Programs

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

CDIxYOU is a self-paced, asynchronous version of our Summer Course Design Institute.

A three-tiered certificate program for graduate students and postdocs.

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

Formative Feedback Partners are graduate students and postdocs trained in leading Small Group Analyses, conducting Teaching Observations and Midquarter Feedback Surveys, 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.

Efficient and engaging virtual presentations on strengths-based, evidence-driven strategies to enhance learning and support well-being for all students.

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.

Pedagogical Innovations in STEM is a scholarly exchange. Recommended for those pursuing the CIRTL @ Northwestern Certificate.

A certificate program offering a unique cohort-based learning community for graduate students and postdocs from any discipline who aspire to improve student learning.

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

Advancing the University Priority of delivering an outstanding educational experience for students. This Open Educational Resource (OER) was adapted from Northwestern's 2023–24 Univeristy Practicum on Reimagining Assessment to create an asynchronous, self-guided online resource for instructors to maximize learning and growth while making grading a more meaningful interaction between instructors and students. Created by an interdisciplinary cohort of Northwestern educational developers and faculty experts, this OER provides engaging recordings and curated resources including videos of Northwestern faculty discussing real-world examples and a keynote address on authentic evaluation by Robert Talbert, co-author of Grading for Growth (2023).

The Reflective Teaching Guide for Reflective & Effective Teaching for Northwestern Prison Education Program Teaching Fellows (RET-NPEP) furthers their pedagogical development by mentoring RET-NPEP Teaching Fellows.

Student Pedagogical Partners are Northwestern undergraduate students, graduate students, postdocs, and recent alumni who are trained and mentored by the Searle Center and the Northwestern Prison Education Program to volunteer for the Reflective & Effective Teaching for Northwestern Prison Education Program Teaching Fellows Certificate Program (RET-NPEP).

A comprehensive pedagogical and professional development initiative to prepare graduates of the Northwestern Prison Education Program (NPEP) for their roles as NPEP teaching assistants.

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 exemplify excellence and benefit from a shared year-long experience of pedagogical experimentation, critical reflection, and joyful celebration. Applications for the next academic year are due June 15th.

Student Experiences in STEM is an evidence-driven reading circle focusing on students’ experiences, development, and their perceptions of commonly used learning practices and the classroom environment. Recommended for those pursuing the CIRTL @ Northwestern Certificate.

Advancing the University Priority of building resilient students and a sense of belonging. This Open Educational Resource (OER) was adapted from Northwestern's 2024–25 Univeristy Practicum on Supporting Student Success to create an asynchronous, self-guided online resource for instructors to (re)define students' holistic success and advance their techniques for creating, facilitating, and assessing student success. Created by an interdisciplinary cohort of Northwestern educational developers and faculty experts, this OER provides engaging recordings and curated resources including videos of Northwestern faculty discussing real-world examples and a keynote address on holistic approaches to student success by Jillian Kinzie, Associate Director of the National Survey of Student Engagement.

Advancing the University Priority of promoting access, opportunity, and diversity. This Open Educational Resource (OER) was adapted from Northwestern's 2022–23 Univeristy Practicum on Universal Design for Learning (UDL) to create an asynchronous, self-guided online resource for instructors to create more supportive, inclusive, and accessible learning environments for all. Created by an interdisciplinary cohort of Northwestern educational developers and faculty experts, this OER provides engaging recordings and curated resources including videos of Northwestern faculty discussing real-world examples.

Advancing the University Priority of delivering an outstanding educational experience. Each year, the University Practicum hosts a practical, flexible, and supportive online practicum on a timely topic of learning and teaching selected by the campus community. Designed to complement participants' busy schedules, the University Practicum offers a flexible choice of synchronous online sessions, learning labs, individual consultations from an interdisciplinary team of Northwestern educational developers and faculty experts. The 2025–26 topic will be announced January 2026!