FAQs

When designing a new course or redesigning an existing one, the two most important questions you can ask are: “What do I hope my students will know, value, and be able to do 3-5 years after taking my course?” and “Why is this important to me?” Spending time in advance of CDI contemplating these questions will greatly facilitate the design process. We will send you a few key readings 1-2 weeks prior to CDI and invite you to participate in a discussion board to engage with your fellow participants.  

 Yes, there is a registration fee for CDI ($1350). The fee covers all programming costs, including consultation services with faculty and student consultants, meals and refreshments throughout the institute, and physical materials such as worksheets and office supplies. Please refer to the Registration & Payment page for full details about the cost and payment process.   

 Some UVA postdoc classifications are eligible for the Education Benefit. You can visit the University Human Resources (UHR) website to verify your status. If you are ineligible, you may apply for CDI with graduate student status, meaning that if accepted, the CTE will cover your registration fees.   

 CDI is limited to approximately 40 participants.

Full attendance at CDI will best support your learning and that of your fellow participants. During CDI, you’ll work in a small, interdisciplinary group of instructors. This learning community will provide you with thoughtful, constructive feedback, diverse perspectives, and general support and encouragement. Because the success of the learning teams depends on your active engagement, we ask that you plan to attend each meeting and come with your “homework” completed. 

Practically speaking, participants who pay for CDI with UVA’s Education Benefit will need to show proof of program completion (a UVA HR requirement). The CTE provides proof of program completion to participants who miss no more than one day of CDI and who complete all work associated with the program.  

The CTE strives to accept as many applicants to CDI as possible. The program is intended for faculty, though a few graduate students and post-doctoral scholars may be accepted, contingent upon space and funding availability. Most participants whose professional and pedagogical goals align with CDI's stated purposes and objectives will be accepted.

Sometimes (though not often), space constraints will prevent us from accepting all participants. In such cases, decisions will be made based on these factors: 1) the desire to achieve a broad representation of disciplines and course types among participants; 2) the need for some applicants to complete CDI as a prerequisite to other CTE programs; and 3) the centrality of CDI to an instructors’ goals and plans (an applicant who articulates design goals for a specific upcoming course will be prioritized over one who wishes to participate for general professional development reasons, with no specific course in mind);