Dialogue and Discourse
The University of California affirms its longstanding commitment to free expression, open inquiry and constructive dialogue across its campuses. In a complex and polarized environment, UC has an important role in demonstrating how public institutions can uphold expressive rights while fostering meaningful engagement across differences.
Policies that safeguard expressive activity are essential to this work. Equally important are educational opportunities that support listening, inquiry, rigorous debate and respectful disagreement. By advancing dialogue within classrooms and campus life, UC strengthens civic preparation and contributes to a university culture grounded in curiosity, humility, intellectual courage and respect.
Programs and Initiatives
UC Dialogue Fellows
In a pluralistic university community, dialogue plays a vital role in helping students share lived experiences, listen across perspectives and engage challenging ideas with care and curiosity. These skills strengthen classroom learning, support free expression and contribute to a healthier campus climate.
The UC Dialogue Fellows is designed to help build dialogue skills that support learning, civic engagement and constructive exchange across differences.
With support from the UC Office of the President and the UC National Center for Free Speech and Civic Engagement, the fellowship provides $5,000 awards to advance teaching, curriculum development, instructor preparation and adaptable resources for dialogue education. The program aims to build a cross-campus cohort of faculty and staff, including graduate student instructors, who can strengthen dialogue practice and campus climate across UC.
UC Dialogue Fellowship application will open July 6.
Education and Trainings
Webinar: Discourse and Free Expression: Understanding Your Rights and Responsibilities at the University of California
In 2024, the California State Legislature requested that UC provide newly enrolled students with mandatory training on how to exchange views with mutual respect, on policies and procedures related to student conduct violations and on the First Amendment to the U.S. Constitution (SB 1287 — Chapter 892, Statutes of 2024). The UC Office of the President partnered with the Systemwide Office of Civil Rights, the UC National Center for Free Speech and UCLA’s Dialogue Across Difference Initiative to develop the course content and provide it as a resource to campuses to fulfill the training requirements.
The course consists of three content modules: 1) Dialogue at UC: Learning and Engaging across Difference, 2) Free Expression at UC (including an overview of the First Amendment, hate speech and different types of fora) and 3) Understanding Discrimination and Harassment at UC (including examples of potential prohibited conduct, procedures for investigating reports under the anti-discrimination policy and resources/reporting options).
UC National Center for Free Speech and Civic Engagement
The UC National Center for Free Speech and Civic Engagement explores the intersection of free expression, civic engagement and democratic learning.
Building on UC’s Free Speech Movement legacy, the Center helps move campus conversations beyond soundbites and toward thoughtful dialogue. Through research, programs and public discussion, it supports higher education leaders, students, faculty and staff in understanding and advancing these values.
UC Campus Climate
The University of California is committed to safe, supportive and equitable campus communities where everyone can express their identity and values.
UC advances this work through inclusive policies, accountability systems, education and training, and structures that support a respectful community free from bias, discrimination and harassment.