Rules & Code of Conduct

By participating in this hackathon, all attendees, sponsors, partners, volunteers, and staff agree to follow the rules and code of conduct outlined below. Our goal is to create a fair, inclusive, and safe environment for everyone.

General Rules

  • Teams must consist of exactly 4 members.

  • All team members must be registered individually to participate.

  • Participants without a full team will be matched into teams by organizers.

  • Projects must be created during the hackathon. Existing projects are not allowed.

  • Submissions must include a website or software project, a repository link, and a project summary.

  • Teams must submit their project before the deadline to be considered for judging.

  • Teams must present their project.

  • Projects will be evaluated based on pitch, technical implementation, and user experience.

  • Any form of plagiarism or rule violations may result in disqualification.

Dates & Location

  • Location: University of Houston Main Campus, Student Center South

  • Day 1 (Friday, April 3):

    • Check-in: 9:00 AM

    • Hacking begins: 9:00 AM

    • Hacking continues after 6:00 PM (no formal programming end time)

  • Day 2 (Saturday, April 4):

    • Check-in: 1:30 PM

    • Submission deadline: 2:45 PM

    • Judging and awards: 3:00 PM – 6:00 PM

Eligibility

  • Open to University of Houston students (undergraduate and graduate).

  • Participants must register individually.

  • Teams must consist of exactly 4 members (participants will be assigned teams if needed).

  • No prior coding experience is required.

Project and Submission Requirements

  • Teams must build a website or software project during the hackathon.

  • Projects must be new and created during the event.

  • No pre-existing projects are allowed.

  • Any tools, libraries, or technologies may be used.

  • Submissions must be made via the designated Teams channel.

  • Each submission must include:

    • A link to the code repository (e.g., GitHub)

    • A project summary describing the problem, solution, and key features

  • No demo video is required.

  • Teams must present their project live to judges.

Presentation

  • Each team will have approximately 3–4 minutes to present their project.

  • Judges may ask questions following the presentation.

Prizes

Prizes will be awarded per team member (each member of the winning team receives the following):

  • 1st Place: Backpack, power bank, and tumbler

  • 2nd Place: Cooler lunch bag, water bottle, and mini power bank

  • 3rd Place: Tote bag, notepad, and charging cables

Judging Criteria and Winner Selection

Projects will be evaluated based on:

  • Pitch

  • Technical Implementation

  • User Experience (UX)

Final judging details and weighting will be determined by the judging panel. Winners will be selected by judges.

Code of Conduct (Quick Version)
This hackathon is committed to providing a safe, welcoming, and harassment-free experience for everyone, regardless of gender, gender identity, age, sexual orientation, disability, appearance, race, ethnicity, nationality, religion, political views, experience level, or technical background.

Harassment of any kind will not be tolerated. This includes inappropriate language, behavior, or content during:

  • Project work and submissions

  • Presentations, demos, or workshops

  • Social interactions during the event

  • Online platforms or communication channels

Participants who violate these rules may be warned or removed from the hackathon at the discretion of the organizers.

Code of Conduct (Detailed)
Harassment includes offensive comments, intimidation, stalking, unwanted photography or recording, sustained disruption, inappropriate physical contact, or unwelcome attention.

Participants are expected to:

  • Respect others’ boundaries and consent, including for photos or recordings

  • Follow instructions from organizers if asked to stop inappropriate behavior

  • Maintain a professional and respectful environment

Judges and volunteers are also held to these standards and must avoid any inappropriate or offensive conduct.

If you experience or witness any issues, please contact hackathon staff immediately. We are committed to addressing concerns promptly and ensuring everyone feels safe.

These rules are intended to ensure fairness, clarity, and a positive experience for all participants.