MU DIFFICULT DIALOGUES PROGRAM
2009 Summer Institute Cirriculum
The Institute curriculum was designed to aid teams in developing difficult dialogues faculty development programs at their home institutions. Topics were based upon the expected and stated needs of faculty members, administrators and their universities.
Opening Plenary
An opening plenary set the context for the Institute with a discussion of the Difficult Dialogues Program and the need for this program for all academic tracks.
Institute Tracks
Track One: Faculty Development Capacity-building for establishing a Difficult Dialogues Faculty Development Program (3-5 team members). The training introduced participants to three models for campus-based faculty development programs on difficult dialogues. Attendees of this track learned how to promote student engagement and dialogue on challenging issues such as race, class, culture, gender, immigration, religion and sexual orientation. They also learned how to create safe classroom environments where difficult dialogues can take place, and how to weave into their curricula the tenets of the Difficult Dialogues Initiative and academic freedom.
Track Two: Interactive Theatre Capacity-building for developing an Interactive Theatre Troupe (1-2 team members). The training covered how to create the infrastructure for a campus-based interactive theatre program; explored social and political issues through theatre-based exercises; developed performance material; and produce and facilitate public performances. Participants learned how to promote student engagement, leadership, community dialogue, and problem solving around issues such as race, class, culture, gender, immigration, religion and sexual orientation.
Daily Synthesis Sessions
Each day provided attendees with some opportunity to reflect on the previous day’s training, as they learned to integrate the ideas, issues, and challenges emerging in their respective tracks. Institute faculty facilitated discussion among participants and addressed questions related to the presentations. Synthesis and integration of ideas also continued during the daily team/track times focused on the development of institutional implementation plans.
Team Consultations and Team Time
Participants attending the Institute had extensive opportunities to work together, both within their university teams as well as with attendees from other campuses. Participants also had opportunities to work with experienced faculty and consultants throughout the Institute. The schedule of presentations, team time, and individual expert consultation created a supportive and stimulating environment which allowed teams to make progress on their campus goals and institutional implementation plans.
Pre- and Post- Institute Work
Participating teams engaged in some preparatory and follow-up work before and after the Institute.
Closing Session
A closing session allowed campus teams to share their thoughts and reactions to the Summer Institute with each other before they returned to their respective campuses, and explored next steps in engaging their colleagues with their proposed plans of action.
