We live in a divisive political climate. Barriers of mistrust and misunderstanding exist even in a university setting. It's important to think about how instructors can better serve students — our future civic leaders and problem-solvers — and the communities that they will ultimately shape. Participants in this workshop will have an opportunity to reflect carefully on this question and will emerge with a concrete set of plans that can foster a culture of civil public discourse.

By the end of this workshop, participants will be able to:

• Identify the benefits of engaging across politically diverse landscapes;
• Articulate some professional considerations about the role of student dissent and political difference in university life; and
• Implement a set of concrete steps designed both to manage classroom conflict over political differences and to train students to become more responsible and reflective members of a civil discourse community.