University of Pittsburgh

When Joan Gabel became Chancellor at the University of Pittsburgh in 2023, she stepped onto a campus dealing with controversy over inviting conservative speakers to discuss transgender issues. These debates exposed a real tension between free speech and LGBTQ+ student safety.

Confidence in higher education is being tested like never before. Poll after poll shows that the public increasingly questions whether colleges are worth the cost or whether students leave prepared for life beyond the classroom.

For dialogue initiatives to take root, it’s essential to have leadership from the president’s office. Hear from these university presidents and chancellor’s on their schools productive dialogue efforts: 

For dialogue initiatives to take root, it’s essential to have leadership from the president’s office. Hear from these university presidents and chancellor’s on their schools productive dialogue efforts: 

Looking to introduce civil discourse across your campus but unsure where to begin? University of Pittsburgh leaders—Dean Carissa Slotterback and Chancellor Joan Gabel—offer practical, experience-based advice for launching effective, campuswide civil discourse initiatives.

We asked administrators, faculty, students, and the Chancellor about what bridge building means to each of them. See what they had to say.

What is civil discourse—and why does it matter on college campuses today? At the University of Pittsburgh, students, faculty, and staff share what civil discourse means to them. See what they had to say.

Citizens & Scholars president Rajiv Vinnakota alongside Pitt experts emphasized universities’ crucial role in fostering civic preparedness through informed participation and bridging diverse perspectives.

Inaugural progress report highlights the remarkable strides college presidents have made in fostering free expression, critical inquiry, and civil discourse during an exceptionally challenging year for higher education.

Presidents have implemented programming on their campuses to advance the principles of free expression, civil discourse, and critical inquiry.

Participating presidents will take campus-specific and collective action, reflecting three shared Civic Commitments.

Dispatch from the from the College Presidents for Civic Preparedness convening at Howard University.

The Institute for Citizens & Scholars president Rajiv Vinnakota gave the Winter Commencement address at the University of Pittsburgh.

From facilitating guest lectures to introducing faculty training on civil discourse and creating student programming around civic skills, participating institutions are recentering their commitment to developing thoughtful, effective citizens.

Media highlights of the launch of Campus Call for Free Expression.

Check out media highlights from the launch of Campus Call for Free Expression.

Presidents from public flagship universities, Ivy-plus campuses, HBCUs, STEM-focused schools, liberal arts colleges, and faith-based institutions are uniting to prepare today’s youth to be well-informed, engaged, and committed citizens