CCU Dialogue Fellows Program

Student Affairs

American colleges and universities face a particular challenge in a hyper-polarized and combative political and social culture: how to have reasonable, civil conversations regarding inclusion, access, equity and campus climate. In alignment with Coastal Carolina University’s Strategic Plan, CCU has committed to ensuring the advancement of academic, student life and faculty and staff programming; providing services that engage the campus and community in dialogue about the broader context of identity development, access, equity, social justice and inclusion; and providing opportunities for meaningful action.

To that end, the CCU Dialogue Fellows Program will train and support a team of faculty, staff and students to conduct and facilitate advanced dialogic practices on campus, with the goal of improving student success and engagement as related to University-wide Strategic Plan Goal 2.1 and 2.4.1, as well as the aforementioned 4.2.2. Structured dialogue is a particular form of dialogic practice that places an emphasis on personal narrative and the sharing of life experiences and perspectives as a way to build trust and understanding among participants. This approach encourages identification with an alternative human experience to overcome identification of those with a different perspective as the “other;” the resulting skills will enable students, faculty and staff to support effective, informative, inclusive and engaging discussion on difficult topics so as to enhance understanding, increase productive team problem-solving, and advance action that supports social justice and improves the sustainability of our community of learners.

Dialogue Fellows will commit to a three-year term, for which they will receive a stipend of $1,500. Students commit to a minimum of three semesters with a stipend of $500 per semester. Fellows are expected to participate in dialogue practice via a range of outlets. Fellows will actively participate in the development of a campus-wide plan for expansion of the dialogue process to all parts of campus communication.