Teaching Civil Discourse in the College Classroom: A Summer Seminar for Faculty

Announcing Call for Applications

Teaching Civil Discourse in the College Classroom: A Summer Seminar for Faculty
Made Possible with the Generous Support of the Arthur Vining Davis Foundations
Instructors: Teresa Bejan (Oxford) and John Rose (Duke)
Keynote address: Gary Saul Morson (Northwestern)
Dates: August 9th – 12th, 2022

We are pleased to announce a call for applications to an upcoming four-day faculty summer seminar entitled “Teaching Civil Discourse in the Classroom: A Summer Seminar for Faculty,” made possible by a generous grant from The Arthur Vining Davis Foundations. The seminar, to be held at Duke, will be led by Teresa Bejan (Oxford) and John Rose, Associate Director of the Civil Discourse Project. The seminar will prepare early career professors to teach a course based on CDP’s own highly popular class at Duke, “How to Think in an Age of Political Polarization” (HTAPP). The course offers tools to promote open discourse and civil disagreement about controversial social and political topics.

The seminar will cover topics including potential course content, best practices for effectively promoting civil discussion over sensitive topics in the classroom, and how to utilize university resources to create such courses. In addition to Prof. Bejan and Dr. Rose, this year Gary Saul Morson (Northwestern) will serve as a guest lecturer. The seminar will be free of charge with food and lodging covered. Participants will stay at the beautiful JB Duke Hotel on Duke’s campus. In addition, participants will receive a stipend of $5000.

In order to participate, applicants must agree to teach a course similar to Duke’s HTAPP within three semesters of finishing the seminar. Successful applicants will need to acquire express and written approval from their department chair or dean allowing them to teach such a course within that timeframe. In addition, participants will agree to participate in a Zoom follow-up meeting within three semesters of the summer seminar, where they will present the results of their course to other participants.

This seminar is open to full-time, tenure-track or recently tenured faculty at 4-year or higher institutions. If you would like to be considered for this seminar, please email John Rose (john.rose@duke.edu) with your complete application, including the following attachments:

1) CV/Resume
2) 2-3 page statement explaining your interest in the seminar
3) Any other relevant documentation, including relevant course syllabi, publications, etc. (No more than 3 additional attachments please.)

There is no application deadline. Applications will be handled on a rolling basis.

Questions regarding the seminar or application can also be emailed to Dr. Rose.