Institute

2025 Institute on Experiential Learning and Engaged Dialogue

Virtual Institute

The Institute on Experiential Learning and Engaged Dialogue is an intensive program dedicated to equipping institutional teams with strategies to foster experiential learning and engaged dialogue to prepare students for encounters on campus, in the community, and in their future careers. Teams will explore ways to help students develop skills, knowledge, and attitudes that position them for success in their future lives and careers. High-impact experiential learning is central to the Institute curriculum, and teams will explore strategies and practices that can be integrated into all disciplines across curricular and co-curricular experiences and will prepare students for democratic engagement.  

This transformative experience provides participants with time, resources, and expert guidance to design initiatives encouraging students to navigate diverse perspectives, build meaningful connections, work constructively across differences, and engage actively, productively, and ethically with communities. Through workshops, case studies, and facilitated conversations, teams will explore methods to create equitable and impactful learning environments that prepare students for full civic participation in local and global contexts.

The institute focuses on practical approaches to engaged dialogue, emphasizing the importance of collaboration, empathy, and active listening in educational and community settings. Teams will examine and reimagine current practices, identifying ways to create inclusive spaces where students can critically engage with complex issues and diverse viewpoints. Sessions led by national experts will highlight how experiential learning, when embedded across disciplines and co-curricular experiences, can empower students to apply their skills in real-world situations. By the end of the institute, teams will leave with actionable plans to foster dialogue and engagement, supporting students in becoming thoughtful, informed contributors to society.