Civil Discourse Community

College is
for great conversations

The Civil Discourse Community (Civ-Comm) is a vibrant residential learning program that empowers Carolina students to engage in courageous, honest and respectful conversations about life’s most fundamental questions.

This is a community for students who want more than soundbites or slogans—who want to think deeply, listen carefully, and speak with clarity and conviction.

About the Civil Discourse Community

Civ-Comm is a partnership between Carolina Housing and the UNC School of Civic Life and Leadership — giving you the opportunity to connect with expert faculty and a supportive peer community.

Through engaging discussions, shared experiences, and faculty-led programming, you’ll build the confidence to navigate complex ideas and different perspectives with curiosity and respect. You’ll cultivate habits of curiosity, humility, and civil disagreement that will help you build strong relationships, work well with others, and lead with integrity long after college.

As a Civ-Comm resident, you’ll explore deep questions with friends, such as:

  • What makes for a happy and purposeful life?
  • How should we shape our political and economic systems?
  • What does democracy need to thrive in a diverse society?

Benefits

Civ-Comm residents will get access to faculty mentors, reserved seats in special Foundations of American Democracy (FAD) courses, and exclusive meetings with distinguished visiting speakers from the worlds of academia, politics, and culture.

Civ-Comm will also provide an all-expenses-paid fall retreat to the North Carolina mountains, housing in one of Carolina’s most desirable residence halls, and a $3,000 Civ-Comm Fellowship for all first-year residents.

Learning Outcomes

Residents of Civ-Comm will:

  • Engage in meaningful discussions by practicing active listening, respectful disagreement and thoughtful dialogue on important issues.
  • Build strong peer connections by forming supportive friendships based on shared exploration of truth and diverse perspectives.
  • Clarify personal and academic goals by reflecting on their values, interests and aspirations for their time at Carolina and beyond.

What do current civ-comm residents think?

“The trip to Black Mountain is my favorite among everything. It was so epic! The bon-fire and archery training were absolutely marvelous and the wood lodge is also adorable. Within just a few days I felt like I made so many wonderful friends.”
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