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Intellectual Vitality and the First-Year Experience

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Visitas Programming

Intellectual Vitality is introduced to students before committing to Harvard College, through Visitas programming. Since spring 2024, Intellectual Vitality has hosted a debate between the Harvard College Republicans and Harvard College Democrats student organizations. Introduced by the Intellectual Vitality Student Advisory Board co-Chairs and moderated by the Institute of Politics, prospective students experience first-hand how current students can engage in debate and disagreement across political ideologies with respect, curiosity, and humility. This debate, which is a hallmark of Visitas, is the first step in helping prospective students consider how they can thoughtfully and productively contribute to the Harvard College community

Perspectives Online Modules

As part of their Orientation to the College, once they’ve committed to enrolling, students are required to complete a series of online modules to prepare them for life as a Harvard College student. One of these modules, developed by the Constructive Dialogue Institute, is called Perspectives, which prepares students to navigate conflict and challenging conversations through six distinct lessons:

  • Lesson One covers foundational concepts about how information is processed and how biases can lead to disagreements.
  • Lesson Two explores values and worldview differences ,and provides frameworks for better understanding opposing views.
  • Lesson Three teaches students the principles around letting go of winning and the importance of being curious.
  • Lesson Four offers opportunity to practice sharing stories as a method of constructive dialogue.
  • Lesson Five introduces students to ways of navigating conflict constructively as a method of moving forward when tension occurs or builds up.
  • Lesson Six explains the importance of reflecting on conversation or conflict to focus on finding what might be shared.

Findings from the Class of 2028 (the first class to pilot Perspectives) found that:

86%

of students said that they practice what they learn from Perspectives in their personal or professional life

84%

of students said that Perspectives helped them gain valuable professional and/or life skills

82%

of students said that the modules helped them feel more confident having difficult conversations and working with people with diverse perspectives or experiences as their own

Specifically, the benefits gained from the Perspectives modules include:

Improved confidence and techniques for navigating difficult conversations and disagreements.

Enhanced understanding of differing perspectives and the underlying moral foundations.

Practical strategies for constructive dialogue and conflict resolution.

Increased awareness of biases and emotional responses during discussions.

Valuable skills for engaging with diverse viewpoints respectfully.

Application of learning to real-world scenarios and future interactions at the College.

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Once students arrive to campus for Orientation, they will continue to learn about Intellectual Vitality through various programming, lectures, and conversations. Students who are interested in learning more can speak with their Peer Advising Fellows (PAF), Proctor, and or Resident Dean.

Students are asked to utilize the skills learned from the lessons in their classes, student organizations, and residential communities by respectfully asking questions of each other and their instructors, offering differing perspectives for the sake of learning, attending events and programs that provide differing viewpoints than their own, etc. Additionally, for students who are interested in engaging more formally with Intellectual Vitality, they are able to do so through the Intellectual Vitality Student Advisory Board, working with their Fellows in Values Engagement, participating in the Edmond and Lily Safra Center for Ethics Intercollegiate Civil Disagreement Partnership, and/or by joining the myriad student organizations who hold the virtues and principles of intellectual vitality as part of their mission.