This practice-oriented certification program equips Faculty and Staff or Student Leaders with the skills to confidently plan and facilitate difficult conversations among students or peers across various campus contexts. Participants will develop competencies in dialogue facilitation techniques, conflict navigation strategies, and constructive management of tense situations.

Learn more about CDI's Dialogue Facilitation Certification training options.

Course Curriculum & Schedule

Session 1: Becoming a Facilitator (July 7, 2026)

• Introduction to CDI and constructive dialogue
• The role of a facilitator - mindsets and core commitments
• Facilitator identity and role
• Facilitator conflict styles
• Moral Foundations Theory
• Reflective listening

Session 2: The Dialogue Approach (July 14, 2026)

• Dialogue demonstration
• The contexts for dialogue
• How to build trust within a group
• How to set expectations and boundaries for the dialogue
• How to invite dialogue through topic, question, and structure
• How to model mindsets that support constructive dialogue
• How to close out a dialogue

Session 3: Navigating Conflict (July 21, 2026)

• Deciding when/whether to jump in
• Consider the context
• The 4 conflict navigation strategies
• Scenario-based practice opportunities and roleplays
• Personal case analyses
• Where to draw the line

Session 4: Facilitation Practicum (July 28, 2026)

• 5-hour dialogue practicum to demonstrate competency

All sessions will run from 10am - 3pm ET (online, via Zoom).

Cost

The cost of this certification program is $2,500 per participant.

Please complete the registration form at the link above and proceed to the payment page. Your registration is not confirmed until you pay at checkout or by invoice.

For general questions please email programs@constructivedialogue.org.

Per our Training and Workshop Cancellation and No-Show Policy, if you are unable to attend a training or workshop, you must cancel your registration at least 1 week prior to the scheduled date of the training or workshop. Any seats reserved and not utilized or canceled with sufficient notice will be forfeited and will be ineligible for a refund or transfer.