Discourse Series
Navigating Both Challenging and Essential Conversations in Academic Spaces: Tools for Inclusive Dialogue
The University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, in collaboration with the Institute for Citizens & Scholars, is hosting a new faculty series designed to equip educators with practical tools and strategies to strengthen facilitation skills to support challenging and essential conversations in their classes and beyond.
Challenging conversations are both inevitable and essential in academic spaces. This new series invites faculty to explore how shared values and respectful disagreement can coexist, both in and beyond the classroom. Each session highlights various tools and strategies for fostering inclusive dialogue, managing moments of tension, and guiding students through complex topics with empathy and care. Whether you're addressing controversial issues or seeking to enhance your communication skills, you'll acquire techniques to facilitate open, thoughtful, and supportive conversations.
Participants can earn the Inclusive Dialogue Facilitation Certificate from the Center for Innovation in Teaching and Learning (CITL). This certificate acknowledges their dedication to promoting respectful, inclusive, and thoughtful discussions in an academic environment.
Click each session to learn more and to register.
Building Trust Through Dialogue, Reflection, and Engagement
Description: This online-based, interactive session introduces faculty members to key principles of productive dialogue and values-based leadership, with a focus on building trust and rapport across differences. Participants will explore their own communication styles, practice active listening, and apply strategies to enhance collaboration in their current roles.
Learning Outcomes:
- Understand core principles of productive, respectful dialogue across diverse perspectives.
- Recognize personal communication styles and potential biases.
- Practice active listening and effective communication techniques.
- Apply dialogue strategies to leadership and team dynamics in your role.
Speakers:
- Janett I. Cordovés, Senior Consultant, Presidents Consortium, Institute for Citizens & Scholars
- Rachel Piontak, Program Officer, Presidents Consortium, Institute for Citizens & Scholars
- Beverly Sanford, Executive Vice President and Chief of Programs and Fellowships, Institute for Citizens & Scholars
Session 1 Resources
Collaborative Problem Solving for Institutional Challenges
Description: In this in-person session, participants will explore practical frameworks for navigating complexity, fostering trust, and leading solution-focused conversations. Through interactive exercises and case-based simulations, we’ll strengthen facilitation skills and cross-unit collaboration.
Learning Outcomes:
- Apply structured models for collaborative problem-solving.
- Explore and share interdisciplinary approaches to leadership challenges.
- Practice facilitation techniques for engaging across differences.
- Strengthen cross-unit collaboration through real-world simulations.
- Reflect on the implications of these practices for your leadership context.
Facilitators
- Manny Rodriguez, Senior Assistant Director for Inclusive Teaching, Center for Innovation in Teaching and Learning
- Kevin Tan, Associate Dean for Engagement and Associate Professor of Social Work
- Emily Van Duyn, Associate Professor of Communication
Registration
From Dialogue to Action: Navigating Challenging and Essential Conversations in Academic Spaces
Description: Join us for our annual faculty retreat, a space to reflect on your teaching and mentoring journey, share ideas for change, and seek feedback on navigating discourse across differences in the classroom and beyond. Together, we’ll clarify our commitments and explore pathways for continued growth and collaboration.
Learning Outcomes:
- Synthesize insights into a personal or institutional leadership commitment.
- Engage in structured peer consultation and feedback.
- Identify ongoing opportunities for connection and collaboration.
Facilitators
- Janett I. Cordovés, Senior Consultant, Presidents Consortium, Institute for Citizens & Scholars
- Rachel Piontak, Program Officer, Faculty Institute, Institute for Citizens & Scholars
- Beverly Sanford, Executive Vice President and Chief of Programs and Fellowships, Institute for Citizens & Scholars
- Manny Rodriguez, Senior Assistant Director for Inclusive Teaching, Center for Innovation in Teaching and Learning
- Kevin Tan, Associate Dean for Engagement and Associate Professor of Social Work
- Emily Van Duyn, Associate Professor of Communication
Please see Preparation Materials below.
Registration
Leadership in a Digital Age: Virtual Engagement and Inclusive Communication
Description: Join us for an interactive session designed to equip faculty with practical tools for fostering connection, clarity, and inclusive dialogue in hybrid and virtual settings. Learn strategies to navigate challenging conversations and sustain engagement across digital platforms.
Learning Outcomes:
- Apply platforms and strategies that support inclusive online engagement.
- Identify effective practices for maintaining momentum in digital teams.
- Reflect on key takeaways and their application to your teaching and leadership.
Speaker
- Janett I. Cordovés, Senior Consultant, Presidents Consortium, Institute for Citizens & Scholars
- Rachel Piontak, Program Officer, Faculty Institute, Institute for Citizens & Scholars
Registration
Click each title to learn more
Learn more about The Citizens & Scholars Faculty Institute
The Faculty Institute helps faculty across disciplines nationwide redesign a course, launch a new one, or create professional development workshops for their campus community to promote the skills, dispositions, and confidence that civil discourse requires. Faculty support student learning outcomes centered on critical thinking and reflection, listening, dichotomous thinking, confidence, and skills in engaging across lines of difference and willingness to dissent.
Inclusive Dialogue Facilitation Certificate
Overview
The Inclusive Dialogue Facilitation Certificate recognizes faculty who have actively engaged in the CITL Discourse Series and demonstrated a commitment to creating more open, thoughtful, and supportive learning environments by fostering inclusive dialogue across campus. Offered through a collaborative partnership between the Office of the Provost, the Institute of Citizens & Scholars (C&S), and the Center for Innovation in Teaching & Learning (CITL), this certificate program equips faculty to lead and support discourse that promotes belonging and equity in their classrooms, departments, and broader university communities. Through participation in workshops, reflective practice, and the creation of actionable resources, faculty will develop the skills and strategies needed to facilitate inclusive dialogue that strengthens campus culture.
Benefits of a Certificate
- Increase capacity, commitments, and comfort level to develop and teach courses that prepare students to engage in dialogue across differences.
- Assist students in developing the knowledge, dispositions, and skillsets for productive conversations
- Track commitment to submit for annual review
Certificate Requirements
To earn the certificate, participants must complete the following:
Self-Inventory
Complete the self-inventory before the first session attendance, or as soon as possible thereafter.
- Take the Self-Inventory.
- Estimated Time: ~15 minutes
Workshop Attendance
Attend all four sessions of the CITL-C&S Discourse Series.
- At least two sessions must be attended in real time, including the March 6th session.
- Up to two sessions may be completed via recordings.
- Estimated Time: ~9 hours
Workshop Reflection Surveys
Complete the end-of-session reflective survey .
- Time is allocated during each session for reflection.
- Estimated Time: ~15 minutes per session = 1 hour total
Reflective Journal: From Dialogue to Impact
Translate learning from each session into a guided self-reflection towards actionable strategies.
- Plans should outline steps for impact on the course, department, college, or campus level.
- Submissions may be written, voice-recorded, visual, mind map, etc. Participants are encouraged to be creative.
- Estimated Time: ~1 hours per session = 4 hours total
Instructions:
| Session Title | Activities |
|---|---|
| Building Trust Through Dialogue, Reflection, and Engagement | |
| Collaborative Problem Solving for Institutional Challenges | |
| From Dialogue to Action: Navigating Challenging and Essential Conversations in Academic Spaces | TBD |
| Leadership in a Digital Age: Virtual Engagement and Inclusive Communication | TBD |
Final Deliverable: “Discourse in Action Showcase”
Create a tangible contribution that supports inclusive discourse.
- Format is flexible: video/audio interview, written reflection, teaching tool, mind map, visual, classroom strategy, etc. You are encouraged to be creative.
- Deliverables will be shared with peers via a showcase or resource hub.
- Disseminate student surveys, as applicable, to measure impact
- Estimated Time: ~4 hours total
Summary Table of Time Commitments
| Requirement | Format | Estimated Time |
|---|---|---|
| Self-Inventory (1 total) | Online form (before session) | ~30 minutes |
| Workshop Attendance (4 sessions) | Live or recorded | ~9 hours |
| Reflective Surveys (4 total) | Online form (during session) | ~1 hour |
| Reflective Journal: From Dialogue to Impact (4 total) | Written or voice-recorded | ~4 hours |
| Final Deliverable: Discourse in Action Showcase (1 total) | Flexible format | ~4 hours |
| Total Estimated Time Commitment | ~18.5 hours |
Preparation Materials
UIUC & C&S Faculty Institute
Preparation and Pre-Reads
Aligned with the series’ goal of exploring how shared values and respectful disagreement can coexist within and beyond the classroom, we believe it is important to establish a shared foundation and common entry point. In preparation for our time together, we invite you to complete a self-inventory about your background and perspectives, and to review the resources provided below. Please note that while these articles are both insightful and thought-provoking, we do not necessarily endorse the views of their authors. Rather, our hope is that their ideas will prompt reflection and help launch us into meaningful work during our sessions.
There will not be a designated time to formally discuss these readings. However, we encourage you to engage with the materials and complete the self-inventory so that you arrive prepared- ready to contribute to the community, foster productive conversations, and collaborate across differences.
Preparation Materials
- Self-inventory: Faculty Institute: Self-Inventory
- “Talking Like a Democratic Citizen” (Elizabeth Matto, Rutgers University Press): In this chapter from To Keep the Republic (Rutgers University Press, 2024), Dr. Matto argues that productive political discourse is essential to democracy but is undermined today by toxic rhetoric, polarization, and public discomfort with disagreement. The chapter emphasizes balancing free expression and civility, noting that true civility requires openness, responsiveness, and engagement—not just politeness. Matto highlights the importance of skills like active listening, perspective-taking, and fact-checking, sharing best practices from classrooms and community initiatives that foster cross-partisan understanding.
- The Preamble with Condoleezza Rice (Citizens & Scholars): Raj Vinnakota, President of Citizens & Scholars, talks with Secretary Rice, now the Director of the Hoover Institution , about the role of education in today’s urgent political moment. She posits that higher education must prepare students for civic responsibility by teaching a complex, honest understanding of democratic institutions and history. She further notes that embracing diverse perspectives and discomfort in discourse is essential to developing dedicated, effective citizens.
- A Framework for Civil Discourse (Notre Dame/Institute for Social Concerns): Cristy Guleserian of Arizona State explores a framework grounded in the values of empathy, humility, and pluralism and calls for personal and institutional responsibility to model civil discourse. Drawing inspiration from the Prayer of St. Francis, Guleserian emphasizes courage of conviction balanced with care, compassion, and creating campus communities oriented toward respectful, productive dialogue.