The CU Dialogues Program evolved from a Civic Engagement course implemented in the Sewall Residential Academic Program (RAP) by faculty members Dr. Ellen Aiken and Dr. Karen Ramirez in 2007. As part of the course, Drs. Aiken and Ramirez arranged a facilitated, simultaneously-translated dialogue with immigrant Housing and Dining Services employees at CU in order to discuss immigration and explore the process of immigrant integration into American society.

In 2009, The Institute for Ethical and Civic Engagement began funding the CU Dialogues Program as a Model Project designed to expand the cross-cultural dialogue model to other RAPs at CU. The program received full funding from the Office of the Provost in 2011. The CU Dialogues Program currently conducts dialogues in 9 RAPs and several additional departments/units, including the Program for Writing and Rhetoric and the INVST Community Leadership Program.