Programs

The Academic Kickoff features interactive sessions designed to facilitate graduate student and postdoc transitions to teaching roles at Northwestern University. 

Centering Identities in STEM is an evidence-driven reading circlehighlighting the importance of identity and positionality in teaching and learning. This is part of the broader CIRTL at Northwestern efforts.

Searle provides three levels of CIRTL certificates to recognize achievement of learning outcomes: Associate, Practitioner, and Scholar.

An annual immersive three-day course design institute centered on developing a new Canvas-ready syllabus for the upcoming academic year, driven by inclusive, evidence-based practices, iterative discussion, and reflective learning communities.

Formative Feedback Partners are graduate students, postdocs, and faculty trained in leading Small Group Analyses, conducting Teaching Observations, and facilitating End-of-Term Focus Groups to provide evidence-based, formative feedback on teaching. Throughout the academic year, Formative Feedback Partners participate in a learning community in which they engage in discussions and activities to deepen their skills in providing written and verbal formative feedback.

Graduate Teaching Fellows further their pedagogical development by developing or sustaining an initiative in their department around learning & teaching. 

Kickoff Session Leaders are a dedicated group of graduate students who help introduce incoming TAs, graduate student instructors, and postdoc instructors to learning and teaching at Northwestern University during the Academic Kickoff.

Reflective & Effective Teaching (RET) is a certificate program that offers a unique cohort-based learning community for graduate students and postdocs from any discipline who aspire to improve student learning. RET teacher-scholars who complete three quarters of the RET program receive a Certificate of Completion, a Completion Letter, and, if eligible, a TGS transcript notation. Participants engage in seminars and special-topics workshops and complete artifacts that align with their stage of teaching and goals.

Reflective Teaching Guides further their pedagogical development by mentoring their peers in Reflective and Effective Teaching (RET).

  This practicum is now an open educational resource! Get Started with REIMAGINING ASSESSMENT   Want to learn more about its impact on participants? Please read this infographic.

Launching Learning & Teaching Leaders Since 1999, the Searle Fellows Program has been a university-wide initiative for early career research- and teaching-line faculty with the mission to cultivate a community of learning & teaching leaders at Northwestern who center equity/excellence through pedagogical experimentation, critical reflection, and joyful celebration. Applications open early May and are due by mid-June. For a complete overview of the program and instructions on how to apply, please refer to our initiative page. 

  This practicum is now an open educational resource! Get Started with UDLP   Want to learn more about its impact on participants? Please read this infographic.

Each winter, we offer a cozy, half-day retreat for graduate students and postdocs with teaching experience to explore and develop their teaching practices. Focused around a special topic, the Winter Retreat features an interactive keynote address, related workshops to implement evidence-driven teaching techniques in the classroom, and an opportunity to connect with peers over our popular hot chocolate bar.