Applied Research Center for Civility
The Applied Research Center for Civility at UC San Diego was jointly launched with the National Conflict Resolution Center (NCRC) on May 1, 2021, with co-chairs Elizabeth H. Simmons, Executive Vice Chancellor, and Steven P. Dinkin, President of NCRC. The center conducts cutting-edge research into the dynamics of society’s most pressing issues and creates comprehensive models for national distribution and discussion.
Using NCRC’s programming as a springboard, the Center for Civility will select faculty and researchers throughout UC San Diego and the nation to design studies, collect data and conduct quantitative analysis on how we can foster connection in divisive times. Findings will be reported in various formats, including white paper reports, conference proceedings, and academic journal publications.
Areas of concentration include:
- Rising hate and intolerance;
- Racial injustice and restorative justice;
- Workplace culture and microaggression identification;
- Conflicts and communication around gender and sexuality;
- Mass incarceration and interrupting the school-to-prison pipeline;
- Cyberbullying intervention;
- Religions/sectarian tensions and racial violence
Read more about how the Center supports healthy discourse in a feature published in USA Today "Can we still talk politics now that we're back at the office?"
Project Summaries
1. Inaugural Research Project: Community-led Diversion
A generous $400,000 grant from The Conrad Prebys Foundation to NCRC enabled NCRC and UC San Diego’s Extension division to initiate the center’s first project, from 2021 to 2023, focusing on juvenile justice reform. The Applied Research Center for Civility Team produced a comprehensive paper titled, "Principles and Strategies for Community-Led Diversion in Juvenile Justice," and hosted a conference, the 2023 Community-Led Juvenile Diversion Conference, which featured speakers from agencies working to disrupt the school-to-Prison Pipeline nationwide.
Completed
2. Combatting Antisemitism and Islamophobia: Best Practices in Challenging Times
Today more than ever, our nation’s fabric is being torn apart by intolerance, hate and incivility. Nowhere is this more visible than in the exponential growth of religious intolerance at every level, from national policymaking to daily interactions between everyday citizens. After a two-year research effort (July 1, 2022 – June 30th, 2024), on September 23, 2024, the Center for Civility held a national conference that focused on discussion of best practices for addressing religious intolerance, specifically antisemitism and Islamophobia. Experts shared insights, phased strategies and real-world experiences on working toward a future absent of these prejudices. Read more about the conference in this Today at UC San Diego story. The final impact paper highlighting best practices from around the country will be distributed nationally in the fall of 2024.
Funds for this project were generously donated by Karen and Jeff Silberman and Sharon and David Wax.
3. Best Practices for Forming the Next Generation of Leaders
The Center for Civility is engaged in a two-year study (July 1, 2023 – June 30, 2025) to identify and evaluate best practices in maintaining the free exchange of ideas on college campuses while equipping students to have civil dialogue and work together across differences to achieve common goals. The final impact paper will be shared with campuses across the United States to better equip universities with the tools to provide student leaders with the skills to enter into society as productive citizens promoting civil discourse and respect for one another. A national conference will be held in the fall of 2025.
Funds for this project were generously donated by Elaine Galinson.
4. Blueprint for Change: Build a National Model for Youth Justice Reform
The Center for Civility is engaging in a comprehensive, two-year (July 1, 2024 – June 30, 2026) evaluation of the National Conflict Resolution Center’s (NCRC) Disrupting the School to Prison Pipeline Initiative. This evaluation will provide invaluable data for jurisdictions and communities nationwide seeking to replicate NCRC’s model. By evaluating and refining NCRC’s model, the evaluation will support the creation of a blueprint for jurisdictions across the country to disrupt the school-to-prison pipeline and cultivate positive outcomes for at-risk youth.
Funds for this project were generously donated by the Annie E. Casey Foundation
5. Restoring Civility to America’s Democracy
In response to the rising tide of political distrust and the lack of civility in the democratic process, the Center for Civility will launch a two-year study (July 1, 2025- June 30, 2027) with the goal of engaging jurisdictions nationwide to create a set of best practices that can be implemented in time for the 2028 elections. Drawing from events that have shaken the electoral landscape, the Center for Civility will focus on restoring trust in the democratic process. The findings and impact paper will be presented at a national conference to be held in the fall of 2027.
Funds for this project were generously donated by Fieldcrest Aspiration Foundation
About the Partnership
As members of one of the nation’s top 15 research universities, UC San Diego scholars are not afraid to look deeper, challenge expectations, and redefine conventional wisdom. The university’s public service focus aligns with the mission of the National Conflict Resolution Center, which is to overcome hate, intolerance, and incivility through ground-breaking conflict resolution strategies and new applications to communication techniques.
UC San Diego has collaborated with NCRC since 2014 on the Galinson/Glickman Campus Civility Initiative, also known as Tritons Together. The program provides training for student club leaders in inclusive communications and conflict resolution, and since its inception has trained nearly 10,000 students.
How to Support
The Applied Research Center for Civility relies on generous support from contributors at all levels. To play your part in building a lasting foundation for wide-ranging, rigorous research on the structured practice of civility, please make a gift today.
Give Now
For more options, please contact Rebecca Smith at rsmith@ucsd.edu.