The Masters Program in I/O Psychology at Minnesota State University - Mankato holds an annual consulting contest, the Consulting Challenge, in which teams of I/O graduate students from MSU and the University of Northern Iowa work together to develop and present a consulting project proposal.
 
Over the past several years, the challenge has developed a reputation as a sort of rite of passage from a first- to a second-year student of the program. During the two-day contest, students participate on three-person teams. Typically on a Wednesday morning in early April, the students are given a packet of information containing their team assignment, a request for proposal (RFP), a description of the host organization, a description of a problem that the organization is experiencing, and raw or reported survey data. After analyzing the data and meeting with representatives of the hosting company, teams prepare a written proposal that includes a budget, proposed timeline, and detailed intervention plan.
 
All aspects of the Consulting Challenge are handled in a real-life, professional manner. Heightened competition is inherent. It is not uncommon for the team members to work on this project over the two-day period with little or no sleep! The nearest Kinko’s is frequented at all hours of the day and night for the printing of mock business cards, presentation binder materials, and any other handouts that may just give the team that polished and professional image needed to put them over the top. On Friday, each team presents their proposal to a panel of (real) managers, consultants, and faculty who rate the proposals and determine the winning team, (i.e., the group the host organization would be most likely to hire as consultants based on the presentation). On that Friday evening immediately following the final presentation, a reception is held for the students and the winners are announced. A plaque prominently displayed in the office at each of the universities recognizes the members of each year’s winning team; however, the sense of camaraderie, teamwork, and accomplishment felt by all "survivors" of the Consulting Challenge has been described as the true reward.
 
This year, the event was directed by Lisa Perez, Ph.D., Assistant Professor in the Psychology Department at MSU. Data Recognition Corporation served as the host organization at their Maple Grove Headquarters Facility. American Express Financial Advisors, United Health Group, Health Partners Corporation, and Mayo Health Systems have also hosted the event in previous years.