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<p class="isselectedend">Dear Faculty,<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="isselectedend">We invite you to help make this year’s <b>Civil Discourse Symposium</b> a meaningful learning experience for your students, and to join us yourself.<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="isselectedend">Taking place on <b>Tuesday, April 7</b>, at the <b>Rayburn Student Center</b>, the symposium is a student-focused event designed to strengthen skills essential across all disciplines: critical thinking, respectful dialogue, active listening,
and thoughtful engagement with differing viewpoints. Students will also have the opportunity to interact with public officials, participate in discussions and apply what they learn in real time.<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="isselectedend">The Texas A&M University System has chosen East Texas A&M as one of two campuses to pilot this symposium, and with your help, it will be a great success!<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="isselectedend" style="margin:0in">The day will feature <em>several <b>Texas state representatives</b> and
</em>nationally recognized speakers, including <b>John Quiñones, </b>an award-winning journalist from<b> ABC News</b>, and a media panel with
<b>Alexander Heffner</b>, host of<b> PBS</b>’s <em>The Open Mind.</em><em><span style="font-style:normal"><o:p></o:p></span></em></p>
<p class="isselectedend">We encourage you to consider ways this event can connect with your course objectives, including:<o:p></o:p></p>
<ul type="disc">
<li class="isselectedend" style="mso-list:l0 level1 lfo1">Incorporating the symposium into class discussions, reflections or assignments<o:p></o:p></li><li class="isselectedend" style="mso-list:l0 level1 lfo1">Encouraging or requiring participation as part of coursework tied to communication, civic engagement or leadership<o:p></o:p></li><li class="isselectedend" style="mso-list:l0 level1 lfo1">Offering <strong>extra credit</strong> for student attendance<o:p></o:p></li></ul>
<p class="isselectedend">Your support plays an important role in student participation and success. By encouraging attendance and, when possible, aligning it with your curriculum, you will help reinforce the value of civil discourse as a lifelong skill.<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="isselectedend">We also hope you will consider attending and engaging alongside your students.
<span style="color:black">Two sessions are available — morning or afternoon. Pick what works for you, but we recommend that you
<b>bring your classes to the morning session</b>.</span><o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><b><span style="font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Times New Roman",serif;color:black">No registration necessary; Just bring your Lion Card to get in!</span></b><b><span style="font-size:12.0pt;color:black"> <o:p></o:p></span></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><b><span style="font-size:12.0pt;color:black"><o:p> </o:p></span></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Times New Roman",serif;color:black">Check in is on the
<b>second floor of the Student Center</b>.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><b><span style="font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Times New Roman",serif;color:black"><o:p> </o:p></span></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><b><span style="font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Times New Roman",serif;color:black">PLEASE NOTE: SMALL BAGS ARE WELCOME, BUT NO BACKPACKS ARE ALLOWED.<o:p></o:p></span></b></p>
<p class="isselectedend">Learn more and view the full schedule at<b> </b><a href="https://www.etamu.edu/civil-discourse-symposium/"><b>https://www.etamu.edu/civil-discourse-symposium/</b></a><b>.<o:p></o:p></b></p>
<p class="isselectedend">Thank you for your continued commitment to student learning and engagement.<o:p></o:p></p>
<p>Sincerely,<o:p></o:p></p>
<p style="margin:0in">Tammi Vacha-Haase<o:p></o:p></p>
<p style="margin:0in">Provost<o:p></o:p></p>
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