The "Disagreements Initiatives"

1) Co-Teaching Grants: Exploring Disagreement in the Classroom

The Political Economy Project invites proposals for courses that will explore disagreements about political and economic questions through co-teaching. Disagreements may concern scholarly methods and rival scientific theories in addition to substantive questions. The syllabus, assignments, lectures, and discussions in the proposed courses should equip students to make up their own minds about the issues explored, in ways that not only deepen their own pre-existing convictions but challenge and sometimes change them.

We invite applications from 2-professor teams who are willing to debate and represent rival positions for pedagogical purposes, regardless of whether they fully subscribe to them. Each member of the co-teaching team must have a Dartmouth teaching appointment. Proposed courses will need to be offered through one of the Arts and Sciences departments and as always, will need to be approved by the relevant department chairs, divisional councils, and the COI. Courses may be cross listed.

Applicants should be prepared to offer the course for 3 years over a 5-year window. The grant will cover the costs of co-teaching (it will compensate the Dean's office for the 'lost' course that co-teaching entails) and will include up to $3000 per course offering to bring in visitors and fund class events.

For inquiries, or to apply, write to PEP Program Coordinator Henry C. Clark (henry.c.clark@dartmouth.edu).

2) Student Grants: Exploring Disagreement in Independent Research

The Political Economy Project invites applications from Dartmouth undergraduates who propose to undertake focused independent research advised and guided by a Dartmouth faculty member. The research should engage students in understanding rival theories pertinent to their area of interest and equip them to form a deep understanding of the various sides of the intellectual debates in question. The disagreement (which need not be the only or even the primary point of the research) may concern, for example, the content of scholarly findings, research methods, or interpretive orientations.  Up to two fellowships will be funded per term.

For more information, or to apply, see the "Student Fellowship" page of the PEP website. 

(Illustration by Michael S. Helfenbein for Yale News)

"He who knows only his own side, knows little of that." (John Stuart Mill, On Liberty)