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Division of Continuing Education

A. Craig Baird Debate Forum

Coordinator of forensics:  Paul Bellus
Web site:  http://www.continuetolearn.uiowa.edu/debate/

The A. Craig Baird Debate Forum provides a forum for advancement in argumentation theory and practice. It provides nationally renowned advocacy training programs on issues of public concern and supports an atmosphere of civil discourse. The forum's local, regional, national, and international outreach programs enhance students' learning environment and reach beyond the physical borders of the University of Iowa campus.

The A. Craig Baird Debate Forum administers the following programs.

Intercollegiate debate: provides coaching and research to advance students' competitive success; includes attendance at 10-15 collegiate debate tournaments yearly; the program has won two national championships.

International parliamentary debate: participation in the world tournament.

National Summer Institute in Forensics: a summer program in which students live on the Iowa campus; features Lincoln-Douglas debate and a policy debate institute; the 77-year-old program draws top scholars to campus and has counted students and teachers from every state of the nation and from Japan, Korea, and Guam as participants.

Iowa High School Forensics League: a partnership between Iowa high schools and The University of Iowa that promotes scholarship, communication and expression, and leadership in forensics; founded in 1906, the league holds three tournaments and an academic conference each year that bring more than 1,000 participants to the Iowa campus.

University public debate series: founded in 1960, the series presents 12 radio broadcast debates each year, investigating local, regional, national, and international controversies; debate attendance is required for some University of Iowa courses.

Community public debate series: a forum in which local political, social, economic, and intellectual controversies are debated.

International public debate series: engages in cross-cultural exchanges and provides a forum for high school debaters to participate with The University of Iowa in international debates.

The National Lincoln-Douglas Debate Round-Robin: brings the nation’s top 28 high school Lincoln-Douglas debaters to campus for the national competition.