Dialogue Taskforce

Charge and Membership: Heading link

In spring 2024, Provost Colley charged a task force to consider ways in which the UIC Dialogue Initiative could expand to support the campus community in having thoughtful and compassionate conversations and advance our collective skills in engaging productively in our diverse world.

For over a decade, the UIC Dialogue Initiative has been helping the UIC community to engage effectively and thoughtfully across differences, primarily through the first-year dialogue seminar, Dialogue (DLG) 120, which was adapted from the University of Michigan’s Program on Intergroup Relations to reflect UIC’s uniquely diverse campus. Some colleges require first-year students to take DLG 120, while others encourage undergraduate students to take the course as an elective or have implemented other models of civic discourse.

Appreciating the strong foundation that we have at UIC in dialogue practice, we also recognize that there is potential and need to expand further for the benefit of our students. Strong communication and engagement across difference is integral to our relationships at every level, and teaching students skills in dialogue and civic discourse positions them to more actively, effectively and empathetically navigate academic, social, and professional environments.

The UIC Dialogue Taskforce has been charged with exploring how the Dialogue Initiative can expand to support the campus community in having thoughtful and compassionate conversations and advance our collective skills in engaging productively in our diverse world. This will include exploring options for expanding first-year dialogue experiences so that all our undergraduate students have an opportunity to participate, and to consider ways that dialogue and civic discourse practices can be modeled and incorporated into other aspects of faculty, staff, and student work and interaction to best serve our community. Through its work, the task force will consider the following:

  • What conversations have been occurring in units regarding the need for dialogue and civic discourse (if any) and what tools are missing to support you in that effort?
  • What steps could units consider to aid in dialogue and civic discourse education for students, faculty and staff?
  • What steps could UIC take to enable opportunities for community members to engage in dialogue and civic discourse beyond the course?

With these questions examined and considered, the task force will develop a plan for expanding dialogue and civic discourse in pre-enrollment activities, in the classroom, through co-curricular opportunities, and through UIC community education and engagement. This may include development of new course content customized to best support UIC students and the UIC community.

The taskforce’s first efforts will focus on our undergraduate students, and members are encouraged to think beyond these students to more senior trainees, faculty and staff.

It is anticipated that due to the broadness of the charge, and the need to engage multiple groups, the work of the task force will span this academic year, with implementation of approved programmatic changes beginning in the spring 2025 semester for launch in summer and fall 2025.

  • Jessica Joslin, Assistant Vice Chancellor for Diversity Initiatives (co-chair)
  • Tom Moss, Associate Dean for Student Affairs, Architecture, Design and the Arts (co-chair)
  • Rhea Ballard-Thrower, Dean, University Library
  • Josefina Bañales, Assistant Professor, Community and Applied Development Psychology, Liberal Arts and Sciences
  • Mark Bennett, Director First-Year Writing Program
  • Jennifer Brier, Director, Gender and Women’s Studies, Professor, GWS and History Liberal Arts and Sciences
  • Kathryn Burns-Howard, Assistant Dean for Student Services, Honors College
  • Mirtza Campbell, Senior Academic Advisor, CUPPA
  • Eileen Doran, Associate Dean, Student Affairs, Applied Health Sciences
  • Aisha El-Amin, Executive Associate Vice Provost for Student Success
  • Lisa Frohmann, Associate Department Head, Criminology, Law and Justice, Liberal Arts and Sciences
  • Janya Golubeva, Associate Dean for Student Success, UIC Business
  • Kristy Kambanis, Assistant Director for STEM Initiatives, Presidents Award Program
  • Miiri Kotche, Associate Dean for Undergraduate Affairs, Engineering
  • Neal McCrillis, Vice Provost for Global Engagement
  • Norma Ramos, Associate Director, Institute for Policy and Civil Engagement, CUPPA
  • Renata Revelo Alonso, Clinical Assistant Professor, Electrical and Computer Engineering
  • John Slavick, Associate Dean of Student Affairs, Public Health
  • Charu Thakral, Interim Vice Chancellor for Diversity Equity and Engagement
  • Marc Van Overbeke, Associate Dean for Academic Affairs, Education
  • Justin Wier, Assistant Dean, Recruitment and Engagement, Liberal Arts and Sciences
  • Annette Wright, Interim Dean of Students, Vice Chancellor for Student Affairs