Pluralism in Action: Crafting Inclusive Teaching and Learning Communities at Columbia

The Pluralism in Action (PiA) series provides faculty with practical tools to build classroom communities where diverse perspectives form a cohesive whole. Learn to facilitate productive dialogue across all lines of difference, including political viewpoints, cultural backgrounds, ideological positions, and lived experiences. PiA supports faculty in designing inclusive assignments and creating the conditions where each student’s voice adds vital dimension.

Together, we will transform Columbia classrooms into mosaics of learning where everyone belongs and thrives.

Skills for Bridge Building

Bridgebuilding–the intentional act of listening to and learning from those with different perspectives–is central to fostering critical thinking, communication, and collaborative teamwork skills in the classroom.

Resetting the Table: Building Understanding Through Dialogue

As part of Columbia University’s mission to support constructive dialogue and inclusive pedagogies, the Center for Teaching and Learning invites faculty to join a hands-on, 3-hour workshop using research-based methods from the nationally acclaimed nonprofit Resetting the Table. During this interactive session, you will learn and practice evidence-based communication strategies that help us listen to and learn from each other, even when we disagree or have diverging perspectives. Together, we will reflect on how the session’s tools and exercise can be adapted for your own teaching context to help students engage in and learn from constructive dialogue.

Building Community and Belonging in the Classroom

Creating a sense of community and belonging is foundational to student engagement, motivation, and success. In this session, you will explore practical strategies for fostering rapport with students and supporting meaningful student-to-student connections. You will learn how to co-create community agreements, integrate inclusive practices, and design early-course activities that promote trust, respect, and collaboration. Whether you teach a large lecture or small seminar, this session offers adaptable strategies to help cultivate a classroom culture in which all students feel seen, valued, and ready to learn.

Tuesday, January 27, 2026
10:00 AM – 11:30 PM, Butler 212

Building Bridges in the Classroom: Pluralism Pedagogies in Practice

How can we prepare students to engage constructively across diverse perspectives and beliefs? This interactive workshop invites faculty to explore pedagogies of pluralism through Interfaith America’s “Respect, Relate, Cooperate” framework as a practical lens for fostering connection and collaboration across worldviews and experiences.

Participants will practice bridge-building strategies that strengthen classroom dialogue and consider classroom strategies that cultivate curiosity, empathy, and shared learning purpose among students.

Monday, March 30, 2026
10:30 AM – 12:00 PM, Butler 212

Navigating HOT Moments: Before, During, & After Class

Regardless of course topic or content, HOT—heated, offensive, or tense—moments in the classroom are always a possibility. Though never fully avoidable or predictable, there are steps instructors can take to help mitigate the potential for these moments, and strategies to help better equip instructors for navigating HOT moments when they occur. This session will help instructors identify strategies for engaging with, facilitating, and navigating HOT moments before, during, and after class.

Partner Resources

Columbia’s Pluralism in Action (PiA) initiative adapts materials from Interfaith America (IA) and Resetting the Table (RTT), organizations championing constructive dialogue across divides. While these partner organizations have roots in interfaith dialogue, PiA applies their bridge-building frameworks broadly to all forms of difference and disagreement in academic settings, including political, ideological, cultural, and experiential perspectives.

Interfaith America Resources

Bridgebuilder Basics – Explore the vision, knowledge, and skills required to effectively cross lines of difference and take common action for the common good.

Fostering Pluralism in Higher Education: A Playbook – Review this downloadable resource for presidents, provosts, and other senior leaders looking to champion cooperative campus cultures that cross lines of difference.

Interfaith America’s Pluralism Framework – Learn about Interfaith America’s work to unlock the potential of American religious diversity has been grounded in a steady vision for pluralism.

Interfaith America YouTube Channel – Find additional videos and multimedia content on bridge building.

Pedagogies for Pluralism – Discover foundational practices and mutually reinforcing Pedagogies for Pluralism to help faculty prepare students to engage productively across lines of difference.

Pluralism Texts Bibliography – Read this bibliography from Interfaith America, a resource that provides foundational theory, knowledge, and practical wisdom about civic pluralism.

Skills for Bridging the Gap Curriculum – Examine this bridgebuilding curriculum for educators and facilitators.

Voice of Interfaith America Podcast – Voices of Interfaith America is your home for stories of bridgebuilding and engaging diversity productively across the country.

Resetting the Table Resources

Life Maps Exercise – In this exercise, participants surface underlying concerns, commitments, and motivations through exchanging formative life experiences.

Resetting the Table for Higher Education – RTT equips leaders in higher education to overcome escalation, build meaningful communication across divides, and disseminate bridge-building skillsets and mindsets.

Resetting the Table YouTube Channel – Explore videos on building meaningful relationships in professional spaces from RTT. 

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