Bridge Building
AASCU members are cultivating spaces for meaningful conversations and collaborative problem-solving that foster empathy, respect, and deeper understanding across differences.
The Value
- Practicing dialogue across differences sharpens students’ ability to listen, question, and collaborate—skills employers and communities urgently need.
- Bringing global perspectives into campus conversations broadens thinking and expands students’ capacity to solve complex, cross-border challenges.
- Creating space for many voices on campus builds a culture where students feel more engaged, more connected, and more likely to stay and succeed.
The Practice
- Integrate dialogue into the classroom. Incorporate structured, research-backed dialogue practices into courses to deepen learning and build trust.
- Prepare faculty to facilitate tough conversations. Offer professional development that equips educators to guide discussions across differences with empathy and skill.
- Partner across departments and disciplines. Collaborate with faculty, student affairs, and global programs to embed dialogue into both academic and co-curricular experiences.
- Connect campus dialogue to global issues. Use international case studies and global perspectives to help students explore shared challenges and democratic solutions.
- Make space for different backgrounds and perspectives. Create forums where students feel seen, heard, and confident expressing different perspectives.
- Measure impact and adapt over time. Track student participation, learning outcomes, and campus climate data to improve dialogue practices.
