Deliberative Dialogues
The Center for Civic Engagement is excited to offer Deliberative Dialogues on campus!
Deliberative Dialogues are guided conversations on a socio-political and sometimes controversial topic. This model of conversation removes polarizing positions and one-sided lectures by asking participants to investigate specific solutions to a complex problem through the help of an issue guide and trained facilitator. Center staff, faculty/staff across campus, and students have been trained to facilitate dialogues for classes, student organizations, and University groups/departments.
By participating in a Deliberative Dialogue, participants can build empathy, active listening and deliberation skills. Participants can also learn about the value of hearing multiple perspective, learn something new about an issue and consider how to have conversations on difficult and complex topics in the future.
Questions about Deliberative Dialogues? Reach out to CCE's Associate Director Paige Buschman (pebusc2@ilstu.edu) for more information!
Dialogue topics
The Center uses the National Issues Forums Institute (NIFI) model of deliberative dialogues.
Explore Dialogue topics from NIFI
The Center also uses several dialogue guides that follow NIFI's format, but were developed by ISU students on topics NIFI otherwise has not covered.
Center staff have extensive experience facilitating each issue guide and have found that some guides are more effective than others. If you see a dialogue listed on NIFI's website that is not included in our request form it is likely that we have assessed that the guide has quality issues. If you have any questions about which guide is best for your group, please reach out to CCE's Associate Director, Paige Buschman (pebusc2@ilstu.edu), for a consultation.
Request a Dialogue
The Center offers Deliberative Dialogues as a free experience to the campus community. Any faculty/staff member or student group can request a Dialogue.
A dialogue is optimally two hours long; if you're interested in holding a dialogue for a non-class group, we recommend setting aside this amount of time. A full dialogue can also be hosted in a 75 minute class period if the instructor shares the guide and requires students to read it in advance. The Center can offer condensed 50 minute dialogues, though, when possible, we encourage instructors to spread the experience out over two consecutive class periods if possible.
The Center has identified the following outcomes for students who participate in a Deliberative Dialogue:
As a result of the dialogue students will be will be able to:
- Examine the complexity of a community or social issue
- Respond positively to the presence and perspectives of others
- Evaluate options to select the best method to advance a project or solve an issue
- Examine perspectives and ideas to explore what is, can, or could be
- Respond to others’ words by incorporating them into the dialogue
- Articulate the need for an appropriate tone and message when exchanging ideas (oral or written)
- Recognize new and difference perspectives in relation to own personal attitudes, values and/or beliefs
We believe there are many other possible outcomes to dialogue work and are able to work directly with instructors to craft civic engagement-related outcomes that fit their courses.
Please submit your request at least three weeks/fifteen business days in advance.
Request a dialogue for your class or organization
Student Deliberative Dialogue Facilitators
In fall 2021 the Center launched the Student Deliberative Dialogue Facilitator program to help with increased demand for Dialogues across campus. The program also offers leadership and dialogue experience for the student facilitators. Learn more about this amazing program.
Deliberative Dialogues are not a permanently funded program and the Center relies on donations to fund it. If you would like to help ensure the future of the Student Deliberative Dialogue Facilitator program, please consider making a contribution to the Center.