Flipping The Script and Putting Students at the Forefront of Cultural Change Through “For Students, By Students” Dialogues - JCAPS Vol. 8 Issue 2

While critical reflection on controversial topics was once a celebrated component of academic life, in today’s polarized political environment, faculty, staff, and students often shy away from contentious topics at the cost of student growth and learning. In 2020, a small university in the southeast launched a dialogue program, now entitled “For Students, By Students” dialogues under the premise that by launching a student-led dialogue program that encouraged students to hold dialogues on topics of their choice while creating enough structure to attend to participants’ psychological-safety, the students would be better prepared to share feelings and experiences; listen to diverse perspectives; step away from polarities, discover innovative solutions; and engage in group meaning-making that supports a culture of equity, inclusion, and belonging. The response to the dialogues has been largely positive, and this article shares both information about the “For Students, By Students” dialogue program, as well as lessons learned.