy Stuff.

Recruiter Information

Are there preferred caterers that you use?

The Harris School does not have preferred caterers but if you tell us your budget, we can recommend some caterers or our office can order for you but we do charge a fee for doing so. It’s typically 10% of your food total and you are invoiced after the event.

Is the Harris School equipped with AV capabilities?

Yes we do, each room in the Harris School is equipped with AV capabilities.


#