The Open Exchange Grant invites faculty in Letters & Science to redesign specific sessions and assessments to focus on socially controversial topics, helping students develop skills in respectful and thoughtful engagement with differing viewpoints. The grant aims to expose UC Berkeley students to an open exchange of ideas and support their ability to engage constructively across differing viewpoints.
In the spring of 2025, seven faculty members were awarded the inaugural grant, reaching close to 400 students. The faculty represented six different departments, including history, political science, anthropology, and college writing. The cohort exemplifies diverse approaches to integrating open exchange and civil discourse into the classroom, inspiring students to thoughtfully engage with complex topics.
In the fall of 2025, an additional six faculty members from six departments were awarded the grant. We are excited to share more about the impact of the grant in the winter of 2025.
Open Exchange Grant - Call for Proposals Spring 2026
BLI invites proposals from UC Berkeley faculty for small grants up to $6,000 to adapt an undergraduate Letters & Science (L&S) course to be taught in the Spring 2026. The grant aims to expose UC Berkeley students to an open exchange of ideas and support their ability to engage constructively across differing viewpoints. More information may be found here. Applications are due via this google form on December 5, 2025 at midnight PT.