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Navigating Difficult Conversations in Higher Education: Home

Resources for faculty and staff for discussing traumatic current events with students.

Introduction (by John Lawless)

Current events can be so significant that they shape public discourse. These events can range from natural disasters (e.g., Hurricanes Harvey, Irma, Maria), mass shootings (e.g., Las Vegas, Pulse Nightclub), or social movements (e.g., #MeToo, #BlackLivesMatter). When the public discourse is transformed, so is the academic discourse yet faculty may feel unprepared to directly address these significant social events.

The resources listed on the "Resources and Readings" tab of this Guide were developed to help faculty be prepared to manage these “difficult conversations.”