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Trustees back new Center for Civic Discourse to teach structured debate and dialogue
Summary
The board approved a campus Center for Civic Discourse and Debate to teach argumentation and conflict‑resolution skills to students and the community, following a presentation showing measured classroom gains in comfort and perceived common ground.
The University of Utah Board of Trustees voted April 26 to establish a Center for Civic Discourse and Debate, which faculty say will teach students structured civic conversation skills and provide campus and community programming. Michael Middleton, the senior associate dean who presented the proposal, said pilots across 25 classrooms reached about 1,000 students and showed measurable gains in students' comfort and perceptions of common ground.
Middleton summarized pre/post pilot results: participants reported a "12% greater perceptions of common ground" and "14% less stress discussing controversial issues," findings he said support expanding the program campuswide. Trustees and student leaders expressed support, asking about neutrality and safeguards; Middleton said the center will focus on process and facilitator training to maintain procedural neutrality. The board moved and approved creation of the center as presented.
Proponents said the center will support faculty training, student practice opportunities and community programming; the governance model will include faculty and campus partners and an external advisory board.
