Building a culture of rigorous and respectful engagement on campus and beyond
Our democracy depends on building civic trust through improved mutual understanding and shared problem-solving. We can make headway on the pressing problems that we face only if we’re able to talk about them openly, vigorously, and respectfully – especially when we disagree. This is all the more important at a leading public university.
With this in mind, we have created Civil Discourse for Citizenship, an initiative dedicated to promoting respectful debate across differences on campus and beyond.
What is Civil Discourse?
Read about Why Civil Discourse is essential to Democratic Citizenship
The 4Cs of Civil Discourse
Explore the 4 Virtues of Civil Discourse: A framework for Rigorous and Respectful Discussion
Academic Certificate: Civil Discourse for Citizenship
This certificate (CIVDC1B-CR) gives students training in the theory and practice of civil discourse. The purpose is to help future professionals and citizens appreciate civic values so they can contribute to the creation of healthy democratic communities that recognize the importance of free speech and open dialogue across differences.
What is Civil Discourse?
Read about Why Civil Discourse is essential to Democratic Citizenship
The 4Cs of Civil Discourse
Explore the 4 Virtues of Civil Discourse: A framework for Rigorous and Respectful Discussion
Academic Certificate: Civil Discourse for Citizenship
This certificate (CIVDC1B-CR) gives students training in the theory and practice of civil discourse. The purpose is to help future professionals and citizens appreciate civic values so they can contribute to the creation of healthy democratic communities that recognize the importance of free speech and open dialogue across differences.
Civil Discourse Co-Curricular Certificate Program
The Practicing Civil Discourse for Citizenship certificate program offers students the opportunity to learn more about, and to better practice, civil discourse. They may also wish to demonstrate their commitment to civil discourse to potential employers. Through coursework, event attendance, and participation in other programming, students earn points toward the certificate at their own pace.
Undergraduate Civil Discourse Fellows
CEHV annually awards competitive fellowships to eight undergraduate students to be trained in civil discourse. These CEHV Civil Discourse Fellows plan and moderate the Civil Discourse Forums (see below) and serve as ambassadors for civil discourse on campus.
Student-moderated Civil Discourse Forums
These forums feature a pair speakers who hold contrasting views on a controversial issue. They are moderated by our Civil Discourse Fellows after training with CEHV staff. So far Fellows have hosted forums on immigration, gun control, the teaching of American history, abortion, affirmative action, climate change, transgender athletes, prison abolition, and foreign aid.
Civil Discourse Co-Curricular Certificate Program
The Practicing Civil Discourse for Citizenship certificate program offers students the opportunity to learn more about, and to better practice, civil discourse. They may also wish to demonstrate their commitment to civil discourse to potential employers. Through coursework, event attendance, and participation in other programming, students earn points toward the certificate at their own pace.
Undergraduate Civil Discourse Fellows
CEHV annually awards competitive fellowships to eight undergraduate students to be trained in civil discourse. These CEHV Civil Discourse Fellows plan and moderate the Civil Discourse Forums (see below) and serve as ambassadors for civil discourse on campus.
Student-moderated Civil Discourse Forums
These forums feature a pair speakers who hold contrasting views on a controversial issue. They are moderated by our Civil Discourse Fellows after training with CEHV staff. So far Fellows have hosted forums on immigration, gun control, the teaching of American history, abortion, affirmative action, climate change, transgender athletes, prison abolition, and foreign aid.
Undergraduate Course on Civil Discourse
Our 3-credit undergraduate course called Conversations on Morality, Politics and Society (ARTSSCI 2400/2400E) introduces students to debates about freedom of expression and the importance of civil discourse, and provides training in dialogue facilitation strategies. The course also engages CEHV's Civil Discourse Forums and COMPAS events. It is now offered each semester.
Dialogue Facilitation and Skill-Building
As part of Civil Discourse for Citizenship, CEHV has also introduced a new dialogue facilitation program. This program advances OSU's Shared Values Initiative and Civil Discourse Project in two ways: by offering skill-building dialogue facilitation workshops and by facilitating dialogue on campus about important ethical issues.
Teaching Endorsement:
"Ethical Disagreement and Civil Discourse"
In Spring 2024, CEHV began offering a teaching endorsement through the Drake Institute for Teaching and Learning. Through active learning exercises, this endorsement provides instructors and group leaders with tools and strategies to navigate contentious ethical disagreements and foster civil discourse in their classrooms or programs.
Undergraduate Course on Civil Discourse
Our 3-credit undergraduate course called Conversations on Morality, Politics and Society (ARTSSCI 2400/2400E) introduces students to debates about freedom of expression and the importance of civil discourse, and provides training in dialogue facilitation strategies. The course also engages CEHV's Civil Discourse Forums and COMPAS events. It is now offered each semester.
Dialogue Facilitation and Skill-Building
As part of Civil Discourse for Citizenship, CEHV has also introduced a new dialogue facilitation program. This program advances OSU's Shared Values Initiative and Civil Discourse Project in two ways: by offering skill-building dialogue facilitation workshops and by facilitating dialogue on campus about important ethical issues.
Teaching Endorsement:
"Ethical Disagreement and Civil Discourse"
In Spring 2024, CEHV began offering a teaching endorsement through the Drake Institute for Teaching and Learning. Through active learning exercises, this endorsement provides instructors and group leaders with tools and strategies to navigate contentious ethical disagreements and foster civil discourse in their classrooms or programs.
Philosophy, Politics, and Economics (PPE) major
The CEHV steering committee provides leadership for a new Ohio State undergraduate major in Philosophy, Politics, and Economics (PPE). Begun in Fall 2019, PPE now has 210 majors. The major offers broad and rigorous training in the foundations of all three disciplines, enabling students to study the forces and institutions that shape the modern world from more than one perspective.
Intercollegiate Ethics Bowl
The Center for Ethics and Human Values is sponsoring the first Ohio State Intercollegiate Ethics Bowl team!
Free Online Course on the 4Cs
By introducing the 4Cs of civil discourse — Be Curious , Be Charitable, Be Conscientious, and Be Constructive — this training will help you build civic trust through improved mutual understanding and shared problem-solving, even when you disagree strongly on contentious social and political issues.
Philosophy, Politics, and Economics (PPE) major
The CEHV steering committee provides leadership for a new Ohio State undergraduate major in Philosophy, Politics, and Economics (PPE). Begun in Fall 2019, PPE now has 210 majors. The major offers broad and rigorous training in the foundations of all three disciplines, enabling students to study the forces and institutions that shape the modern world from more than one perspective.
Intercollegiate Ethics Bowl
The Center for Ethics and Human Values is sponsoring the first Ohio State Intercollegiate Ethics Bowl team!
Free Online Course on the 4Cs
By introducing the 4Cs of civil discourse — Be Curious , Be Charitable, Be Conscientious, and Be Constructive — this training will help you build civic trust through improved mutual understanding and shared problem-solving, even when you disagree strongly on contentious social and political issues.
CEHV's "Civil Discourse for Citizenship" program is led by Kathryn Joyce, Eric MacGilvray, Piers Turner, and Aaron Yarmel. It is pursued with generous support from the Derrow Family Foundation.