GenZ undergraduates often matriculate without skills for constructive dialogue with people whose views differ from their own—and they lack models of productive dialogue across lines of difference in our polarized age. It’s increasingly up to faculty members to teach students the skills and dispositions to engage with peers with differing views and with texts that present controversial or offensive ideas.
On April 8, 2026, CIC held a webinar with faculty members who have met these challenges with courses designed to bolster student skills and confidence for constructive dialogue across lines of difference:
- Syon Bhanot, Associate Professor of Economics, Swarthmore College (PA)
- Robert G. Boatright, Professor of Political Science, Clark University (MA)
- Madison Dircks, Peer Learning Assistant, Clark University (MA)
- Jon A. Shields, Professor of Government, Claremont McKenna College (CA)