UDLi August 2026
Our next UDL institute, Vital Messiness: Supporting Student Investment in Process Over Product, will take place on campus, August 18-20, 2026. Participants will work independently, in groups, and one-on-one with facilitators from the Accessible Dartmouth Initiative (ADI) to identify barriers to student engagement and develop interventions. You'll also get real-time feedback on your plan.
"Everything far exceeded my expectations. I've been to teaching conferences before that felt well-intended but were unhelpful when it came to discussions about practical application and brainstorming solutions. This was so short in comparison but I came away with a lot." - Past UDL institute participant
Institute Goals
This institute is designed for instructors teaching courses and staff educators in co-curricular spaces at Dartmouth. Together, we will explore strategies to support students in embracing the vital messiness of process-based learning, with a particular focus on:
- Creating classroom cultures that celebrate the messiness of learning
- Designing scaffolded learning experiences that allow for mistakes, reflection, and iteration
- Promoting students' independence and ownership of their own growth
Participants will leave with a concrete plan to implement one UDL practice in their work and are eligible for a $1500 Accessible Dartmouth Initiative grant.
Institute Details
These institutes facilitate practical, applicable exploration of the UDL framework, a research-informed approach. Rather than retrofitting accommodations after problems arise, UDL helps you design courses that are flexible and accessible from the start.
To kick off the institute experience, there are approximately 2-4 hours of pre-work via Canvas, introducing core concepts and providing participants and facilitators the chance to connect. Throughout our time together, participants collaborate with colleagues and receive individualized guidance from facilitators to identify and address barriers in their courses that may prevent learners from accessing and engaging with the course materials and with each other, as a learning community. Participants who complete the institute are eligible to opt into the ADI course grant and receive a certificate of completion.
Key dates
- Monday, July 27 at noon - Applications for the August 2026 institute are due
- Wednesday, July 29 - Institute Canvas site available to participants with pre-work
- August 18, 19, 20 - UDLi sessions on campus
- 10am-2:30 pm EST with a lunch break from noon-1pm
Application Materials
UDLi Applications are due Monday, July 27 at noon. Preview the application (Create a Google Doc Copy) then submit your answers via the UDLi Application form.
Thank you for your interest in UDLi. If you have any questions before applying, please contact carly.m.lesoski@dartmouth.edu.
We're looking forward to working with you.