A Rutgers–New Brunswick initiative that brings the community together to listen, learn, and engage across ideological divides
Dialogue Across Difference is a new approach to promoting meaningful civic dialogue among students, faculty, and staff at Rutgers–New Brunswick, from the classroom to the conference room.
This initiative supports workshops throughout the academic year designed to equip participants with the skills to engage thoughtfully in discussions regarding polarizing issues and offers grant funds to assist our communities in designing programs that inspire meaningful engagement and open conversation. The panel discussions planned for the spring term will put these skills into action, modeling civil discourse while taking on challenging topics.
Designed to share useful tools and actionable skills, these workshops will empower students, faculty, and staff to engage with one another in respectful ways while discussing challenging or divisive issues.
In this workshop led by faculty, students will learn and practice the skills of dialogue across difference and gain the confidence to talk about politics.
Date and time: Wednesday, October 9, 2024; 6-8 pm
Location: JetStream Lounge, Alexander Library, Room 404
169 College Avenue, New Brunswick
Community conversations focus on skill building around respectful dialogue, to allow us to better engage empathetically across difference. Attendees will learn about the CLARA (center, listen, affirm, respond, add) method of communication, designed to help us engage in discussion in ways that invite diverse perspectives to create shared meaning.
Date and time: Tuesday, November 19, 2024, 12-1:30pm
Location: Rutgers Club
In this workshop, instructors will explore the benefits and challenges that both students and instructors face when incorporating vibrant discussion into the classroom, learn and practice various evidence-based pedagogical approaches, and envision how they might implement strategies for talking across difference into their own courses with confidence.
Date and time: Tuesday, January 28, 2025, 1-3pm
Location: Livingston Student Center, Multipurpose Room
Scheduled for upcoming dates in the spring term, two panel discussions will cover topics including "Free Speech and the Politicized Campus" and "Teaching the Israeli-Palestinian Conflict."
Universities have a special role to play in not only increasing awareness and education around challenging issues but in leading the way toward a more civil and empathetic discourse.
Francine Conway, PhD
Chancellor, Rutgers–New Brunswick
The Rutgers–New Brunswick community is invited to submit proposals for lectures, symposia, artistic events, or other gatherings jointly organized by individuals, groups, or departments whose collaboration exemplifies the bridging of difference across cultural, political, religious, or ideological divides.
Funding amounts will typically not exceed $5,000, though exceptions will be considered. Proposals will be evaluated for their impact and potential to engage large numbers of participants across respective communities, and compelling proposals of this kind are likely to receive more robust funding.
Submissions should be one to two pages and should include:
Review of proposals will occur on a rolling basis for events intended to take place during the current academic year, with notification generally two to three weeks following submission.
Dialogue Across Difference is supported by the Office of the Chancellor at Rutgers–New Brunswick in collaboration with the Eagleton Institute of Politics and in partnership with the Division of Diversity, Inclusion, and Community Engagement, and the University Equity and Inclusion Office.