Braver Angels College Debates and Discourse Program - VMI Community of Practice

A research grant supporting civil discourse education through structured debate programming at VMI, part of a national initiative to promote respectful dialogue on divisive topics.

Geographic Scope: VMI is one of only 10 colleges nationally designated as a "Community of Practice"

What Funding Supports:

• One faculty fellow position
• Two student fellow positions
• Debate programming across campus
• Research on impact of debates on participants

Program Details:

• Partner Organization: Braver Angels, nonprofit dedicated to promoting civil discourse
• Relationship History: Partnership began in 2017 when founder David Blankenhorn spoke at VMI's Annual Leadership and Ethics Conference
• Official Designation: VMI named a "Community of Practice" for the College Debates and Discourse Program
• Partner Institutions: One of 10 colleges nationally with this designation

Program Focus:

• Teaching students to express views, frame persuasive arguments, listen deeply, and engage respectfully
• Addressing issues typically difficult and divisive
• Collective exercise in thoughtfulness, respect, and truth-seeking (not competitive)
• Light parliamentary style debates guided by trained chairperson
• Pre-selected resolutions with 4-minute speaker presentations
• Q&A from audience members addressed through chair
• Short debriefing sessions following debates

Research Component:

• Examines impact of debates on participants' ability to:
  • Exhibit calm and confidence when conflict arises
  • Develop leadership skills
• Data gathering from 10 partner institutions
• Analysis conducted by University of Delaware
• Three-semester classroom debate implementation plus data analysis in fourth semester

Program Requirements (2-year grant):

• One post-wide debate
• One debate in a class each semester for three semesters (6 classroom debates)
• Fourth semester dedicated to data analysis
• Faculty training sessions for professors wanting to integrate debates into courses

Campus Partners:

• VMI Building BRIDGES club (cadet-led activity)
• Center for Leadership and Ethics (CLE)
• Faculty co-advisors and student fellows

Student Fellows (2022 cohort):

• Cadet Katie Lloyd '23 (International Studies major)
• Cadet Devin Thomas '24 (International Studies major)
• Selection Requirements:
  • Writing sample submission
  • Multiple interviews
  • Responsibilities: Determine debate topics, publicize debates, recruit participants, lead debates (following Braver Angels training)

Faculty Involvement:

• Col. Valentina Dimitrova-Grajzl, Ph.D., Economics and Business professor
• Lt. Col. Sara Whipple, Ph.D., Psychology department associate professor
• Lt. Col. Kim Connolly, CLE assistant director for programs and conferences
• Faculty training sessions offered spring 2022 and beyond

Future Plans:

• Within one year, host intercollegiate debate or community debate
• Expand program to other courses across campus
• Establish debates as campus staple

Braver Angels' Philosophy:

• Deep listening
• Critical thinking
• Thoughtful communication

Contact Information:

• Lt. Col. Kim Connolly, VMI Center for Leadership and Ethics, 540-464-7328
• VMI Alumni Agencies: 800-444-1839 or 540-464-7328
• Email: give@vmiaa.org