{"id":168,"date":"2026-03-19T13:39:38","date_gmt":"2026-03-19T13:39:38","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/myapps.northcarolina.edu\/faculty\/?page_id=168"},"modified":"2026-03-20T16:45:59","modified_gmt":"2026-03-20T16:45:59","slug":"common-ground","status":"publish","type":"page","link":"https:\/\/myapps.northcarolina.edu\/faculty\/initiatives\/common-ground\/","title":{"rendered":"UNC System Common Ground Collaborative"},"content":{"rendered":"<p>[et_pb_section fb_built=&#8221;1&#8243; _builder_version=&#8221;4.27.4&#8243; _module_preset=&#8221;default&#8221; background_color=&#8221;#0F4876&#8243; global_colors_info=&#8221;{}&#8221;][et_pb_row _builder_version=&#8221;4.27.4&#8243; _module_preset=&#8221;default&#8221; custom_padding=&#8221;27px||27px||true|false&#8221; global_colors_info=&#8221;{}&#8221;][et_pb_column type=&#8221;4_4&#8243; _builder_version=&#8221;4.27.4&#8243; _module_preset=&#8221;default&#8221; global_colors_info=&#8221;{}&#8221;][et_pb_heading title=&#8221;The UNC System Common Ground Collaborative&#8221; _builder_version=&#8221;4.27.4&#8243; _module_preset=&#8221;default&#8221; title_text_color=&#8221;#FFFFFF&#8221; title_font_size=&#8221;38px&#8221; custom_margin=&#8221;||21px|||&#8221; custom_padding=&#8221;||0px|||&#8221; global_colors_info=&#8221;{}&#8221;][\/et_pb_heading][\/et_pb_column][\/et_pb_row][\/et_pb_section][et_pb_section fb_built=&#8221;1&#8243; _builder_version=&#8221;4.27.4&#8243; _module_preset=&#8221;default&#8221; global_colors_info=&#8221;{}&#8221;][et_pb_row _builder_version=&#8221;4.27.4&#8243; _module_preset=&#8221;default&#8221; custom_padding=&#8221;||32px|||&#8221; global_colors_info=&#8221;{}&#8221;][et_pb_column type=&#8221;4_4&#8243; _builder_version=&#8221;4.27.4&#8243; _module_preset=&#8221;default&#8221; global_colors_info=&#8221;{}&#8221;][et_pb_text _builder_version=&#8221;4.27.4&#8243; _module_preset=&#8221;default&#8221; text_font=&#8221;|700|||||||&#8221; text_text_color=&#8221;#353F43&#8243; background_color=&#8221;#DBE2E9&#8243; custom_padding=&#8221;18px|25px|1px|25px|false|true&#8221; border_color_all=&#8221;#0F4876&#8243; global_colors_info=&#8221;{}&#8221;]<\/p>\n<p>The UNC System Common Ground Collaborative is a faculty-driven initiative designed to strengthen students\u2019 oral communication, rational argument ability, and critical thinking skills through structured dialogue, discourse, and debate.<\/p>\n<p>[\/et_pb_text][et_pb_text _builder_version=&#8221;4.27.4&#8243; _module_preset=&#8221;default&#8221; custom_margin=&#8221;||20px|||&#8221; global_colors_info=&#8221;{}&#8221;]<\/p>\n<h2>A Collaborative Framework<\/h2>\n<p>Systemwide, faculty are thoughtfully engaging students in examining multiple perspectives\u2014whether through hypothesis testing in STEM disciplines, case analyses in business, interpretive inquiry in the humanities, or evidence-based argumentation in the social sciences. The UNC System Common Ground Collaborative aims to elevate this work by:<\/p>\n<p>[\/et_pb_text][et_pb_text _builder_version=&#8221;4.27.4&#8243; _module_preset=&#8221;default&#8221; custom_margin=&#8221;-7px|||||&#8221; global_colors_info=&#8221;{}&#8221;]<\/p>\n<ul>\n<li style=\"list-style-type: none\">\n<ul>\n<li>Bringing together small, interdisciplinary faculty teams to develop disciplinary or interdisciplinary content focused on evidence-based dialogue, discourse, dialectic, and debate pedagogies<\/li>\n<li>Building and sharing teaching resources across disciplines to support respectful dialogue and rigorous academic inquiry<\/li>\n<li>Providing stipends for course enhancements and new course development<\/li>\n<li>Facilitating faculty presentations and professional development workshops<\/li>\n<li>Providing support to student organizations interested in hosting related events or developing programming guidelines<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p>This initiative does not prescribe viewpoints, ideological balance, or specific content. Rather, it supports faculty and students in applying dialogue and debate methods consistent with disciplinary standards, professional judgement, and existing academic freedom protections.<\/p>\n<p>[\/et_pb_text][\/et_pb_column][\/et_pb_row][\/et_pb_section][et_pb_section fb_built=&#8221;1&#8243; _builder_version=&#8221;4.27.4&#8243; _module_preset=&#8221;default&#8221; background_color=&#8221;#DBE2E9&#8243; custom_padding=&#8221;12px||0px|||&#8221; box_shadow_style=&#8221;preset1&#8243; global_colors_info=&#8221;{}&#8221;][et_pb_row _builder_version=&#8221;4.27.4&#8243; _module_preset=&#8221;default&#8221; global_colors_info=&#8221;{}&#8221;][et_pb_column type=&#8221;4_4&#8243; _builder_version=&#8221;4.27.4&#8243; _module_preset=&#8221;default&#8221; global_colors_info=&#8221;{}&#8221;][et_pb_text _builder_version=&#8221;4.27.4&#8243; _module_preset=&#8221;default&#8221; global_colors_info=&#8221;{}&#8221;]<\/p>\n<h2>Join the Common Ground Collaborative<\/h2>\n<p>There are multiple ways for faculty to engage in dialogue-based teaching, scholarly collaboration, and Systemwide professional development through the UNC System Common Ground Collaborative.<\/p>\n<p>[\/et_pb_text][\/et_pb_column][\/et_pb_row][et_pb_row column_structure=&#8221;1_3,1_3,1_3&#8243; _builder_version=&#8221;4.27.4&#8243; _module_preset=&#8221;default&#8221; custom_padding=&#8221;||40px||false|false&#8221; global_colors_info=&#8221;{}&#8221;][et_pb_column type=&#8221;1_3&#8243; _builder_version=&#8221;4.27.4&#8243; _module_preset=&#8221;default&#8221; global_colors_info=&#8221;{}&#8221;][et_pb_text _builder_version=&#8221;4.27.4&#8243; _module_preset=&#8221;default&#8221; custom_margin=&#8221;||54px||false|false&#8221; custom_margin_tablet=&#8221;||54px||false|false&#8221; custom_margin_phone=&#8221;||54px||false|false&#8221; custom_margin_last_edited=&#8221;on|tablet&#8221; global_colors_info=&#8221;{}&#8221;]<\/p>\n<h3>Scholarly Contributions<\/h3>\n<p>Contribute to a shared community of practice through course development, peer review, webinars, and documentation of teaching outcomes, alongside research-informed assessment of student learning.<\/p>\n<p>[\/et_pb_text][et_pb_button button_url=&#8221;#participation&#8221; button_text=&#8221;View Participation Expectations&#8221; button_alignment=&#8221;left&#8221; _builder_version=&#8221;4.27.4&#8243; _module_preset=&#8221;default&#8221; global_colors_info=&#8221;{}&#8221;][\/et_pb_button][\/et_pb_column][et_pb_column type=&#8221;1_3&#8243; _builder_version=&#8221;4.27.4&#8243; _module_preset=&#8221;default&#8221; global_colors_info=&#8221;{}&#8221;][et_pb_text _builder_version=&#8221;4.27.4&#8243; _module_preset=&#8221;default&#8221; global_colors_info=&#8221;{}&#8221;]<\/p>\n<h3>Funding Opportunities<\/h3>\n<p>Access funded opportunities and professional development resources, including course enhancement stipends, new course development funding, teaching awards, workshops, and collaborative scholarly activities.<\/p>\n<p>[\/et_pb_text][et_pb_button button_url=&#8221;https:\/\/myapps.northcarolina.edu\/faculty\/initiatives\/common-ground\/funding\/&#8221; button_text=&#8221;Explore Funding Opportunities&#8221; _builder_version=&#8221;4.27.4&#8243; _module_preset=&#8221;default&#8221; global_colors_info=&#8221;{}&#8221;][\/et_pb_button][\/et_pb_column][et_pb_column type=&#8221;1_3&#8243; _builder_version=&#8221;4.27.4&#8243; _module_preset=&#8221;default&#8221; global_colors_info=&#8221;{}&#8221;][et_pb_text _builder_version=&#8221;4.27.4&#8243; _module_preset=&#8221;default&#8221; global_colors_info=&#8221;{}&#8221;]<\/p>\n<h3>Inaugural Convening<\/h3>\n<p>Join UNC System faculty and staff at the inaugural Common Ground Collaborative convening at UNC Charlotte on May 14, 2026, to share expertise, engage in professional development, and build an interinstitutional community of practice.<\/p>\n<p>[\/et_pb_text][et_pb_button button_url=&#8221;https:\/\/myapps.northcarolina.edu\/faculty\/initiatives\/common-ground\/convening\/&#8221; button_text=&#8221;View 2026 Convening Details&#8221; _builder_version=&#8221;4.27.4&#8243; _module_preset=&#8221;default&#8221; global_colors_info=&#8221;{}&#8221;][\/et_pb_button][\/et_pb_column][\/et_pb_row][\/et_pb_section][et_pb_section fb_built=&#8221;1&#8243; _builder_version=&#8221;4.27.4&#8243; _module_preset=&#8221;default&#8221; custom_padding=&#8221;||15px|||&#8221; global_colors_info=&#8221;{}&#8221;][et_pb_row _builder_version=&#8221;4.27.4&#8243; _module_preset=&#8221;default&#8221; global_colors_info=&#8221;{}&#8221;][et_pb_column type=&#8221;4_4&#8243; _builder_version=&#8221;4.27.4&#8243; _module_preset=&#8221;default&#8221; global_colors_info=&#8221;{}&#8221;][et_pb_text _builder_version=&#8221;4.27.4&#8243; _module_preset=&#8221;default&#8221; custom_margin=&#8221;||0px||false|false&#8221; custom_padding=&#8221;||0px|||&#8221; global_colors_info=&#8221;{}&#8221;]<\/p>\n<h2>How To Apply<\/h2>\n<p>Full-time UNC System faculty are encouraged to apply through their provost offices, consistent with institutional curriculum oversight practices, and ensure alignment with campus-level academic processes.<\/p>\n<h3>Upcoming Deadlines:<\/h3>\n<ul>\n<li style=\"list-style-type: none\">\n<ul>\n<li>Course enhancement proposals are due to the System Office by <strong>April 30, 2026.<\/strong><\/li>\n<li>New Course development proposals are due to the System Office by April 30, 2026. <em>Note: Institutions may set earlier deadlines to meet the System Office deadlines.<\/em><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p>[\/et_pb_text][et_pb_button button_url=&#8221;https:\/\/myapps.northcarolina.edu\/faculty\/initiatives\/common-ground\/questions\/&#8221; button_text=&#8221;Frequently Asked Questions&#8221; _builder_version=&#8221;4.27.4&#8243; _module_preset=&#8221;default&#8221; global_colors_info=&#8221;{}&#8221;][\/et_pb_button][et_pb_text _builder_version=&#8221;4.27.4&#8243; _module_preset=&#8221;default&#8221; custom_margin=&#8221;20px|||||&#8221; custom_margin_tablet=&#8221;38px||||false|false&#8221; custom_margin_phone=&#8221;38px||||false|false&#8221; custom_margin_last_edited=&#8221;on|tablet&#8221; global_colors_info=&#8221;{}&#8221;]<\/p>\n<p>For additional information, please contact Dr. Michelle Sol\u00e9r, associate vice president for academic and faculty affairs, at <span style=\"text-decoration: underline\"><a href=\"mailto:mlsoler@northcarolina.edu\">mlsoler@northcarolina.edu<\/a><\/span>.<\/p>\n<p>[\/et_pb_text][\/et_pb_column][\/et_pb_row][\/et_pb_section][et_pb_section fb_built=&#8221;1&#8243; module_id=&#8221;participation&#8221; _builder_version=&#8221;4.27.4&#8243; _module_preset=&#8221;default&#8221; background_color=&#8221;#F0F3F5&#8243; custom_margin=&#8221;16px||44px||false|false&#8221; global_colors_info=&#8221;{}&#8221;][et_pb_row _builder_version=&#8221;4.27.4&#8243; _module_preset=&#8221;default&#8221; global_colors_info=&#8221;{}&#8221;][et_pb_column type=&#8221;4_4&#8243; _builder_version=&#8221;4.27.4&#8243; _module_preset=&#8221;default&#8221; global_colors_info=&#8221;{}&#8221;][et_pb_text _builder_version=&#8221;4.27.4&#8243; _module_preset=&#8221;default&#8221; global_colors_info=&#8221;{}&#8221;]<\/p>\n<h2>Participation Expectations<\/h2>\n<h3>Building Systemwide Community of Practice<\/h3>\n<p>The UNC System Common Ground Collaborative is designed as a funded scholarly teaching initiative that brings together faculty from across the UNC System to strengthen dialogue-based pedagogy within disciplinary teaching. Participants contribute to a shared community of practice by developing course materials, engaging in peer collaboration, and reflecting on teaching outcomes that support students\u2019 communication, argumentation, and critical thinking skills.<\/p>\n<p>Through these activities, the initiative aims to foster cross-institutional collaboration while contributing to the broader scholarship of teaching and learning.<\/p>\n<p>[\/et_pb_text][\/et_pb_column][\/et_pb_row][et_pb_row column_structure=&#8221;1_2,1_2&#8243; _builder_version=&#8221;4.27.4&#8243; _module_preset=&#8221;default&#8221; global_colors_info=&#8221;{}&#8221;][et_pb_column type=&#8221;1_2&#8243; _builder_version=&#8221;4.27.4&#8243; _module_preset=&#8221;default&#8221; global_colors_info=&#8221;{}&#8221;][et_pb_text _builder_version=&#8221;4.27.4&#8243; _module_preset=&#8221;default&#8221; global_colors_info=&#8221;{}&#8221;]<\/p>\n<h3>Course Development and Implementation<\/h3>\n<p>Faculty participating in the initiative will either <a href=\"https:\/\/myapps.northcarolina.edu\/faculty\/initiatives\/common-ground\/funding\/\"><u>enhance an existing course or develop and teach a new course<\/u><\/a> that integrates dialogue, discourse, or debate as a structured component of student learning.<\/p>\n<p>[\/et_pb_text][\/et_pb_column][et_pb_column type=&#8221;1_2&#8243; _builder_version=&#8221;4.27.4&#8243; _module_preset=&#8221;default&#8221; global_colors_info=&#8221;{}&#8221;][et_pb_text _builder_version=&#8221;4.27.4&#8243; _module_preset=&#8221;default&#8221; global_colors_info=&#8221;{}&#8221;]<\/p>\n<h3>Developmental Peer Review<\/h3>\n<p>Participants will engage in developmental peer review of course materials developed by one or two fellow faculty members in the initiative.<\/p>\n<p>[\/et_pb_text][\/et_pb_column][\/et_pb_row][et_pb_row column_structure=&#8221;1_2,1_2&#8243; _builder_version=&#8221;4.27.4&#8243; _module_preset=&#8221;default&#8221; global_colors_info=&#8221;{}&#8221;][et_pb_column type=&#8221;1_2&#8243; _builder_version=&#8221;4.27.4&#8243; _module_preset=&#8221;default&#8221; global_colors_info=&#8221;{}&#8221;][et_pb_text _builder_version=&#8221;4.27.4&#8243; _module_preset=&#8221;default&#8221; global_colors_info=&#8221;{}&#8221;]<\/p>\n<h3>Knowledge Exchange<\/h3>\n<p>Faculty will participate in a Systemwide webinar, during which they will present outcomes from their courses and reflect on instructional approaches, challenges, and lessons learned.<\/p>\n<p>[\/et_pb_text][\/et_pb_column][et_pb_column type=&#8221;1_2&#8243; _builder_version=&#8221;4.27.4&#8243; _module_preset=&#8221;default&#8221; global_colors_info=&#8221;{}&#8221;][et_pb_text _builder_version=&#8221;4.27.4&#8243; _module_preset=&#8221;default&#8221; global_colors_info=&#8221;{}&#8221;]<\/p>\n<h3>Course Documentation<\/h3>\n<p>Following course implementation, participants will submit a brief course write-up documenting their instructional approach and outcomes.<\/p>\n<p>[\/et_pb_text][\/et_pb_column][\/et_pb_row][et_pb_row _builder_version=&#8221;4.27.4&#8243; _module_preset=&#8221;default&#8221; global_colors_info=&#8221;{}&#8221;][et_pb_column type=&#8221;4_4&#8243; _builder_version=&#8221;4.27.4&#8243; _module_preset=&#8221;default&#8221; global_colors_info=&#8221;{}&#8221;][et_pb_text _builder_version=&#8221;4.27.4&#8243; _module_preset=&#8221;default&#8221; custom_margin=&#8221;||19px|||&#8221; global_colors_info=&#8221;{}&#8221;]<\/p>\n<h3>Student Learning Assessment<\/h3>\n<p>As part of the initiative\u2019s scholarly focus, participating faculty will administer an IRB-approved pre- and post-course student survey designed to assess changes in key student learning outcomes, such as:<\/p>\n<p>[\/et_pb_text][et_pb_text _builder_version=&#8221;4.27.4&#8243; _module_preset=&#8221;default&#8221; global_colors_info=&#8221;{}&#8221;]<\/p>\n<ul>\n<li style=\"list-style-type: none\">\n<ul>\n<li>Students\u2019 confidence in oral communication<\/li>\n<li>Their ability to engage constructively in academic disagreement<\/li>\n<li>Growth in evidence-based reasoning and argumentation skills<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p>Survey findings will be aggregated across participating courses and may contribute to future research and publications related to the scholarship of teaching and learning.<\/p>\n<p>[\/et_pb_text][\/et_pb_column][\/et_pb_row][\/et_pb_section]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>The UNC System Common Ground Collaborative is a faculty-driven initiative designed to strengthen students\u2019 oral communication, rational argument ability, and critical thinking skills through structured dialogue, discourse, and debate.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":24949,"featured_media":0,"parent":166,"menu_order":0,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","template":"","meta":{"_acf_changed":false,"_et_pb_use_builder":"on","_et_pb_old_content":"","_et_gb_content_width":"","footnotes":""},"class_list":["post-168","page","type-page","status-publish","hentry"],"acf":[],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/myapps.northcarolina.edu\/faculty\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages\/168","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/myapps.northcarolina.edu\/faculty\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/myapps.northcarolina.edu\/faculty\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/page"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/myapps.northcarolina.edu\/faculty\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/24949"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/myapps.northcarolina.edu\/faculty\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=168"}],"version-history":[{"count":19,"href":"https:\/\/myapps.northcarolina.edu\/faculty\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages\/168\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":293,"href":"https:\/\/myapps.northcarolina.edu\/faculty\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages\/168\/revisions\/293"}],"up":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/myapps.northcarolina.edu\/faculty\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages\/166"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/myapps.northcarolina.edu\/faculty\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=168"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}