Our experienced staff hire and train teachers in community partner schools to serve as Teacher Coaches, who support and recruit new members of the debate team. Experienced debaters, often MNUDL alumni, are hired as Community Coaches. Teacher Coaches and Community Coaches work together to ensure debate has an important place in their school, creating a positive team culture and rigorous learning environment for students.

Could you be our next debate coach? Express your interest here!

MNUDL believes deeply that any student can be a great debater, student, and leader. No debate experience or try-outs are required to participate. Our caring coaches recruit students from all backgrounds. We look for students who care about ideas and who want to find and use their voices. Students in grades 5-12 compete on our debate teams. Check out our blog to learn more about how our students put their skills in action within our community!

Interested in becoming an MNUDL debater? Learn more about bringing debate to your school here.

Our work is powered by volunteers from colleges and universities, service clubs and organizations, workplaces, and more! Most of our volunteer opportunities require no debate experience—just the willingness to listen to students speak, choose a winner, and provide constructive feedback to help students improve. Plus, we have special opportunities for individuals with specialized skills like Spanish language fluency and speech & debate experience!

To learn more about how to volunteer with our year-round programming, check out our Volunteering page.

Debate parents make tournament day possible! Parents have the opportunity to contribute to our organization by becoming a board member, becoming a donor, and volunteering at our tournaments as debate judges. Plus, your meaningful support and encouragement of our debaters as they participate helps them grow as speakers.

Are you a new debate parent? Check out our Guide for Family Members to learn more about what’s in store! Plus, learn about Augsburg University PSEO opportunities for debaters.

The MNUDL is a program of Augsburg University, assisted by an advisory board, and funded through individual donations, foundations and corporations, and the legal community. Find a sample of our funding partners here. Our special team of Advocates for Debate ensure our year-round programming is sustainable. Learn more about how to become an advocate for debate.

Plus, did you know the MNUDL is also supported by student leadership? Our MSHSL Student Leadership Team, grounded in Youth Participatory Action Research principles, improves the student experience at tournaments.

Our small but mighty team is made up of full-time Augsburg University employees. Each year, we also hire student workers, community liaisons, alumni debate judges, and part-time recruitment coaches to help us make our work happen. Learn more about our staff members and how you can join our team.

Special employment opportunities are available during our summer camp season, especially for individuals with expertise in speech, Student Congress, Lincoln Douglas Debate, Public Forum Debate, and Mock Trial.

Our advisory board is made up of community members who use their skills, connections, and vision to support our success in promoting debate in Minnesota. Learn more about our advisory board members.

We collaborate with other Urban Debate Leagues who are part of the National Association for Urban Debate Leagues across the country. We also partner with the MN Debate and Teachers Association (MDTA) and the National Speech and Debate Association.

To learn more about how you can get your workplace involved in supporting the Minnesota Urban Debate League, email Amy Cram Helwich, Executive Director: cramhe@augsburg.edu