Convergence Learning Lab
for higher education leaders
In a country marred by deep conflict, higher education leaders face a daunting challenge: how to navigate division both internally and with external stakeholders. The Convergence Learning Lab’s training and consultation services empower leaders with the necessary skills to bridge these divides resulting in more cohesive learning environments and communities.
Lab services are built on our unique, evidence-based collaborative problem-solving methodology which has been used to successfully address seemingly intractable political, social, organizational, and community-based issues.
Our services will help YOu
successfully Engage diverse stakeholders & Community members
CONVENE PUBLIC MEETINGS
Address issues of free speech and academic freedom
Foster inclusive academic environments
how it works
Our customized services can be delivered on a one-time basis or as an ongoing engagement to meet your needs.
TRAINING
Participants will strengthen their knowledge and skillsets as follows:
- Uncovering the roots of polarization and division
- Understanding the psychology of conflict and its resolution
- Discovering effective strategies for bridging divides
- Applying collaborative problem-solving to go from conflict to solutions
CONSULTING
Our consulting team will work with you to design a specific collaborative problem-solving process for addressing the unique challenge you face. Whatever the issue, a broad range of leaders, employees, and other relevant stakeholders will be engaged in producing better, more informed, and more inclusive decisions.
We can also help you design systems and processes to make your institution resilient in the face of our growing division, including systems for effective conflict management and productive stakeholder and community engagement.
CURRICULUM
Convergence Founder Rob Fersh and CEO Mariah Levison translated our collaborative problem-solving approach into a book that serves as the basis of our curriculum for students, educators, and administrators alike. Entitled From Conflict to Convergence: Coming Together to Solve Tough Problems, the book is a hands-on guide to de-escalating conflict and constructively engaging with others to find better solutions to problems. Full of real-life stories and examples, this book provides tried and tested strategies to help a wide array of people negotiate and navigate seemingly intractable conflicts.
Our course guide will become available in the Fall of 2024.
WHY CONVERGENCE?
Convergence is the leading organization bridging divides to solve critical issues through collaborative problem-solving across ideological, political, and cultural divisions.
For over a decade, we have convened leaders and doers to consistently build trust, find common ground, forge consensus solutions, and move forward in unlikely alliances for constructive change. It is this evidence-based approach to collaborative problem-solving, informed by continued advances in contact theory, neuroscience, and psychology and refined by 15 years of successful practice, that forms the foundation of the Learning Lab.
CONTACT US TO LEARN MORE
To learn more about how the Convergence Learning Lab can work for you and get started on a unique program designed for your needs, contact Hannah Ollenburger,
Senior Manager of Executive Operations, by filling out our contact form.
