What is CIRTL?
The Center for the Integration of Research, Teaching and Learning (CIRTL) is committed to developing future faculty dedicated to implementing and advancing evidence-based teaching practices to enrich undergraduate education that is accessible to all learners.
CIRTL originally focused on enhancing STEM education by promoting evidence-based teaching practices. Over time, CIRTL has expanded its scope to include a more interdisciplinary approach, integrating diverse fields beyond STEM to enrich teaching and learning across various disciplines. This evolution reflects CIRTL's commitment to fostering inclusive and innovative educational practices that benefit a broader range of learners.
What are the benefits of engaging with CIRTL?
Engaging with the CIRTL Network offers graduate students, postdocs, and faculty the opportunity to enhance teaching, deepen student learning, and develop professionally. The network fosters a collaborative community that promotes innovative, evidence-based teaching practices and supports professional growth through access to a wealth of resources and expertise.
Additionally, the CIRTL Network offers three tiers of recognition for meeting learning outcomes, signaling participants' skills and expertise. Explore pathways to recognition.
What is the Searle Center's role?
The Searle Center offers programs that advance CIRTL's mission for members of the Northwestern community. While participants can choose to engage exclusively with programming directly offered by CIRTL, the Searle Center's bespoke programming provides person-to-person connections that enhance the CIRTL experience.
Additionally, the Searle Center, manages the formal recognition of Northwestern participants who have met the learning outcomes required to achieve CIRTL status as an Associate, Practitioner, and Scholar.
More information about Northwestern's CIRTL advisory board is forthcoming.
How can I get involved?
There are many ways to get involved to match your time, interests, and preferred modalities.
CIRTL Resources and Programming
As a member of the CIRTL Network, Northwestern provides access to robust online resources, programming, workshops, and events hosted by CIRTL and its institutional members. Resources and programming are available on a broad range of timely topics, including fostering a growth mindset, teaching with transparency, and Teaching-as-Research (TAR).
Learn more about available CIRTL resources and programming.
Searle Center Resources and Programming
The Searle Center offers local programs designed to provide professional development opportunities around teaching and learning to graduate students and postdocs who are future STEM and social science faculty. These programs are open to all Northwestern graduate students and postdocs, and they are also designed to satisfy requisite learning outcomes for those seeking CIRTL recognition (see Pathways to Recognition, below).
Pathways to Recognition
Learn more about gaining international recognition.
