Perspectives: Civil Discourse Training for Georgia Tech Students

Beginning August 2025 per University System of Georgia Board of Regents policy, all new, incoming Georgia Tech students – both undergraduate and graduate (including fully-online) – will be required to complete training in civil discourse. To meet this requirement, Georgia Tech has partnered with the Constructive Dialogue Institute (CDI) to offer the asynchronous online course. Perspectives. The course is comprised of six consecutive modules. These modules do not need to be all completed in one sitting; students can set a pace that matches their own personal preference and schedule.

All students required to take this course will receive an invitation to complete this course via email in August from the Vice President for Student Engagement & Wellbeing. Students have until December 31, 2025, to complete the course in its entirety. Student who do not complete the course will have a hold placed on their academic record, which impacts their ability to register for courses or to access other student-related privileges.

At Georgia Tech, one of our strategic values advocates safeguarding freedom of inquiry and expression. Through the free exchange of ideas, Georgia Tech students learn to see the world from different perspectives, question their own beliefs, hone their critical thinking skills, and develop their own unique viewpoints. In addition, the ability to communicate effectively across differences is a key aspect of promoting belonging within a community.

This online course is designed to equip students with valuable skills to engage in meaningful conversations across differences in background, cultural beliefs, ideas, or opinions. Developing these skills helps to reduce the possibility of future interpersonal, organizational, and campus conflicts. Strengthening our community, through dialogue and disagreement, is an essential responsibility of being a Yellow Jacket!

For more information about Freedom of Expression @ Georgia Tech, please bookmark and visit this page (students.gatech.edu/freedom_of_expression).