Institute of Politics

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Student Opportunities

The IOP aims to inspire in students an active interest in public service. Through student-led leadership development programs and workshops, young people develop the tools to become leaders, public servants and advocates. Our leadership groups are open to all students.

UChiVotes

UChiVotes is a student-led, nonpartisan voter engagement initiative created to boost voter turnout and engagement on the UChicago campus.

UChiVotes In Action

We help you vote, no matter what.

We provide you with the information you need to vote with confidence. Sign up for election reminders and get help with voter registration and voting by mail — all in one place!

Become a Voting Ambassador

Voting ambassadors are in charge of mobilizing voters, directing students to UChiVotes content, and engaging their personal networks and RSOs. Come to a voting ambassador training, and use your voice to help people vote!

Student-Led Programs

Through a diverse slate of student-led programs, students develop the tools to become leaders, advocates, and public servants.

Leaders of Color

Leaders of Color is a civic engagement group for all students that aims to address the current deficit of racial and ethnic diversity in public service by fostering an environment where all students can access leadership opportunities. The group organizes a yearly leadership development cohort, community-building events and discussions focused on politics and public service.

Spectrum

Spectrum is a civic engagement group for all students that organizes programming on LGBTQ+ and gender issues, including a yearly leadership development cohort, events focused on public service and politics, and several community service projects.

W+

W+ is a civic engagement group for all students that organizes programming on issues affecting women and gender minorities in politics and public service. W+'s activities include a yearly leadership development cohort, an annual service cohort, events focused on politics and public service and community-building opportunities.

The Gate

The Gate is UChicago’s student-led political review. Editors and writers offer reporting and analysis from perspectives across the political spectrum. The Gate hosts weekly meetings that include workshops on the foundations of political journalism, guest speaker events, and community-building opportunities.

Bridge

Bridge brings volunteers into Cook County Jail to provide voter education and into Illinois Youth Center to provide creative writing workshops. Bridge also puts on events focused on criminal justice.

TechTeam

TechTeam works to create websites, build apps, and create digital tools for community organizations and local government. TechTeam also puts on events focused on civic tech, and provides tech workshops and opportunities to grow skills.

Chicago Style

Chicago Style puts on speaker events focused on Chicago and Illinois politics. Gain experience in event production while bringing together local journalists, activists, politicians, community members and students.

International Policy Program

The International Policy Program (IPP) is a student-run event committee that brings experts, journalists, government officials and more to campus to discuss foreign policy and international politics.

Policy Challenges

Throughout the academic year, the Institute of Politics challenges UChicago students to propose solutions to major issues in local, national, and global politics.

This fall, we're challenging students to create a policy proposal tackling a health issue in Chicago, Cook County or Illinois.

Internships

The IOP provides hundreds of paid politics and public service internships during the summer and the academic year.

Applications for academic-year internships are now closed. Summer internship applications are released in monthly batches starting in December.

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