The Course Design Institute (CDI) is intended to support the University of California, Merced, faculty wishing to create a new or redesign an existing course of their choosing. These designs will combine research-based pedagogy and instructional modalities to create effective and supportive learning environments for the diverse students at UC Merced. Each faculty member accepted into the program will receive an honorarium of $2000 (inclusive of benefits) for successfully meeting all expectations outlined for the Course Design Institute.

The Institute will run in-person for four days (Thursday - Tuesday, 9 AM – 3 PM, May 16, 17, 20, 21 - 2024) and include opportunities for faculty to work in large groups, collaborate with faculty having similar course design topics and interests, and converse with staff from UC Merced's Teaching Commons. Resources critical to participant success will be made available throughout the duration of the design/redesign program and may also be accessed asynchronously at one's own pace.

The CDI will focus on learning theories and research from the science of teaching and learning, with an emphasis on helping participants apply these theories and findings to improve the design of their own courses and instruction. Highlighting methods that have been successfully implemented at UC Merced and elsewhere, the CDI will emphasize practical ways to engage students and improve learning. Finally, we will explore how we can treat teaching and learning as an object of scholarly inquiry.