APPE IEB^® Ohio River Valley Regional

Saturday , December 5, 2026 – Tangeman University Center

SAVE THE DATE! The Cincinnati Ethics Center and the University of Cincinnati proudly presents the 2nd annual Association for Practical and Professional Ethics (APPE) Intercollegiate Ethics Bowl^® (IEB) Ohio River Valley Regional on Saturday, December 5, 2026 inside Tangeman University Center!

This regional has been created to serve schools in Illinois, Indiana, West Virginia, Pennsylvania, and Kentucky—areas where demand is high and where many schools currently struggle to secure a spot in nearby regionals.

Important Team Information

Team Registration (via APPE)

University of Cincinnati Campus Map

Ohio River Valley Regional Rules

Ohio River Valley Judge Scoresheet (with Spirit Points)

Guide to Scoring with Spirit Points

Ohio River Valley Regional Cases (only 12 will be used)

Ohio River Valley Match Guide

Ohio River Valley Volunteer Registration

APPE IEB^® Regional Rules

APPE IEB^® Regional FAQs

APPE IEB^® National Rules

APPE IEB^® Etiquette

The Ohio River Valley Regional will use the cumulative total of judges’ raw scores from four rounds of matches to determine the top two teams that will face-off in a final round to determine the overall champion of the regional. The championship round will be based on judges’ votes.

Schedule of Events

Activity/Location	Time
Registration/Check-in/Team Photos TUC Great Hall Registration Area —Level 4	7:00 – 7:45 a.m.
Coffee/Pastries TUC Great Hall —Level 4	7:00 – 7:45 a.m.
Welcome TUC Great Hall —Level 4	7:45 – 8:00 a.m.
Match One TUC 400 Level Meeting Rooms—400A, 400B, 400C, 415, 417A, 417B, 419, 423, 425, 427	8:15—9:45 a.m.
Match Two TUC 400 Level Meeting Rooms—400A, 400B, 400C, 415, 417A, 417B, 419, 423, 425, 427	10:00—11:30 a.m.
Lunch TUC Great Hall —Level 4	11:30—12:45 p.m.
Match Three TUC 400 Level Meeting Rooms—4400A, 400B, 400C, 415, 417A, 417B, 419, 423, 425, 427	1:00—2:30 p.m.
Match Four TUC 400 Level Meeting Rooms—400A, 400B, 400C, 415, 417A, 417B, 419, 423, 425, 427	2:45—4:15 p.m.
Champions Match TUC Great Hall —Level 4	4:30—6:00 p.m.
Closing and Awards TUC Great Hall—Level 4	6:00—6:30 p.m.

Download schedule

Macalester College Finishes Undefeated

Wins the Inaugural Ohio River Valley Intercollegiate Ethics Bowl Championship

Official Hotels

The following hotels are located less than one mile from the University of Cincinnati campus. Click on the logo to connect with their webstie.

Hotel to TUC .3 mile walking.
Hotel Phone: (515) 930-6580
Bus parking available
Valet Parking $40/night
Self parking via Parkade app to pre-approve your spot.

Hotel to TUC .8 mile walking.
FREE breakfast can be negotiated with a group block.
Hotel Phone: (513) 487-3800
Vehicle parking $20/night (with in and out).
To reserve a block of rooms and/or negotiate bus parking contact Carrie Moore via phone: (513) 487-3820 or email: carrie.moore@hilton.com

Hotel to TUC .7 mile walking.
FREE hot breakfast
Hotel Phone: (513) 281-2700
Vehicle parking: $9.00/night
Bus parking behind hotel on E. Rochelle Street. City street, no charge.

Hotel to TUC .4 mile walking.
FREE hot breakfast
Hotel Phone: (513) 281-2200
Self parking $20/night (with in and out) in USquare Garage.
To reserve a block of rooms and/or negotiate bus parking contact Anna Plogman via phone: (513) 620-7373 or email: anna.plogman@marriott.com

Frequently Asked Questions

What is Ethics Bowl?

Ethics Bowl is a debate style competition but is very different from debate. Its founder, Bob Ladenson, views it as scoring a conversation and teaching people how to engage in dialogue. It is a competitive yet collaborative event in which students discuss timely real-life ethical issues. Students are not assigned opposing views; rather, they defend whichever position they think is correct, provide each other with constructive criticism, and win by demonstrating that they have thought rigorously and systematically about the cases and engaged respectfully and supportively with all participants.

What is Association for Practical and Professional Ethics Intercollegiate Ethics Bowl^®

Also known as the APPE IEB^®, itis a unique, collaborative experience for undergraduate students that provides valuable educational experience in practical and professional ethics.
Teams spend hours analyzing and preparing for regional and national competitions to see who has thought most deeply and presented their arguments most clearly on cases based on today’s most pressing issues. Students develop ethical understanding of complex, ambiguous, and difficult to resolve issues, as well as key virtues associated with democratic deliberation.

Who participates in Ohio River Valley Regional?

This regional was created to serve colleges/universities located in Indiana, Illinois, Kentucky, Ohio, Tennessee, Pennsylvania, and West Virginia. However, the regional is open to teams from anywhere in the country.

How many students can be seated during a round?

Five. This is a reduction from the inaugural event, but aligns with national rules.

Are there official rules and regulations governing the competition?

Yes. They are administered by the APPE. APPE provides regional organizers autonomy to make some changes to national rules. ORV Regional changes are listed in the Ohio River Valley Regional Rules document.

Does the Ohio River Valley Regional need volunteer judges and moderators?

Yes! Each match requires one (1) moderator and three (3) judges. If our maximum team count is reached we will need 10 moderators and 30 judges per round. If you are interested in volunteering you must fill out the Ohio River Valley Regional Volunteers form. Volunteers must have a minimum of two years experience volunteering at an Ethics Bowl competition (high school or college).

Volunteers will be asked to work a minimum of two matches: Matches 1 and 2 (approx 8a – 12p), Matches 3 and 4 (approx 11:30a – 4:30p, includes lunch break), Matches 1 – 3 (approx 8a – 1:30p, invited to stay for lunch), all four matches (approx 8:00a – 4:30p, includes lunch break).

When will the case set be released?

APPE will release the 2025-2026 Regional Case Set on Wednesday, September 2

How many cases will Ohio River Valley Region use?

Due to the five (5) rounds structure of our event, we will use 12 of the cases released. The three cases that have been eliminated are: 2. An Explosive Ban; 8. Fishy Business; and 11. Cost of a Conscience.

When will team registration open?

Per APPE, regional registration opens each year on the Wednesday after Labor Day. This year it will be Wednesday, September 2

What is the registration fee for the Ohio River Valley Regional?

All schools must pay a $150 APPE Intercollegiate Ethics Bowl® program participation fee to APPE to participate in the regional competitions. In addition the registration fee for the ORVR is $225 per team, which includes continental breakfast and lunch buffet.

How many teams can a school or organization register?

The initial registration period lasts for three (3) weeks. During this period, each school may register up to two teams. After the three-week initial registration period ends, additional teams may be invited to register, subject to space availability and in accordance with the regional waitlist rules. Our regional can accommodate up to 20 teams.

When can I add my school to the waitlist?

Schools wishing to be added to the Ohio River Valley Regional waitlist must send an email to ohiorivervalley@cincyethics.org with the subject line “Waitlist.” Emails may not be submitted before September 2, 2026. Placement on the waitlist will be determined by the date and time stamp of the received email, in the order they are received. Waitlist schools will be notified of their status no later than September 30, 2026.

Is there an inclement weather policy

The safety of all participants is our top priority. Because this is a winter event drawing teams from multiple states—some of which may experience hazardous travel conditions—our Inclement Weather Policy is designed to provide advance notice and a clear plan of action.
1. Advance Weather Determination:
If weather forecasts as of the end of business on Wednesday, December 2, 2026, indicate severe or hazardous conditions that could significantly impact travel for 50% or more of participating teams, the competition will be moved to a fully virtual format. This determination will be made by the event organizers based on national and regional forecasts, not just weather in Cincinnati.
To assist in making this decision, we ask that all team coaches keep the CEC informed of weather conditions and travel advisories in their area. Timely communication will help ensure an accurate assessment of regional accessibility.
An official announcement will be made no later than midday Thursday, December 3, to allow schools adequate time to cancel transportation and adjust plans.
2. No Hybrid Option:
The event will proceed as either fully in-person or fully virtual. There will be no hybrid option to ensure competitive fairness and consistency for all teams. We will follow APPE IEB guidelines for virtual events.
3. Day-of Conditions in Cincinnati:
If the competition proceeds in person and teams have already arrived in Cincinnati, the event will be held as scheduled on Saturday, December 5. In the event of a day-of emergency—such as extreme weather, campus closure, or a public safety threat—we will follow the directives of the University of Cincinnati’s Department of Public Safety.
The Department of Public Safety understands the significance of this academic event and will work closely with us to maintain operations whenever possible. The decision to cancel or delay the event on December 6 will only occur under circumstances where safety mandates it.
4. Communication Protocol:
All weather-related decisions and updates will be sent via email and posted on the official event webpage. Teams should monitor both closely beginning Wednesday, December 2. For questions, please contact Venus Kent at ohioriverregional@cincyethics.org.