Leading tough conversations across campus.
The Institute’s newest fellowship program invites DePauw students to join a national effort to strengthen the practice of democracy through dialogue. As part of the Intercollegiate Civil Disagreement Partnership (ICDP)—a consortium of ethics centers from across the country—DePauw fellows develop the skills and habits needed to engage meaningfully across difference, building a campus culture grounded in curiosity, respect, and ethical reflection.
About the Partnership
The Intercollegiate Civil Disagreement Partnership (ICDP) is a growing national consortium of ethics centers working to strengthen the democratic practice of dialogue. Together, Harvard University, Stanford University, Santa Fe College, St. Philip’s College, California State University, Bakersfield, and DePauw University create opportunities for students to engage disagreement as a form of civic and moral learning.
Each institution selects a cohort of student fellows who study, practice, and lead conversations across political and social difference. Fellows come together each summer for an intensive, in-person convention where they develop skills in dialogue and facilitation, then return to their campuses to put those practices into action through events and initiatives that model curiosity, respect, and civic responsibility.
Founded in 2020, the ICDP rests on three core commitments: that democracy requires ongoing work and investment; that civil disagreement is a fundamental democratic practice; and that genuine civil disagreement begins with dialogue. These shared principles guide the program’s distinctive approach to character formation and civic engagement.
With new support from the Educating Character Initiative at Wake Forest University, the ICDP is entering a major phase of growth. Over the next three years, the partnership will expand its fellowship network, develop shareable dialogue resources for colleges and universities nationwide, and welcome dozens of new institutional partners. By engaging students from an increasingly diverse range of institutions, the ICDP continues to model what a vibrant democracy looks like in practice—one sustained not by consensus, but by the shared work of understanding across difference.
Expanding the Partnership in 2026-2027
Beginning in 2026–2027, the Intercollegiate Civil Disagreement Partnership will grow its national footprint by welcoming new institutional partners into a broader network of dialogue-focused pods. Supported by a grant from the Educating Character Initiative, this expansion will allow more campuses to offer a year-long fellowship grounded in the practice of meaningful dialogue across difference. New partners will form pods of 4–6 diverse institutions, each preparing student fellows to engage thoughtfully across disagreement and equipping faculty and staff to bring these skills into their own educational spaces. As the network expands, the ICDP will foster an even richer community of practice committed to strengthening dialogue, promoting freedom of expression, and building cultures where civil disagreement can flourish.
Applications for the 2026–2027 cohort will ask institutions to identify 1–2 faculty or staff who will lead the fellowship program; provide a letter of support from an appropriate campus leader; and outline a vision for the character of their proposed pod, including how additional partner institutions might contribute to a diverse and engaged student cohort. Applicants may apply alone or with a partner institution, though joint applications strengthen the path toward forming a full pod.
The DePauw Fellowship Cohort
At DePauw, the Intercollegiate Civil Disagreement Partnership selects six to seven fellows each year to foster meaningful dialogue across difference on campus. Fellows design and host programs that invite students to engage thoughtfully with issues of public interest—ranging from dialogue-based discussions and election debate watch parties to events that encourage open conversation about civic life. This year, the cohort is leading The Dialogue Collaborative, a new program that introduces DePauw students to the practice of ethical dialogue through case-based discussion. These sessions help participants strengthen their skills in ethical reasoning and conversation while giving fellows hands-on experience in dialogue facilitation.
ICDP Fellows receive a $1,000 yearly stipend and are expected to attend an in-person Summer Convention at the Prindle Institute, and to commit approximately 1–1.5 hours per week to fellowship activities throughout the academic year. Fellows are also encouraged—but not required—to attend an in-person Winter Convention, hosted in a rotating location.