College campuses are more than places of academic pursuit—they are vibrant arenas where ideas collide, perspectives broaden, and understanding deepens. At a time when society is grappling with division and polarization, campuses hold the unique potential to foster dialogue that bridges gaps and builds connections. Whether in lecture halls, student unions, or casual conversations on the quad, meaningful dialogue encourages critical thinking, empathy, and collaboration. By embracing these exchanges, students and educators alike contribute to creating communities where diverse voices are valued, and collective progress is made.
Yet numerous social and structural pressures make dialogue of this sort harder and less prevalent. Research underscores the persistent challenges students face in having productive dialogue across lines of difference. Findings from the 2022 Campus Expression Survey show that 58.5% of students admitted to self-censoring on controversial topics, largely due to fears about negative reactions from their peers outside of class.
Addressing these challenges requires fostering a campus culture that prioritizes respectful dialogue among students with diverse perspectives. Institutions must actively work to dispel the reality, and the perception, that expressing certain viewpoints leads to judgment or social repercussions. By encouraging constructive interactions and reducing the fear of peer criticism, colleges can better fulfill their mission as spaces for open, inclusive, and meaningful intellectual discourse.
Higher education institutions are uniquely positioned to serve as catalysts for civil dialogue and social cohesion. The skills students develop in navigating differences during their college years not only shape their academic and personal growth but also equip them to contribute to bridging divides throughout their lives.
Young people arrive at college at a “really pivotal point in their development,” said Stephanie D. Hicks, a lecturer in the University of Michigan’s Program on Intergroup Relations, in a Hechinger Report article. “Students are coming out of their home communities that in many ways tend to be homogeneous, and they’re coming to college campuses which are a little to a lot more diverse.”
Taking this into account, campuses across the nation have launched civil discourse initiatives to equip students and educators with skills to engage across deep divides. Bridging the Gap (BTG) is a program that brings together students from ideologically divergent institutions and backgrounds so they can learn how to have respectful conversations about their differences, build relationships, and explore common ground.
AVDF has supported BTG with multiple grants since the organization was piloted in 2020 by the founder Simon Greer. Since then, the BTG program has expanded to more than 50 campuses and is now under the umbrella of Interfaith America, an organization that promotes positive engagement concerning religious diversity. BTG equips participants with skills such as active listening, storytelling, and navigating difficult conversations. It aims to counter growing polarization on college campuses by empowering students to share their beliefs while learning to understand the viewpoints that differ from their own, therefore fostering meaningful connections and building bridges across divides.
This was the mission when BTG hosted a student convening at the University of the Cumberlands in southeastern Kentucky. The initiative brought together 14 students representing four universities, encompassing a diverse mix of secular, religious, urban, and rural institutions. As part of a semester-long course, participants engaged in activities aimed at enhancing their ability to communicate across racial, religious, cultural, political, and ideological divides.
During one session, students shared deeply personal stories, including experiences of racism and evolving perspectives shaped by familial and cultural influences. These exchanges revealed how pivotal college environments are in shaping young adults’ ability to engage with those who hold differing worldviews.
The program’s methods include facilitated dialogues and exercises designed to practice empathy and respect in conversations. For example, one activity encouraged students to share their perspectives on complex topics, such as what makes America great, while listening without interrupting or reacting defensively. These interactions often revealed unexpected commonalities and fostered a deeper understanding of differing viewpoints.
Rebecca Russo of Interfaith America noted that while polarization on college campuses mirrors national trends, a growing interest exists among students and educators to find constructive ways to engage across divides. This demand stems from fatigue over the combative nature of protests and debates on contentious issues like abortion, race, and international conflicts.
Students who participate in the BTG program often report transformative experiences. As an example, Kevine Niyogushima, a Tanzanian immigrant and student at Bellarmine University, described how the program gave her the confidence to connect with peers from diverse backgrounds and engage in meaningful dialogue.
“I have gotten deeper knowledge about myself than I even knew, and then listening to people, listening to understand … it’s stronger now,” said Niyogushima, in a Hechinger Report article.
By fostering skills in active listening and mutual understanding, BTG not only strengthens civil discourse skills of individual participants but also contributes to creating more inclusive and collaborative campus cultures. The initiative demonstrates the potential of educational institutions to cultivate a new generation of leaders equipped to bridge divides and address the complexities of an increasingly pluralistic world.
To learn more, click here for an article about the BTG program featured in The Hechinger Report or click here to visit the BTG website.
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