Facebook pixel HSAC: the Nathanson Crisis Management Case Challenge for Grad Students Skip to main content
Pepperdine | School of Public Policy

The Nathanson Crisis Management Case Challenge FAQs

HSAC Crisis Management Crisis Challenge

Have a question regarding The Nathanson Crisis Management Case Challenge? We have answers.

  Why should I participate in The Nathanson Crisis Management Case Challenge?
  • The Nathanson Crisis Management Case Challenge provides a unique opportunity for graduate students to present their policy ideas and demonstrate their skills in front of a distinguished panel of judges. Participants will be able to gain exposure to the field of crisis management, and provide subject matter experts with different perspectives on the topics at hand.
  • The top three teams will also receive cash prizes and be recognized on our website.
  Is there an award?
  • The top three teams announced the night of the event will receive cash prizes.
    • First: $2,000
    • Second: $700
    • Third: $300
  • Winners will also be recognized on our website.
  • Please Note: *Receiving an individual award of $600 and above will require a 1099 form be submitted to HSAC.
  Who can participate in the Case Challenge?

At this time, only graduate students can participate in The Nathanson Crisis Management Case Challenge. Students from all accredited universities and graduate programs are welcome to register.

  Do all team members need to attend the same university?

No. A team can be comprised of graduate students who are from different universities.

  Where is the Case Challenge event hosted?

Currently, The Nathanson Crisis Management Case Challenges is hosted in Los Angeles, CA. All teams invited to present as finalists will need to be present for the event.

  How many team members can I have?

Teams must be comprised of two to four graduate students.

  Who will my judges be?

The distinguished panel of judges varies for each of The Nathanson Crisis Management Case Challenges, but is always comprised of subject matter experts related to the case topic. The judges are not revealed until the night of the event.

  How will they judge our submission?

The judges will weigh the quality of each team's policy brief and oral presentation. Factors considered include the clarity, creativity, and feasibility of the team's policy recommendations, as well as the team's ability to follow instructions and demonstrate professionalism.

  How long does the policy brief need to be?

Written submissions should be a maximum of four pages, not including the cover page and bibliography. Other formatting restrictions include:

  • Open Sans, 12-point font
  • Single-spaced
  • One-inch margins
  How much time should I expect to spend preparing for the Case Challenge?

Although the time dedicated toward the challenge is dependent on the individual, past participants reported an average of 12 hours of individual work.

  I'm interested, but I don't have a team. What should I do?
  • HSAC requires that a participating team consists of at least two members. We recommend the following:
    • Ask your classmates.
    • Post your interest in finding a partner in your program's Facebook group.
    • Ask one of your program administrators to forward your interest to your classmates.
  • We also recommend emailing HSAC to express your interest in the program and need for a team. If we receive multiple interests from individuals, we can connect you to each other.