Dialogue Facilitation Lab

The Dialogue Facilitation Lab is a professional learning experience for faculty, staff and graduate employees looking to grow as a dialogue facilitator and integrate dialogue practices in their professional responsibilities related to teaching, research, leadership, or service.  

Program Structure

The Dialogue Facilitation Lab is a cohort-based applied learning experience.

  • Each cohort consists of 12-16 participants that include perspectives from diverse roles and disciplines.

  • The program consists of a brief asynchronous orientation followed by 11 weekly 2-hour zoom sessions.

  • During weekly sessions, participants will have the opportunity to practice dialogue facilitation skills and receive feedback from their peers.

Program Goals

We hope our lab will shape our university by: 

  • Building confidence and capacity among employees to facilitate dialogue on intellectually and emotionally complex issues. 

  • Developing facilitators who can support strategic inclusive excellence efforts while remaining responsive to emerging community needs, tensions, and contexts. 

  • Expanding the meaningful use of dialogue across teaching, research, leadership, and service as a tool for learning, relationship‑building, and institutional change. 

Participant Outcomes

The Dialogue Facilitation Lab is designed to develop participants ability to:

  • Create space for different perspectives on a contentious topic.  
  • Stimulate complex thinking on a contentious topic. 
  • Foster connection among polarized dialogue participants. 
  • Demonstrate patience and understanding. 
  • Model courage and vulnerability.  
  • Affirm diverse points of view. 
  • Establish confidence and credibility with dialogue participants.  
  • Develop illustrative and relevant examples. 
  • Address participant questions effectively. 

Application

Applications for the Winter 2026 cohort are now closed.

Applications for the Summer 2026 cohort are now open. Apply here.

The Dialogue Facilitation Lab is held twice each year during the winter and summer terms.

Upcoming cohorts:

  • Summer 2026, Tuesdays 2 to 4 p.m., June 23 – September 1

  • Winter 2027, Thursdays 2 to 4 p.m., January 7 – March 18

  • Summer 2027, Wednesdays 2 to 4 p.m., June 23 – September 1

  • Winter 2028, Wednesdays 10 to 12 p.m., January 5 – March 15