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Kaneb Center Course Design Academy

The words Kaneb Center Course Design Academy written in white text over a bluish-green abstract background. The words are arranged like a descending staircase, one word per line, with the first letter of each word underlined in light green to indicate the academy's acronym (KCCDA).

The Kaneb Center Course Design Academy (KCCDA) is a cohort-based professional development program for Notre Dame faculty focused on using evidence-based teaching principles and strategies to design or redesign a course for Notre Dame undergraduate or graduate students. The program is open to all ND faculty regardless of rank and will run for an academic year (September–May).

Participants engage in monthly, three-hour-long working sessions focused on course design principles and practices facilitated by Kaneb Center for Teaching Excellence faculty and staff. Participants also take part in peer classroom observations and consultations with learning designers and specialists as well as trained student pedagogical consultants to enhance their pedagogical leadership and support them throughout their design/redesign process.

With the approval of their department and college, each faculty member will receive a $3,000 contribution to their discretionary account for participating in the academy.

Goals

Upon successful completion of the Kaneb Center Course Design Academy, you will:

  • Complete a significant course design/redesign project using the backward design process
  • Be prepared to apply and share strategies for teaching inclusively
  • Extend the reach of your pedagogical leadership in and beyond your department
  • Form a community of other pedagogical leaders across the University

Expectations

KCCDA participants are expected to:

  • Attend monthly working sessions with KCCDA colleagues and Kaneb Center faculty and staff
  • Participate in a teaching observation with a KCCDA colleague
  • Meet for two individual consultations with Kaneb Center faculty and staff
  • Meet at least twice with a trained student pedagogical consultant for classroom observation, syllabus review, and/or major class assignment review
  • Contribute a short written post on an element of their teaching for the Notre Dame Learning website
  • Submit artifacts demonstrating a complete course design/redesign (i.e., complete syllabus, major assignment, and up to one associated lesson plan)

Academy Structure/What to Expect

Participants work alongside each other to discuss and apply practices and strategies to enhance student learning, create transformative learning experiences, and address challenges associated with teaching and learning. Some of the topics covered include:

  • Applying backward course design
  • Transparent assignment design
  • Interactive learning experiences
  • Grading, assessment, and feedback
  • AI benefits and limitations in teaching and learning
  • Teaching inclusively

Participants also have an opportunity to suggest topics they are interested in learning more about throughout the academy.

Tentative Schedule

We will meet once per month on Fridays from 9:00 a.m.–12:00 p.m. Breakfast will be provided. If you will need to miss more than two sessions, we advise enrolling another time.

Fall 2026

  • Friday, September 18
  • Friday, October 16
  • Friday, November 13
  • Friday, December 11

Spring 2027

  • Friday, January 22
  • Friday, February 19
  • Friday, March 19
  • Friday, April 16
  • Friday, May 7

Nomination Process

We accept nominations from deans or chairs. Remaining spots may be opened up for self-nomination.

Please note nominations for the 2026–27 KCCDA cohort are closed. We invite you to submit your nomination for the next academic year (2027–28). All nominations should be completed by August 1, 2027, to be considered for the upcoming cohort.

Form for Nominations or Self-Nominations

Email kaneb@nd.edu with inquiries.

Teaching Reflections from KCCDA Participants