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.

The Civil Discourse for Citizenship Program (CD4C) is a campus-wide initiative from the Center for Ethics and Human Values dedicated to developing scholars and citizens through education and experience in civil discourse. From our Philosophy, Politics, and Economics (PPE) undergraduate major and our Teaching Endorsement for faculty to extra-curricular opportunities like our Civil Discourse Fellowship and public forums, CD4C supports the vision, mission, and shared values of our university by cultivating the skills required to engage with one-another on the most pressing problems we face, to navigate the disagreements we have about them, and to find both common ground and impactful solutions.  

Towards this goal, CD4C offers a myriad of ways for undergraduates and faculty to make our conversations--and our democracy—healthier. Students can pursue formal academic training through our PPE major, our Academic Certificate, and our standalone undergraduate course; outside of the classroom, they can participate in our Co-curricular Certificate Program, our Civil Discourse Fellowship, and our sponsored student organizations and Ethics Bowl team. Faculty can learn how to facilitate civil discourse in their classrooms through our Teaching Endorsement on Ethical Disagreement and Civil Discourse, and are welcome to request a workshop or facilitated dialogue led by CEHV faculty. And all members of the university community have access to our free online training on our framework for Civil Discourse and are invited to participate in the multiple Civil Discourse Forums we host every semester.  

CD4C is led by Kathryn Joyce, and is possible with the generous support of the Derrow Family Foundation.