TOLCS - Teaching Our Leaders Civil Discourse and Service
A Communication Studies Faculty-Student partnership open to all University of Portland Students
Hear the word "talk" and what do you think? The dictionary says talk is:
1 to deliver or express in speech" :
utter
2: to make the subject of conversation or discourse :
discuss <talk business>
3: to influence, affect, or cause by talking <talked them into going>
4: to use (a language) for conversing or communicating :
speak
And we know that "talk" also implies listening as when one sincerely approaches another with these two words, "Let's talk." Or even more serious is the phrase, "I think we need to talk." Perhaps the word conjures up civic images as in, "Let's host a talk on that."
The mission of TOLCS is to foster the skills and experience needed for University of Portland students to lead civil conversations in interpersonal, group, and public settings. In addition students and faculty work to raise awareness on campus and in the community for the need and possibilities for civil discourse.
TOLCS Objectives:
- Students learn and practice mediation skills.
- Students learn and practice group facilitation and collaboration skills.
- Students learn and practice developing and facilitating public civil discourse.
TOLCS Tactics:
- Faculty and community members teach intense short seminars in areas of expertise relating to the organization's goals including training in mediation, conflict resolution, facilitation of focus groups and public meetings, and other principled negotiation tactics.
- Students and faculty sponsor national speakers who are known to promote civil discourse to address the University of Portland and its community.
- Students and faculty host public dialogues on campus on a subject matter of significance to the University of Portland and the community.
Vision
- Students are seen as leaders in mediation and conflict resolution and are utilized by appropriate campus associations to mediate and facilitate conflict and dialogue, and assist with managing group work and conflict.
- Upper division students and graduate students who have taken appropriate courses offered through the regular curricula, and in addition, who have supplemented their learning with intense short seminars, will volunteer to help the community (i.e., local high schools, religious organizations, townships, etc.) collaborate, mediate, and facilitate meaningful discourse.
Contact Us!
If your group or organization would like the services of our volunteers, or you are an interested student, please contact faculty advisor:
Krista Kennedy or email us at tolcs.up.edu@hotmail.com. You can also find us on Facebook: University of Portland Tolcs.
