Difficult Dialogues Program
Difficult Dialogues is a program originated by the Ford Foundation and designed to promote
academic freedom and religious, cultural, and political pluralism on college and university
campuses in the United States [Ford Foundation, 2005]. The Difficult Dialogues Program at
Texas A&M University aims to build capacity for engaging in effective communication,
encourage productive conflict management, and support a skill set for handling difficult
dialogues with a focus on intact work groups.
The goal of the Difficult Dialogues Program at Texas A&M University is to make our campus
climate more welcoming, inclusive, and safe for the free exchange of ideas and differences in
perspectives that come with building a diverse and global learning community. Accordingly,
the Difficult Dialogues Program contributes to the three overarching goals (Accountability,
Climate, and Equity) of the University Diversity Plan. In particular, the Difficult Dialogues
Program contributes to fulfillment of the Diversity Plan commitment to attend to and promote a
positive and supportive climate, which fully recognizes, values, and integrates diversity in the
pursuit of academic excellence.
The program objectives are:
- To create a cadre of trained facilitators for the Difficult Dialogues Program.
- To increase skill sets and preparedness of administrators, faculty, staff, and students to
encounter difficult dialogues constructively both internal to their units and external to the
university environment.
- To engage the campus community in dialogue around sensitive topics and issues.
- To facilitate recognition by individuals that their experiences, mental models, thoughts,
and fears can impact dialogue.
The Difficult Dialogues Program at Texas A&M University will consist of:
- Educational Development: Brief overview of Program – 1-2 hour seminars.
- Train-the-Trainer: Creation of a cadre of trained facilitators.
- Workshops: Each workshop has four modules.
- 101. My Skill Set: "Managing Me"
- 201. Using My Skill Set with a Group: "Managing Me in a Group"
- 301. Group Dynamics: "Facilitating the Group"
- 401. The TAMU Climate: "Difficult Dialogues"
- Facilitation: Trained facilitators to assist with difficult dialogues occurring within
organizations.
- Ongoing seminars, workshops, and dialogue about Difficult Dialogues: Invited
speakers conduct 2-hour seminars and participate in facilitated dialogues.
Program Facilitators:
Dr. Clare Gill (Associate Vice President for Diversity)
Dr. Nancy Watson (President, Center for Change and Conflict Resolution)
If you are interested in receiving information about upcoming training opportunities, please
contact Nikki Cavender at ncavender@tamu.edu.