Tulane announces new Center for Civil Discourse

In a recent message to the university community, Tulane leaders announced plans for a new center designed to strengthen reasoned dialogue, intellectual debate and civic engagement across campuses.

The Tulane Center for Civil Discourse will serve as a hub for interdisciplinary collaboration, public engagement and dialogue led by faculty and students from schools throughout the university. It will coordinate a series of initiatives intended to strengthen respectful dialogue at Tulane and across the broader community and reinforce the university's commitment to academic excellence, free expression and open inquiry.

The center will support courses and workshops and host nationally recognized speakers representing a broad range of perspectives. Additional initiatives will include a common book reading program, interdisciplinary research grants and the appointment of faculty with expertise in civil engagement.

"The center's purpose is not to advocate specific positions, but to build the skills and reinforce the values necessary for open inquiry and free expression within the university community," Tulane President Michael A. Fitts, Senior Vice President for Academic Affairs and Provost Robin Forman and Senior Vice President and Chief Operating Officer Patrick Norton wrote in the message announcing the center. "By bringing together faculty, students, staff and community members, the initiative aims to strengthen civic engagement and contribute to the social and intellectual fabric of New Orleans and society as a whole."

The announcement emphasized the critical role universities play in advancing society through research, education and the cultivation of independent thought. Central to that mission, the message noted, is fostering opportunities for meaningful engagement across differing viewpoints and creating an academic environment that encourages open debate and welcomes a wide range of perspectives that are essential to discovery, innovation and institutional excellence.

Addressing the broader national climate, the message noted that many Americans believe the country is struggling to engage in civil debate on important issues. Institutions of higher education, in particular, have faced scrutiny over their support for free speech and varied viewpoints. Tulane must respond by modeling rigorous intellectual engagement grounded in thoughtful inquiry and respectful dialogue.

Members of the Tulane community are encouraged to send ideas for speakers and programs that the center should consider to [email protected].