Capacity Building Around Civil Discourse at UTSA
As educators, we are committed to nurturing UTSA students’ capacity for robust and constructive civil discourse. Through various academic and campus programs, the university empowers students to navigate complex discussions and challenging issues. By fostering an ethos of mutual respect and intellectual curiosity, we champion the ideals of free speech while also fostering the development of a new generation of informed and engaged citizens.
Efforts in this area are centered around three focus areas:
- Students: Offer students courses, co-curricular activities and workshops that help them to build skills in engaging with different perspectives and understanding free speech
- Faculty and Staff: Provide professional development opportunities for faculty and staff to strengthen classroom and campus dialogue and resolve conflicts
- Community: Extending efforts into the wider San Antonio community by developing interuniversity initiatives and community partnerships
Current Efforts
Center for Dialogue & Deliberation – College of Liberal and Fine Arts
The Center for Dialogue & Deliberation at the University at Texas at San Antonio, led by a team of communication experts, is building dialogue and deliberative capacity for UTSA students and the surrounding communities. Through formal pedagogy, extracurricular engaged experiences, workshops and events, participants in the Center’s projects and activities learn to appreciate and execute fundamental communication skills, tools, and techniques to improve their relationships, career readiness and community decision making. The Center trains student associates to serve as dialogue and deliberative facilitators and hosts events creating opportunities for healthy conversations about difficult topics. For information on upcoming events and trainings visit the Center's website.
Student Affairs
UTSA Student Affairs hosts workshops on understanding Free Speech as well as the connection between free speech and students' perception of their mental health. Students interested in understanding more about campus policies and freedom of expression can visit Free Speech Office Hours held throughout the semester. Details for the sessions are on RowdyLink.
Student Peer Facilitators in Wellbeing Services host workshops covering various topics to help students build skills for self-awareness, self-appreciation and compassionate leadership. Workshops include "Advocacy and Me," "I Wanna Talk about Me," and "Courage to Be the Change." Details for the sessions are on RowdyLink.
The Student Affairs team also trained four facilitators through the Crisis Prevention Institute (CPI) to provide de-escalation training and Expressive Activities Response (EAR) to faculty and staff on campus.
Nurturing Hope Summer Learning Journey – Ballycastle, Northern Ireland
This July UTSA will again fund two students to attend the 10 days Nurturing Hope program in Ballycastle, Northern Ireland, in partnership with the Rotary San Antonio Club. The Summer Learning Journey will focus on how trust and hope can be nurtured and sustained in personal, community, and political life; consider what practices might support reconciliation and restoring relationships; and contribute to an intergenerational and intercultural global community of practice committed to building relationships in conflicted societies. Students learn alongside local participants completing the Seeds of Hope year-long program; young adult leaders from across the globe; and adults involved in parallel organizations from across the globe. Interested students should contact gina.amatangelo@utsa.edu.
Nurturing Hope San Antonio
This fall UTSA launched a student fellowship program focused on meaningful dialogue across differences. The intercollegiate program brings together students from local colleges and universities representing many neighborhoods, backgrounds and faith traditions to explore the Nurturing Hope curriculum, connect with local community organizations and lead campus events. This is a collaborative effort that includes the Alamo Colleges, the H.E. Butt Foundation, Trinity University, Rotary San Antonio and UTSA.
