Logistics

Institute Schedule

As this is a yearlong experience beginning in September 2025, there are multiple opportunities for engagement, planning, and implementation. Key events include:

• Institute Kickoff: September 25–26, 2025
• Pre-spring Semester Check-In for Planning and Renewal: January 13, 2026
• Capstone Closing Event: April 23–24, 2026

Meeting times each of these days will be 11:00 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. Eastern Time.
In addition to these events, the institute will also offer monthly meetings and webinars throughout the academic year to allow for interaction among campus teams and to address timely topics of interest. Each campus team will be assigned a coach from the resident faculty. In addition to providing their perspective, each coach can also connect the team with expertise from other resident faculty members as needed. Asynchronous interactions across campus teams and with the institute’s resident faculty will be encouraged and facilitated through AAC&U’s online institute platform.

Activities and Action Plans

To maximize their learning, understanding, and participation in the institute, teams will be expected to complete preparatory work and readings before the September 2025 kickoff. In September, teams will use their time to discover new approaches and strategies and begin developing drafts of their open education action plans.

After the kickoff event, teams will be encouraged to meet on their own time for further planning and to start enacting aspects of their action plans. Institute faculty will be available to attend planning meetings and to provide guidance and perspectives along the way. Monthly meetings and institute faculty consultation sessions will occur throughout the academic year. The institute will conclude on April 23–24, 2026. In addition to sharing the progress of each campus OE action plan, the concluding event will provide guidance and planning to ensure the work developed over the past year continues to accelerate and grow into the new academic year.

Location

All institute events will be held online. No travel is required, and meeting times will be scheduled based on time zones to ensure that events typically occur during regular business hours for all. While institute events will be held online, we hope that some participants will be able to gather in person, as conferences and other events take place face-to-face.

All presentations will be recorded and made available to institute participants via our online platform.