In this Section

Course Redesign Institute (CRI)

Course Redesign Institute (CRI) FAQ

What is the Center for Teaching and Learning Excellence (CTLE) Course Redesign Institute (CRI)?

Co-sponsored by the CTLE and the Office of Academic Affairs, the CRI is an annual three-day series of discussions, workshops, and hands-on syllabus and course design sessions, providing faculty members with the opportunity to reflect, realign, revise, and redesign a specific course. It takes place in person at Bird Library 550 (CTLE). Participants receive a stipend of $1,500 after completion of all required sessions (barring medical or family emergencies) and submission of their final annotated revised syllabus to ctle@syr.edu. Acceptance to and successful participation in the CRI is significant evidence of teaching effectiveness and can be listed as a teaching award and recognition in the Syracuse University vita update, and as documentation of teaching excellence during all employment, tenure, and promotion reviews.

Who is eligible to apply for the CRI?

Full-time instructors of record and faculty members of any department and at any rank are welcome to apply. Applicants must have taught the course they’re planning to redesign at least once before applying to the CRI. 

How competitive is the CRI application process?

The CRI is currently capped at 15 participants, and we receive significantly more applications than we can accept. We strongly encourage those interested in the CRI to carefully review the criteria listed below when compiling their application.

What criteria are used to review CRI applications and choose participants?

We use a rubric to assess all applications. The highest scoring applications most convincingly demonstrate three things. 1.) This course is a gateway and/or large enrollment class with a significant impact on many students and/or many students in a particular major. 2.) This course is currently creating obstacles to student success. For example, the DFW rate (the percentage of students who earn a final grade of D or F or withdraw from the course) for this course is higher than average; student learning in the course is assessed solely by a small number of high-stakes timed exams; academic integrity violations during this class are higher than average. 3.) This faculty member is willing to meaningfully engage in pedagogical reflection and development. For example, the faculty member has participated in a teaching conference, learning community, reading group, workshop, or other program either at the CTLE and/or other organizations.

How do I apply to the CRI?

The online application will be made available on the CTLE website approximately three months before the Institute takes place. The estimated time to complete your application is about one hour.

I applied to the CRI but was not accepted this year. Can I still get assistance from the CTLE for redesigning my class?

Yes! The CTLE is always available for individual consultations on any aspect of your teaching practice, including syllabus review and course design. Click here to get started: Contact Us

2027 Course Redesign Institute

The 2027 Course Redesign Institute will be held on-site in 550 Bird Library (the CTLE office), May 11, 12, and 13, 2027, 8:15 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. The 2027 Institute will focus on designing effective assignments and assessing student learning in today’s classrooms. Meals and snacks will be provided.

Participants who successfully complete the 2027 Institute will

  • Review and redesign a course using a student-centered, process-oriented framework 
  • Review and revise course learning objectives using CALMS (clear, attainable, learning-focused, measurable, and specific) criteria 
  • Apply backward design to align assignments and activities with course learning objectives
  • Review and revise current learning assessment mechanisms through an AI-aware lens
  • Revise a current syllabus to fully incorporate evidence-based course design principles that promote engaged learning, psychological safety, classroom community, and instructor well-being/pedagogical enjoyment

Upon completion of all three days of the Institute, a post-program survey, and submission of an annotated revised syllabus, participants will receive a $1,500.00 stipend.

Revised Annotated Syllabus Repository

Every participant who successfully completes the CTLE Course Redesign Institute (CRI) submits an annotated revised syllabus of their redesigned course, applying the insights they’ve gained during the reflecting, realigning, and revising process at the CRI. The annotations explain the design choices they’ve made and the expected impact on student learning and success. Additionally, the annotations show how the faculty member will be able to implement these changes while maintaining their own pedagogical, professional, and personal well-being. Finally, the annotations note where they will continue reviewing and assessing their course in the future. Annotated revised syllabi are collected and made available here: CRI Redesigned Syllabi