Isabela Torres Reyes now pauses before speaking, a change from six months ago. As a recent DePaul University graduate, she initially joined conversations quickly. After a 10-week dialogue course, she learned to listen and engage meaningfully. This understanding came from DePaul’s Bridgebuilding Fellowship, which helps students develop dialogue skills across ideologies.
Torres Reyes says the program taught her to consider others’ backgrounds and experiences. She asks, “What do you care about that I’m not seeing?” instead of focusing on differences. She values opportunities to practice open dialogue, especially in a college environment where such chances may be limited.
Campus programs promoting dialogue are becoming more common. They aim to address the perceived lack of productive conversations in higher education. According to a 2025 Pew Research Center survey, nearly half of colleges are doing a fair or poor job exposing students to diverse viewpoints.
At DePaul, the Bridgebuilding Fellowship, launched in 2025, focuses on fostering dialogue among students. Participants take classes to improve communication and understanding. They host events to encourage dialogue. Students learn about the importance of tone, childhood influences, and listening with intent.
Umar Ryan, another recent DePaul graduate, found the fellowship transformative. It helped him become more open and engage with classmates without prejudice. He recognized that people’s opinions often stem from their backgrounds and stories.
Similar efforts exist at other institutions. The University of Chicago’s Institute of Politics encourages students to engage with differing views. Ava Partridge, a recent graduate, found in-person interactions more effective than online ones for understanding others.
Other Chicago universities, like Loyola and Northwestern, also promote dialogue. Loyola’s Community Circles resolve conflict through conversation. Northwestern’s Litowitz Center offers seminars and a program to teach open-mindedness and collaboration.
DePaul University President Robert Manuel emphasizes the importance of productive dialogue within education. He believes programs like the Bridgebuilding Fellowship reflect the community’s commitment to connection. Engagement and understanding are seen as key aspects of the value higher education provides.