Department of Economics

Engage in Econ

photo of students with speaker - all making a w with their hands

With a goal of encouraging student connections and engagement, the Department of Economics has invested in the creation of Engage in Econ. This new and innovative program provides interested students with resources to create connections and build community to enhance their UW experience and network. By fulfilling all the requirements of the program (see below), a student will be included in the Chair’s List for that semester. Students who receive this designation on the Chair’s List are considered to be leaders within the Department of Economics and receive an exciting list of benefits. Read on for more information about the eligibility, requirements, and benefits of the Engage in Econ program!

Program Requirements

Engage in Econ (EE) is a program to promote and support our most engaged students. Participating students will connect with other economics majors and advisors through Econ-hosted programming, geared toward developing deeper understandings of current success in economics and post-graduation outcomes. To maintain good status in the program, students must accumulate a minimum of 4 Engage Credits each semester. Engage Credits can be earned by participating in special community-building learning events and Economics-hosted programming. Engage Credits are not academic/course credits and will not appear on your transcript.

By the end of each semester, students must have earned a minimum of 4 Engage Credits.
One engage credit is awarded each semester for completing each item below.

1. Maintaining membership in any Dept of Economics Students Organization or Group.
Registered econ student groups and organizations include:

2. Attending “Study Skills for Econ” workshop
Thursday, September 25th @ 4:00PM in Social Sciences 8417
Collaboratively with GUTS, a Dept of Economics Study Space peer tutor, alongside a Study Skills peer tutor will co-host a workshop designed for Econ majors currently in Econ classes! This workshop is designed for students needing a guide for studying smarter using problem solving skills, critical thinking applications, and analysis…via Econ problems!

3. Attend the “Paying More, Dying Sooner: The Inefficiency of Cost Sharing“
Wednesday, October 8th at 4:30PM-5:30 presentation (Taco Bar at 5:30!) @ H.F. DeLuca Forum Room, Discovery Building
Sneak peek talking point: Cost sharing doesn’t just reduce drug use at the margin — it causes patients to abruptly stop essential medicines, with measurable effects on mortality.

3. Attend the “State of the Economy: Valuing Data in a Data Economy“
Wednesday, October 15th 4:30-5:30PM presentation (Nacho Bar at 5:30!) @ Great Hall, Memorial Union
Sneak peek talking point: The world’s top companies aren’t just rich in revenue—they’re rich in data. And that data is the fuel powering AI.

4. Attending “Stories of Economics”  with WIDE Student Organization in Economics
Thursday, November 6th @ 4:00PM in Social Sciences 6104
Learn from current PhD Econ students about what inspired them to pursue an Econ PhD, compelling stories that inspire their research, and more!

5. Complete an extra-curricular learning project to gain hands-on experience in policy or finance
Anytime throughout the semester
Work with a team of 2-3 other declared economics undergraduate majors to complete either a stock pitch or a policy brief. You will complete the necessary trainings and learn about how to complete your project throughout the semester. When you submit your project on Canvas, everyone in your group receives an engage credit. Sign up for this option by enrolling in the canvas course here: https://canvas.wisc.edu/enroll/RTYX7A

Bucky Badger poses in front of Witte Residence Hall as they prepare for new student move-in

Program Benefits

Students will be recognized with a public spot on the Department of Economics Chair’s List should they meet program requirements at the end of each semester.  Students are encouraged to include this designation on their resume each semester they are on the Chair’s List (example resume here). Additional benefits include:

  • Building community with other econ majors and with the Dept of Economics
  • Learn about academic and career pathways to success within economics
  • Name featured on the Dept of Economics Chair’s List website
  • Students on the Chair’s List will receive special recognition at the Dept of Economics Graduation Ceremony

Past Recipients

Congratulations to Chair’s List students for the following semesters:

 

Eligibility and Registration

The opportunity to be included in the Engage in Econ program, earning a spot on the Chair’s List, is open to any declared undergraduate economics major. Attendance and participation are tracked throughout the semester and all students who earn at least 4 Engage Credits in a semester will receive this designation. Credits must be earned within a semester and cannot roll over semester to semester. There are no “make up” options and only students who meet the minimum requirements (4 Engage Credits) will qualify.

Next steps are easy! Just attend our events listed above! You will be asked to sign in at each event with your campus ID number. This sign in will give you one Engage Credit per attended event/involvement in Econ.

Questions about this program can be directed to Econ advisors at econadvise@ssc.wisc.edu