Institute on Experiential Learning and Engaged Dialogue

The AAC&U Institute on Experiential Learning and Engaged Dialogue (IELED) is a four-day, online, team-based institute for colleges and universities committed to strengthening applied learning, dialogue across difference, and civic preparation.

Through expert guidance, workshops, and collaborative design, campus teams examine existing practices, identify opportunities for alignment, and build shared capacity across academic and student-affairs contexts. Teams leave the institute with a focused action plan to advance this work across the curriculum, cocurriculum, and the institutional structures that support student success and belonging.

Who Should Attend

IELED is designed for colleges and universities at any stage of integrating experiential learning and engaged dialogue.

Campus teams may include

• senior academic officers who can champion campuswide implementation;
• faculty and staff leaders aligning curriculum, pedagogy, and student experiences;
• student affairs, career services, and community engagement professionals connecting learning to community and career pathways; and
• other cross-campus partners essential for scaling these approaches.

Institutions committed to strengthening civic learning, applied learning, and engagement across difference are strongly encouraged to attend.

What You'll Gain

With guidance from national experts and experienced practitioners, your team will

• develop or refine a comprehensive plan to scale experiential learning and engaged dialogue;
• explore frameworks that help students navigate difference, collaborate across perspectives, and engage ethically with communities;
• strengthen institutional capacity to align learning with democratic engagement and career readiness; and
• join a national network advancing inclusive, high-impact learning environments.

How You'll Put What You Learn into Practice

In a fully online environment, your team will

• learn from scholars and practitioners in experiential learning, civic engagement, and dialogue-centered pedagogy;
• participate in applied workshops and scenario-based activities;
• collaborate across roles to align institutional vision, student success goals, and community-engaged initiatives;
• examine how polarization, inequity, and difference shape student learning and campus climate; and
• explore approaches for creating inclusive learning spaces for complex issues and diverse viewpoints.

Beyond the Institute

Participating teams join a national community of practice dedicated to advancing applied learning, dialogue across difference, and students’ civic and career preparation.