Dialogue Fellows Program training August 24 -25

In a time of deep political, social and cultural divides, universities have a special role in staging conversations about the most pressing and controversial topics. In support of the 2017–2018 campus common theme “Democratic Dialogue,” the Dialogue Fellows program will provide special training in facilitating reflective dialogue to faculty, staff and students. The training will take place from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. in MAC Hall on August 24 and 25 and will be led by Kelli Covey of the Covey Group. She specializes in training people how to facilitate difficult discussions about topics including race, racism, diversity and environmental preservation—all issues that are critical to our campus community. Covey was previously Associate Director of the Center for Civic Reflection, where she created the Civic Reflection Fellows program in partnership with several colleges and universities.

Faculty and staff Dialogue Fellows who complete the training will each commit to facilitating a dialogue (small or large) during the 2017–18 academic year, within a class, for a campus group, or the broader community. These dialogues should be co-facilitated with at least one student. Up to 20 faculty and staff participants and up to 5 student participants will receive a stipend of $200 for completing the August 24 to 25 workshop and facilitating at least one dialogue. The program is open to all faculty and academic staff (including instructors, librarians, advisors, etc.), to any undergraduate student with sophomore standing or higher or any graduate student who is enrolled full time for the fall 2017 semester.

Complete a brief application by May 31. Applicants will be notified via email regarding their acceptance by June 15. This program is supported by one-time student success funds from the Office of the Provost. Contact Alison Staudinger at staudina@uwgb.edu with any questions.