Preparedness for civic engagement and the ability to engage in civil discourse is a deep challenge for open societies across the globe as well as for our college and university campuses. All of education, including higher education, need to help cultivate the skills and capabilities of constructive dialogue, active listening, respectful debate, openness to different viewpoints, negotiation, and collective problem solving. Students are arriving on campus not knowing how to talk to each other, especially those with different viewpoints, and we cannot afford to allow them to leave campus without having learned that critical set of skills.

- Garry Jenkins
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Activation Plan

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Below is an overview of some campus activities:

  • Developing a student, faculty, and staff panel on dialogues and difficult discourse
  • Establishing a working group to study peer campus initiatives addressing civil discourse
A photo of Garry Jenkins
Bates College Logo
Garry Jenkins
President, Bates College
Bates College Logo

Below is an overview of some campus activities:

  • Developing a student, faculty, and staff panel on dialogues and difficult discourse
  • Establishing a working group to study peer campus initiatives addressing civil discourse

Preparedness for civic engagement and the ability to engage in civil discourse is a deep challenge for open societies across the globe as well as for our college and university campuses. All of education, including higher education, need to help cultivate the skills and capabilities of constructive dialogue, active listening, respectful debate, openness to different viewpoints, negotiation, and collective problem solving. Students are arriving on campus not knowing how to talk to each other, especially those with different viewpoints, and we cannot afford to allow them to leave campus without having learned that critical set of skills.

- Garry Jenkins