Westmont Center for Dialogue & Deliberation For Students
Student participation is vital to our work.
Since the fall of 2018, we've been training Westmont students to facilitate community dialogues and deliberations. We count on We recognize the value of a liberal arts education that includes training in civic engagement beyond that of traditional service learning opportunities. Learning to lead conversations amongst community members with differing perspectives and take notes that accurately reflect these views profoundly impacts our neighbors and our ways of interacting with the world. Our neighbors feel heard and find renewed hope in seeking solutions to complex issues, and students can better weigh the tensions between differing values and options and articulate issues with greater nuance.
Learn with us.
In past Fall and Spring semesters, Dr. Dunn, Dr. Winslow, and Dr. Gardner have taught courses that train students in facilitation or issue guide research and drafting. For a comprehensive list of past and current course offerings, see the tabs below.
Past and Current Courses
HIS-177 - Transnational America
This 4-unit reading and discussion seminar explores how transnational connections have shaped the United States politically, culturally, and socially throughout the long twentieth century. By analyzing representations of migration and exchange in popular culture and memoir, the course considers shifting American ideas about transnationalism and the ways this has shaped consumer culture, reform and social movements, and migration, policy, and the state.
COM-128 - Facilitating Dialogue
Facilitating Deliberation & Dialogue is a 2-unit course that provides practice, research, and discussion surrounding the nature of group deliberation in community and civic life, as well as the nature and practice of facilitating dialogue in community. It may be repeated twice for up to 6 units of credit. Open to all majors.
Both courses are taught at Westmont's Downtown campus. Students must arrange their own transportation.
COM-127 - Group Communication and Leadership
Group Communication & Leadership is a 4-unit course that teaches theory and practice of communication in a variety of small-group contexts. Attention is given to roles, conformity, decision-making, leadership, and group climate. Special emphasis given to group and leadership dynamics in the church, as well as diverse community and support groups.
COM-130 - Argumentation and Advocacy
A 4-unit class which examines the philosophy, structure, theory and practice of argumentation as a counterpoint to the easy credulity of the modern age. Includes experience in advocacy and debate.
COM-128 - Facilitating Dialogue
Facilitating Deliberation & Dialogue is a 2-unit course that provides practice, research, and discussion surrounding the nature of group deliberation in community and civic life, as well as the nature and practice of facilitating dialogue in community. It may be repeated twice for up to 6 units of credit. Open to all majors.
This course is taught at Westmont's Downtown campus. Students must arrange their own transportation.
HIS-177 - Transnational America
This 4-unit reading and discussion seminar explores how transnational connections have shaped the United States politically, culturally, and socially throughout the long twentieth century. By analyzing representations of migration and exchange in popular culture and memoir, the course considers shifting American ideas about transnationalism and the ways this has shaped consumer culture, reform and social movements, and migration, policy, and the state.
This course is taught at Westmont's Downtown campus. Students must arrange their own transportation.
COM-127 - Group Communication and Leadership
Group Communication & Leadership is a 4-unit course that teaches theory and practice of communication in a variety of small-group contexts. Attention is given to roles, conformity, decision-making, leadership, and group climate. Special emphasis given to group and leadership dynamics in the church, as well as diverse community and support groups.