Cornell University values and supports a wide range of innovative educational experiences. President Pollack began her tenure at Cornell by advocating, "In my experience, faculty who explore teaching innovations often find the process to be deeply satisfying and come away feeling enriched about a meaningful component of their work. There is reward in being open to new ideas and methods that enhance our ability to prepare students for the important work of educated citizens, work that is grounded in the joy—the verve—of continual learning."

Innovation is relative and expansive. It encompasses anything new that instructors want to integrate into their class to enhance student learning. This includes introducing new educational technologies, experimenting with active learning strategies, introducing inclusive course design principles, and more.

Instructors across the university lead a variety of teaching efforts, including:

• The Active Learning Initiative, which supports departments in transforming their courses to actively engage students with evidence-based teaching practices
• The David M. Einhorn Center for Community Engagement offers programs, workshops, consultations, and funding to support community-engaged learning on a local, national, or international scale.”
• Innovative Teaching and Learning Awards allow faculty to collaborate with instructional design experts from the Center for Teaching Innovation to create unique learning experiences
• The Office of Global Learning supports Cornell’s commitment to all students participating in a meaningful international experience and supports instructors interested in integrating study-abroad

Try This

• Visit Cornell’s Future of Learning Lab to explore recent research on education and technology.
• Explore your College or department website for teaching innovations happening in your discipline. For example, the College of Arts & Sciences maintains this webpage highlighting innovative approaches to teaching in their classrooms.

Selected Resources

• Teaching awards such as the Stephen H. Weiss Teaching Awards and the Cornelia Ye Outstanding Teaching Assistant Award recognize instructor and graduate teaching assistant commitment to students.
• President Martha Pollock is committed to enhancing diversity and inclusion at Cornell and supported the formation of the Presidential Task Force on Campus Climate.
• The Center for Teaching Innovation offers the online course: Teaching & Learning in the Diverse Classroom to all Cornell University instructors (offered each semester).