The University of Chicago Harris School of Public Policy
Data-driven faculty and students advance a distinctive model of policy education and research grounded in evidence, open inquiry, and institutional responsibility.
Where evidence meets the world’s hardest problems
At Harris Public Policy, rigorous analysis drives real-world impact. Faculty and students work with governments and civic institutions to design and improve policies addressing public safety, climate, education, democratic governance, and economic mobility.
As institutions confront growing complexity and technological change, Harris is advancing fields such as algorithmic public policy and climate policy while strengthening trust in evidence-informed decision-making through rigor, transparency, and open inquiry.
Philanthropic support will expand student access, strengthen interdisciplinary research, and sustain the faculty leadership needed to address society’s most pressing challenges with measurable impact.
Priorities
Your giving can support the following areas:
- Algorithmic public policy and the Bike Shop @UChicago to develop AI-enabled decision tools, scalable public sector interventions, and machine learning applications that improve government effectiveness and public outcomes
- Climate, energy, and urban policy research initiatives to advance evidence-informed solutions in areas such as clean energy, municipal finance, public safety, infrastructure, and thriving cities
- The Center for Expertise and Public Trust to strengthen transparency, methodological rigor, and public confidence in policy research through large-scale evaluation, replication, and responsible use of evidence
- Endowed professorships and catalytic faculty chairs to recruit and retain world-leading scholars advancing fields such as democratic governance, technology and society, climate policy, education, and inequality
- Public Sector Scholarships and Dean’s Scholarships to ensure that exceptional students—including experienced public servants and future policy leaders—can pursue a Harris education regardless of financial circumstance
- Experiential learning and policy engagement programs to expand initiatives such as the Harris Policy Innovation Challenge, Harris Core Project, and Harris Policy Labs, where students work directly with governments, nonprofits, and civic institutions on real-world policy challenges
Contact
Rena Dascal
917.232.7158
rdascal@uchicago.edu