Making a Difference Through Dialogue

Summer Institute Curriculum

The purpose of the Institute curriculum is to aid teams in developing difficult dialogues faculty development programs at their home institutions. Topics are included based upon the expected and stated needs of faculty members, administrators and their universities. While topics will be refined to reflect the plans of institutional teams, the Summer Institute schedule will include the experiences described below.

Opening Plenary

An opening plenary on Friday, June 12, sets the context for the Institute with a discussion of the Difficult Dialogues program and the need for this program for all academic tracks.

The Institute will be organized around the following tracks:

• Track One: Faculty Development Capacity-building for establishing a Difficult Dialogues Faculty Development Program (3-5 team members). The training will introduce participants to three models for campus-based faculty development programs on difficult dialogues. Attendees of this track will learn how to promote student engagement and dialogue on challenging issues such as race, class, culture, gender, immigration, religion and sexual orientation. They will also learn how to create safe classroom environments where difficult dialogues can take place, and how to weave into their curricula the tenets of the Difficult Dialogues Initiative and academic freedom.
• Track Two: Interactive Theatre Capacity-building for developing an Interactive Theatre Troupe (1-2 team members). The training will discuss how to create the infrastructure for a campus-based interactive theatre program; explore social and political issues through theatre-based exercises; develop performance material; and produce and facilitate public performances. Participants will learn how to promote student engagement, leadership, community dialogue, and problem solving around issues such as race, class, culture, gender, immigration, religion and sexual orientation.

Daily Synthesis Sessions

Each day will provide attendees some opportunity to reflect on the previous day’s training, as they learn to integrate the ideas, issues, and challenges emerging in their respective tracks. Institute faculty will facilitate discussion among participants and address questions related to the presentations. Synthesis and integration of ideas will also continue during the daily team/track times focused on the development of institutional implementation plans.

Team Consultations and Team Time

Participants attending the Institute will have extensive opportunities to work together, both within their university teams as well as with attendees from other campuses. Participants will also have opportunities to work with experienced faculty and consultants throughout the Institute. The schedule of presentations, team time, and individual expert consultation will create a supportive and stimulating environment which will allow teams to make progress on their campus goals and institutional implementation plans.

Pre- and Post-Institute Work

Participating teams will engage in some preparatory and follow-up work before and after the Institute.

Closing Session

A closing session on Monday will allow campus teams to share their thoughts and reactions to the Summer Institute with each other before they return to their respective campuses, and explore next steps in engaging their colleagues with their proposed plans of action.