Deeper Conversations

Building Bridges of Understanding

Deeper Conversations, which President Farnam Jahanian launched in January 2024, is a university-wide initiative aimed at promoting the power of civil discourse. It spans a range of programming options — from scholarly lectures to cultural events — to engage members of the Carnegie Mellon community in studying and discussing some of the most complex challenges facing society today. Each wave of programming explores a specific divisive issue and is open to CMU students, faculty and staff. 

In its inaugural year, Deeper Conversations focused on helping members of the CMU community navigate issues related to the history of conflict and the current geopolitical crisis in Israel and Gaza. 

During the 2024-2025 academic year, we explored issues related to democracy, the U.S. election, and the role of the federal government in society.

Explore some of the past Deeper Conversations topics and programming.

Support and Resources

Recognizing that the work of engaging in honest and respectful conversations and meaningful learning opportunities around complex topics can be challenging, the University maintains an array of services and resources for supporting students, faculty and staff. These include: 

Restorative Practices Opportunities
Restorative practices create spaces for community members to engage in meaningful conversations, address harm and collaboratively work towards shared understanding. These practices offer an opportunity to focus on healing and accountability rather than punitive outcomes. By implementing restorative practices, we endeavor to foster a supportive environment where every voice is heard, mend relationships, and cultivate and enhance a sense of belonging.

Academic Freedom and Freedom of Expression Report
CMU's Commission on Academic Freedom and Freedom of Expression report, released in October 2022, explores and clarifies the university's commitment to academic freedom and freedom of expression in a contemporary context.

Community Health and Well-being Resources
Carnegie Mellon offers a broad range of options for supporting the well-being of students, faculty and staff. These services are designed to care for an individual's physical, mental, emotional and spiritual health, among other aspects of their well-being.

Student Support and Resources
CMU's Division of Student Affairs identifies a wide array of services and resources for undergraduate and graduate students across the University. Among the options listed: religious resources, immigration support, accommodation requests, crisis support and more.

Campus Climate and Bias Reporting Protocol
Launched in late 2023 and open to any member or visitor of the CMU community, this tool enables users to informally address and navigate alleged bias situations on campus. It complements formal tools for addressing hate and discrimination and supports involved parties in learning, growing, repairing harm and ultimately reaching a resolution.

Community Messages

Carnegie Mellon University leaders have actively sought out opportunities on campus to share support resources and options, reaffirm institution’s values and articulate a zero-tolerance stance on hatred, bias or discrimination of any kind. Meetings with students and other members of the campus community will continue to prioritize listening and productive discourse.

Authored by CMU President Farnam Jahanian:

• Holding our Community to a Higher Standard (November 2023)
• Supporting Those Affected by the Crisis in the Middle East (October 2023)
• Follow up to Supporting Those Affected by the Crisis in the Middle East (October 2023)
• Five Years on: Remembering 10.27.2018 (October 2023)

Co-authored by Provost and Chief Academic Officer Jim Garrett and Vice President for Student Affairs and Dean of Students Gina Casalegno:

• Supporting our Community With Compassion (November 2023)

Co-authored by Vice Provost for Community, Culture and Engagement Wanda Heading-Grant and Assistant Vice Provost & Title IX Coordinator Elizabeth Rosemeyer:

• Launching CMU’s Campus Climate and Bias Reporting Protocol (CCBRP) (October 2023)

Co-authored by Bess Family Dean of the Dietrich College of Humanities and Social Sciences Richard Scheines and Dean of the Heinz College of Information Systems and Public Policy Ramayaa Krishnan:

• Academic Series on the Historical and Political Context of the Israel-Hamas War (January 2024)

Did You Know?

• The Center for Applied Research on Targeted Violence, a collaboration between CMU and the University of Pittsburgh launched in 2021, aims to develop effective interventions to inhibit every stage in the creation and growth of extremist hate, as well as interventions to minimize its impacts.
• During Fall 2023, the CMU community celebrated Democracy Day, a full day of programming devoted to exploring ways we can be respectful, intentional and constructive when engaging in civil discourse.
• The Center for Informed Democracy and Social cybersecurity (IDeaS) is a university wide transdisciplinary center launched in 2019 that is dedicated to the study of online disinformation and its effects on democracy.