Dialogue Resources for Higher Education
Dialogue is a process in which groups come together to share experiences around issues that are often avoided or argued toward the goal of informed decision making. Dialogue involves mutual understanding, suspending judgment, and listening deeply, rather than seeking to win. Campuses engaged in dialogue use the tool to engage with diverse viewpoints in true civil discourse. A community that has a high level of dialogue skill creates enhanced experiences in co-curricular life, civic engagement, and curricular environments. Dialogue equips students, faculty, and staff with the skills to build shared understanding of challenges, to empathize with experiences very different from…
Aligning Institution to Community
Colleges and universities are anchor institutions in their communities. To adopt an anchor mission entails adopting a strategy to leverage institutional assets. Ways to leverage economic assets and revenues to promote local private-sector development include: Directing a greater percentage of purchasing power toward local and minority vendors based in the community. Hiring a greater percentage of the workforce locally. Providing workforce training for people needing assistance in the community. Incubating the development of new businesses, including social enterprise among nonprofits. Leveraging real estate development to promote local retail, employer-assisted housing, and community land trusts. Using pension and endowment funds to…
Increasing College Access
Higher education is the bedrock of a just, equitable, and sustainable future. Understanding that higher education institutions are responsible for preparing students to be engaged citizens, we together strive for the highest possible level of inclusivity. College access is central to this inclusivity, making possible a strong, healthy, active democratic society. One of a wide range of Knowledge Hubs from Campus Compact, Increasing College Access offers models, best practices, and resources for increasing college access.