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About the Workshop

The Civil Discourse in Teaching Workshop is a 90-minute professional development experience designed to help instructors create classroom environments that promote respectful and productive dialogue — especially when discussions become complex or sensitive.

Developed in partnership with Faculty Success and the Faculty Senate, this workshop supports the Teaching Hub’s mission of enhancing teaching impact and effectiveness across UNT educators. Participants will engage in collaborative scenario-based discussions, share strategies in small groups, and gain practical, university-supported resources for addressing real-world classroom interactions.

Workshop Dates & Registration

Each workshop will cover the same material, so participants only need to register for one session.

  • Monday, Oct. 20: 3:30 to 5 p.m. via Zoom
  • Monday, Oct. 27: 9 to 10:30 a.m. in Union 332 and livestreamed via Zoom
  • Tuesday, Nov. 4: 8:30 to 10 a.m. in Union 332 and livestreamed via Zoom

Register to attend IN PERSON

Register to attend VIRTUALLY 

Workshop Goals

By the end of the session, participants will be able to:

  • Navigate challenging classroom dialogue with greater confidence and empathy.
  • Integrate strategies that foster civil discourse and inclusive engagement in learning environments.
  • Apply guidance from both faculty and administrative perspectives to support student accountability and respectful discussion.
  • Access ready-to-use, pre-screened resources (such as syllabus statements) that align with UNT policy and compliance standards.

Workshop Format

Each workshop includes two parts:

Scenario Work: Participants will collaborate in small groups—either in-person or via Zoom breakout rooms—to analyze and respond to real classroom situations related to civil discourse.

Faculty Panel: Teaching experts share constructive feedback and practical solutions.
Administrative Panel – Policy and compliance leaders address student accountability and university guidance

Together, these perspectives will provide a well-rounded approach to fostering civil dialogue in teaching spaces.

Faculty Panelists

  • Dr. Matthew Painter, Chair, Sociology
  • Dr. Suzanne Enck, Chair, Communication Studies
  • Dr. Melissa McKay, Clinical Assistant Professor, Multidisciplinary Innovation
  • Dr. Katherine Sobering, Associate Professor, Sociology
  • Dr. Andrew Colombo-Dougovito, Associate Professor, Kinesiology, Health Promotion and Recreation
  • Andrekus Dixon, Principal Lecturer, Criminal Justice

Administrative Panelists

  • Clay Simmons, Vice President and Chief Integrity Officer
  • Dr. Elizabeth With, Senior Vice President for Student Affairs
  • Dr. Laura Smith, Dean of Students
  • Dr. Gabe Ignatow, Interim Assistant Vice Provost for Faculty Success (Academic Affairs Policy)
  • Jessica Stone, Director of UNT's Office of Disability Access

Questions?

For questions or accessibility requests, please contact the Teaching Hub at Teaching.Hub@unt.edu. 

Note:

The Civil Discourse in Teaching Workshop focuses on teaching-related applications of civil discourse — empowering educators to enhance their classroom effectiveness and student engagement. Other campus entities will provide resources addressing additional aspects of civil discourse and broader faculty support.