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Civil Discourse Toolkit

A page within Center for Civil Dialogue & Civic Engagement

Civil Discourse Toolkit

We are taking a multifaceted approach to civil discourse. Check out the variety of opportunities at UWL:

  • Resources: check out the curated compilation of helpful tools and resources on the topic
  • The Discussion Project: we offer this as a professional development opportunity for faculty and staff
  • Dialogue Matters: we've embedded information on free expression and civil dialogue into our reimagined New Student Orientation session
  • Civil Discourse Program: this is a cross-campus collaboration aimed to engage students and develop skills
  • Joint Committee on Civil Discourse (JCCD): UWL has a committee, established by administration, to help campus understand free speech and promote discussion and dialogue. Learn more by clicking here.

What is The Discussion Project?

The Discussion Project, designed at the University of Wisconsin-Madison, is a professional learning course for higher education institutional leaders and instructors. It delivers research-based teaching strategies that positively impact the quality of education offered. You can learn more by clicking here.

Through learn-by-doing, this workshop will help participants structure and engage in meaningful discourse. From impactful classroom lessons to engaging dialogue at student organization meetings; productive and transformative discussion in higher education has endless possibilities. 

Bringing The Discussion Project to UWL has been a cross-collaborative effort, and we are grateful for the support of our partners in CATL, Student Affairs, and across D&I. We are confident that this workshop will enhance our facilitation skills and lead to more meaningful and open discourse on campus. We look forward to your participation and to the positive impact it will have on our campus community.

The Discussion Project Photos

We're excited for our next iteration coming soon | UW-La Crosse | May 28–30 

This in-person workshop is focused on creating more inclusive, engaging, and discussion-rich learning environments.

Who: 30 UW-La Crosse faculty and academic staff
Where: Centennial Hall of Nations
When: May 28–30, 2025  

What is Dialogue Matters?

Dialogue Matters: bridging voices @ UWL is a session that was designed to foster dialogue and understanding among new students and build a resilient campus community that supports and educates civil dialogue, inclusivity, and free expression. UWL staff and faculty who were trained through The Discussion Project facilitate the conversations. Beyond the interactive time spent in community, new students also review a zine, full of helpful information.  

What is the Civil Discourse Program?

The Civil Discourse Program, a cross-campus initiative, educates on Civil Discourse which can be defined as conversations in where there is a mutual airing of views in a respectful manner. Events hosted by the Civil Discourse Program Committee include panels with educated individuals and roundtable practice with trained facilitators. The goal is for students to learn and practice this important skill and carry it on to conversations in classes, among friends and family, and in their professional careers. 

 Committee Members 

  • Amanda Krafft, Program Coordinator for Civic Engagement & Leadership
  • Anthony Chergosky, Faculty Representative
  • Ashley Nowak, Director for the Center for Civil Dialogue & Civic Engagement
  • Avery Britz-Brown, Student Association Local Affairs Director
  • Jacob Hart, Associate Director of Student Engagement & Leadership
  • Justin Poley, Campus Vote Project Democracy Fellow
  • Maiya Nate, Leadership & Involvement Center Graduate Assistant

Civil Discourse Resources

Book

  • Brookfield, Stephen D., and Stephen Preskill. Discussion as a Way of Teaching: Tools and Techniques for Democratic Classrooms. 2nd ed., Jossey-Bass, 2005. 
  • Brown, Stephen D. The Discussion Book: 50 Great Ways to Get People Talking. Jossey-Bass, 2016.
  • Grant, A. (2021). Think again: The power of knowing what you don't know.
  • Hess, Diana. Controversy in the Classroom. Routledge, 2009.
  • Schmidt, Joe, and Nichelle Pinkney. Civil Discourse: Classroom Conversations for Stronger Communities. Corwin Teaching Essentials, 2022.

Podcast

Video

Website