OpenMind is now the Constructive Dialogue Institute. Join us as we work to build inclusive cultures and engage constructively across differences.

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For Administrators

Our tools can be implemented across an entire campus to provide students with a shared language and set of skills to navigate their differences effectively.

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The Inclusion Challenge

According to a 2021 Heterodox Academy survey, 88% of students believe that colleges should "encourage students to interact respectfully with people whose beliefs differ from their own." However, 60% of students noted that they would be reluctant to discuss controversial topics on their campus.

Colleges across the country are grappling with the challenge of fostering a truly inclusive campus climate that reconciles the tensions between diversity & inclusion and open dialogue. We're here to help.

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Our Solutions

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Online Learning

Our evidence-based online learning program equips students with the mindset and skill set for constructive dialogue.

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Live Trainings

We offer a suite of live trainings for student affairs professionals, faculty, and student leaders.

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Analytics

Our robust analytics provide you with insights into your campus culture and enable you to track progress over time.

Online Learning

Our evidence-based online learning program, Perspectives, explores the inner workings of the mind and the psychological roots of our ideological differences.

The program provides students with insights to better understand themselves and others and equips them with skills to engage in constructive dialogue across differences. Each 30 minute lesson is adaptive, tailoring itself to meet students where they are.

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In this lesson, students:

  • Experientially learn about the two systems in our mind: automatic and controlled thinking.

  • Discover common cognitive biases that affect our reasoning, and how this leads people to interpret the same information differently.

  • Gain a practical technique to challenge their cognitive biases and gain more control over their thinking.

In this lesson, students:

  • Explore the underlying psychology behind our moral values and beliefs.

  • Examine how morality develops and why it differs across cultures and individuals.

  • Reflect on their core values, how their values influence the issues they care about, and what life experiences influenced their values and beliefs.

In this lesson, students:

  • Explore the differences between a growth and fixed mindset.

  • Discover the value of intellectual humility: the ability to recognize the limits of our knowledge.

  • Gain a set of practical techniques to move away from binary thinking towards nuance and complexity.

In this lesson, students:

  • Explore five benefits of engaging with diverse perspectives.

  • Hone their skills to determine "when to draw the line" on engaging across differences.

In this lesson, students:

  • Discover misperceptions they have about people who are different from them.

  • Learn and practice five specific techniques for engaging constructively across differences.

In this lesson, students:

  • Examine the role of contempt in our culture and the danger it poses to society.

  • Gain techniques to "break the cycle of contempt."

  • Uncover what leads conversations to be especially toxic in online settings and how they can overcome these challenges.

In this lesson, students:

  • Learn and practice key skills from cognitive behavioral therapy to gain more control of their emotions in the heat of difficult conversations.

In this lesson, learners:

  • Gain a set of practical skills to navigate difficult conversations effectively, including setting an intentional goal for conversations, active listening, non-judgmental questioning, moral reframing, and identifying common ground.

  • Learn how to "troubleshoot" difficult conversations when they start to go awry.

Live Trainings

We offer trainings for student affairs professionals, faculty, and student leaders to provide you with practical strategies to foster constructive dialogue on your campus.

These intensive trainings offer actionable, research-based skills for facilitating dialogue about challenging topics. Our trainings are designed to help campus leaders infuse these concepts into the culture of your campus.

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Analytics

Our robust analytics reports can help you diagnose challenges in your campus climate and track improvement over time. We work with you to tailor our assessments to capture the metrics you care most about, whether it's student engagement, belonging, or psychological safety.

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Easy Implementation

Our tools can be implemented in a variety of ways across your campus.

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    Orientation

    Our tools can be incorporated into your new student orientation. Students complete the online lessons over the summer and participate in an experiential workshop during orientation.

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    First-Year Experience

    Our tools can be integrated into first-year experience curricula. Faculty members have the flexibility to mix and match lessons and resources to meet the needs of their course.

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    Center for Teaching & Learning

    We partner with centers for teaching & learning to equip faculty with practical teaching strategies to foster dialogue in their classrooms. Our online program can be implemented within faculty's courses.

Measurable Impact

Our research-backed solutions have a track record of creating meaningful impact across campuses.

870+
Institutions
56%
of Learners Improved Communication Across Differences
65%
of Educations Recommend

One of the greatest impediments to developing truly inclusive communities is equipping people with the capability to interact across divides… CDI served as a tangible way of helping students understand why this is important."

Dr. Ronald CrutcherPresident Emeritus, University of Richmond

I was curious to see the extent to which the students would find it useful as they’re emerging into adulthood, and the short answer is that yes, they found it very useful, very applicable, and they introduced it into class discussions."

Dr. Drew StelljesAssociate VP Student Affairs, William & Mary

Completing [Perspectives] reminded me that people have different opinions to me, and that doesn't necessarily mean they're wrong or that we can't get along. It showed me that it is possible to expand and change your opinions, and taught me some valuable skills to make sure you remain open minded."

College Student

Interested in Learning More?

Contact us to learn more about bringing the Constructive Dialogue Institute's evidence-based resources to your campus.

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