At the Searle Center, we understand that being in community with our colleagues and reminding ourselves of our purpose as educators are important to staving off academic burnout and isolation. We aim to safeguard well-being and create powerful moments of insight, joy, and transformation. Our programming serves as opportunities for Northwestern instructors, across disciplines and career stages, to have thoughtful, restorative exchanges with their colleagues.
We look forward to partnering with centers and departments to develop gatherings and meaningful relationships that empower instructors to support each other within and outside of the classroom. We aspire to weave this spirit of care into our collegial interactions and learning communities.
Our programs and initiatives are open to all and offer the Northwestern community a variety of ways to develop teaching skills, enhance student learning, and find community. The following programs and initiatives will spark your curiosity about community and vitality.
Cultivate a relationship-rich environment where instructors can connect and learn with others who share similar interests, roles, or lived experiences, empowering them to work towards a sustainable commitment to learning and teaching across the span of their careers.
Heighten the visibility of teaching-line faculty’s pedagogical expertise, host events that fortify their purpose and sense of belonging, and increase their capacity to flourish by fostering an open dialogue attuned to evolving needs around feeling seen, respected, and supported.
Design meaningful transitions for faculty new to Northwestern, followed by ongoing outreach to build community among the cohort and lay the foundation for career-spanning engagement with the Searle Center.
University Teaching Award winners serve as Distinguished Fellows of the Searle Center for a three-year term, amplifying exemplary teaching practices through public engagements and enriching the Center’s work with their unique perspectives and approaches.
Inspire a culture of growth by gathering small groups of instructors to engage with scholarly texts that deepen their understanding of contemporary topics in teaching and learning.
A half-day retreat for Northwestern instructors focused on an annual special topic of learning and teaching. The retreat features an interactive keynote address, related workshops to implement evidence-driven teaching techniques in the classroom, and opportunities to build community.
Guides created by or in collaboration with the Searle Center to help educators and learners find community and vitality.
A curated list of recommended books related to community and vitality available at the Menges Library, located in the Searle Center.
Our current recommendations for both foundational and cutting-edge content related to community and vitality.
Below are all of our upcoming events related to community and vitality.
Reach out to us at teach@northwestern.edu.