The UNC System Common Ground Collaborative is a faculty-driven, Systemwide initiative designed to support and elevate teaching and learning in dialogue, debate and critical thinking. The collaborative is an opportunity for faculty who are interested in strengthening dialogue-based pedagogies and contributing to a cross-institutional community of practice.
This initiative does not prescribe specific viewpoints or content. Instead, it provides a framework for faculty and students to apply dialogue and debate methods consistent with their own professional judgment and disciplinary standards.
The program focuses on strengthening students' oral communication, rational argument ability and critical thinking skills through structured dialogue, discourse and debate within the context of disciplinary expertise and academic freedom.
Summary of Opportunities
The collaborative seeks to build an inter-institutional community of practice through several key avenues:
- Proposals for Course Enhancements and New Course Development: Stipends for enhancing existing courses or developing new courses.
- Systemwide Convening: Opportunities to present research and network with peers across the UNC System.
- Professional Development: Access to constructive dialogue training and workshops.
- Recognition: Common Ground Teaching Awards and opportunities for peer-reviewed publication.
All full-time faculty members may apply for one or multiple components.
Call for Proposals: Course Enhancements and New Course Development
The university invites full-time faculty members to submit a proposal for funded scholarly teaching initiatives that incorporate evidence-based dialogue and debate pedagogies. Interdisciplinary teams, with one to three peers, are encouraged.
The deadline to submit proposals is Friday, April 3, 2026. Faculty may submit one proposal for either category and can be included as a team member on other proposals.
Funding Levels
- Course Enhancement Stipends: Up to $2,500 for existing courses to be taught in fall 2026
- New Course Development Stipends: Up to $5,000 for new courses to be taught during the 2027 calendar year
Submission Requirements
Interested faculty can submit a proposal through InfoReady. Before submitting, consult with your department head/chair for approval.
Proposals should include the following:
- Faculty Details: Name, rank, department, college, course title and, if applicable, team members
- Narratives (150 words each):
- Interest statement
- Course description and current student learning outcomes
- Description of the proposed enhancement/new content — focus on strengthening students’ oral communication, rational argument ability and critical thinking skills through structured dialogue, discourse and debate within the context of disciplinary expertise and academic freedom
- Statement on how other faculty may benefit
- Documentation: A course syllabus and, optionally, a course guide or supporting documents
Submit your proposal through InfoReady by Friday, April 3, 2026. Faculty will be notified of selection in May 2026.
Participation Requirements
Faculty receiving Course Enhancement Stipends
Courses must be on the schedule for fall 2026 and taught by the faculty member receiving the stipend during fall 2026.
Faculty are expected to:
- Provide materials for a peer review
- Conduct an inter-institutional peer review of 1-2 course enhancements
- Develop a course brief after teaching, documenting course enhancement, expected outcomes and actual outcomes
- Present and discuss during one webinar
- Administer pre- and post-course Institutional Review Board (IRB)-approved student attitudinal surveys during class
Faculty receiving New Course Development Stipends
Courses must be taught by the faculty member receiving the award during spring, summer or fall 2027.
Faculty teams will be asked to both create and explore existing resources to identify best-in-class materials and to curate those materials into a resource library with a suggested curriculum, teaching strategies and lesson plans.
In addition, faculty are expected to:
- Provide materials for a peer review of the course
- Conduct an inter-institutional peer review of one new course
- Develop a course brief after teaching, documenting enhancement, expected outcomes and actual outcomes
- Present and discuss during one webinar
- Administer pre- and post-course IRB-approved student attitudinal surveys during class
Notes:
- Peer review: Peer review submissions will be informed by a rubric and be narrative in nature. Only faculty receiving stipends will be reviewing each other’s courses. Faculty will be matched for peer review across institutions.
- Student surveys: The IRB-approved surveys focus on students’ communication skills, confidence engaging in structured academic disagreement, and growth in evidence-based reasoning. Results will be aggregated and may support scholarship of teaching and learning research.
Inaugural Convening
Join colleagues from across the state for the first UNC System Common Ground Collaborative convening.
- Date: Thursday, May 14, 2026
- Location: UNC Charlotte, Popp Martin Center
- Travel Support: The UNC System will provide overnight accommodations for up to five faculty participants from our institution
- How to Participate: If you wish to attend or present at the convening, please contact Senior Vice Provost Jamie Parson at andersonja2@appstate.edu to coordinate
- Presentations: A formal call for presentations will be released in mid-March 2026
Note: Participation in the convening is independent of the course stipend applications; you do not have to apply for a stipend to attend.
Constructive Dialogue Program
Faculty have access to research-based professional development resources focused on civil discourse and communication skills.
- Perspectives Online Learning Program: Provided by the Constructive Dialogue Institute (CDI), this program is available for faculty to explore voluntarily. Visit the Dialogue Across Differences page on App State’s Community-Engaged Leadership website to request access to the Perspectives Modules.
- Foundations in Constructive Dialogue Workshop: A special online workshop will be held March 25, 2026 — contact Jamie Parson to indicate your interest.
Note: Participation in these workshops is optional and is not a requirement for applying for course stipends.
Questions?
For questions about the UNC System Common Ground Collaborative, please contact Academic Affairs at aa@appstate.edu.