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Coalition for Transformational Education Invites Ohio Wesleyan to Join National Organization
DELAWARE, Ohio – Ohio Wesleyan University has received and accepted an invitation to join the Coalition for Transformational Education and to share information at the coalition's 2025 national conference on OWU's groundbreaking work to provide all students, faculty, and staff with civil discourse training.
The Coalition for Transformational Education (CTE) is a highly regarded group of nearly 30 higher education institutions focused on enabling every student to graduate with "a sense of identity, belonging, agency and purpose, laying the foundation for a lifetime of wellbeing, fulfilling relationships and meaningful work."
"Ohio Wesleyan University is an exceptional partner in our mission to inspire lifelong well-being and purpose in higher education," said Keith Buffinton, executive director of the Coalition for Transformational Education. "Their innovative work with the Constructive Dialogue Institute stands as an important model for integrating civil discourse into campus life, advancing both personal growth and societal impact."
In August, Ohio Wesleyan launched a collaboration with the Constructive Dialogue Institute (CDI) that gives all OWU students, faculty, and staff access to CDI's virtual, evidence-based training on how to effectively navigate difficult and potentially divisive conversations.
The collaboration also enables students to earn micro-credentialing for completing CDI training and for faculty and staff to earn certification in advanced dialogue facilitation and to participate in workshops on issues such as crisis management, dialogue facilitation, and conflict resolution.
Ohio Wesleyan President Matt vandenBerg, Ed.D., said the university also has created a steering committee to continue integrating CDI principles into academic and campus life.
"It is a profound honor for Ohio Wesleyan to join such a distinguished group of institutions in the Coalition for Transformational Education," he said. "This invitation affirms OWU's growing reputation as a national leader in innovative, purpose-driven education.
"We embrace the opportunity to share our groundbreaking work with civil discourse training while learning from the best practices of colleagues at some of the world's most impressive universities," continued vandenBerg, who previously presented information about OWU's civil discourse initiative at the fall 2024 CTE Leaders' Meeting in Chicago. "Together, we are shaping the future of higher education and preparing students for lives of extraordinary societal impact."
In addition to Ohio Wesleyan, the Coalition for Transformational Education currently includes public and private schools including Bucknell University, Georgetown University, Lehigh University, the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT), and the University of Virginia.
All will come together for the coalition's 2025 national conference on March 31 and April 1 at the University of Miami. According to the CTE, "The conference will bring together thought leaders, educators, and innovators to explore the most pressing challenges and exciting opportunities in higher education today … and chart a path toward transformational learning environments."
About the Coalition for Transformational Education
The Coalition for Transformational Education is a network of higher education leaders dedicated to evidence-based, learner-centered education that lays the foundation for lifelong well-being and engagement. Through collaboration, assessment, and sharing best practices, the Coalition inspires institutions to prioritize identity, belonging, agency, and purpose in all aspects of the student experience. For more information about the Coalition for Transformational Education, visit thecte.org.
About Ohio Wesleyan University
Founded in 1842, Ohio Wesleyan University is one of the nation's premier liberal arts universities. Located in Delaware, Ohio, the private university offers more than 70 undergraduate majors and competes in 24 NCAA Division III varsity sports. Through its signature experience, the OWU Connection, Ohio Wesleyan teaches students to understand issues from multiple academic perspectives, volunteer in service to others, build a diverse and global perspective, and translate classroom knowledge into real-world experience through internships, research, and other hands-on learning. Ohio Wesleyan is featured in the book "Colleges That Change Lives" and included on the U.S. News & World Report and Princeton Review "Best Colleges" lists. Connect with OWU expert interview sources at owu.edu/experts or learn more at owu.edu.