Summer Institute 2026
It takes a village: Coming together to rediscover the value and means of transformative learning and student success
Since 2014, the Summer Institute has provided faculty, staff, administrators, and graduate students the chance to gather for 2.5 days in May to learn, share, and grow in a passionate, collaborative, and supportive teaching and learning community.
This year’s iteration will tackle the most pressing issues of the day including:
- Educating in the era of AI
- Supporting student development, growth, and belonging
- Teaching in an accessible manner that serves all students
- Honing the foundations of good teaching and learning
- And many more...
The event is free, in-person, and open to anyone involved with the undergraduate teaching and learning enterprise at Virginia Tech. We will cap attendance at 300.
We hope you will join us! Registration will open in early March.
May 20, 21, and 22
Keynote Speaker
Dr. Josh Eyler, Senior Director of Center for Excellence in Teaching and Learning and Assistant Professor of Teacher Education, The University of Mississippi
What attendees said about last year's event:
"This conference helped to recharge me from a harder-than-average semester. It gave me ideas to try and inspired me to want to make changes in how I teach. I now feel ready to dive in and prepare for the fall."
"This was an outstanding conference. I'm so glad I was finally free in May and hope to attend consistently for the rest of my career."
Feedback from last year's event:
This year’s participants ranked "I learned things that I can apply to my work” as 4.81/5, “I plan to attend the institute next year” as 4.73/5, and “I would recommend the institute to a colleague” as 4.74/5.
Schedule-at-a-Glance
| Time & Location | Information |
|---|---|
| 2:00–4:00 p.m. | Welcome with Vice Provost Jill Sible Keynote presentation with Josh Eyler Overview of the incoming student class with Juan Espinoza |
| Time & Location | Information |
|---|---|
| 8:00–9:00 a.m. | Registration |
| 9:00–10:00 a.m. | Opening Interactive All-Call Workshop |
| 10:00 a.m.–12:00 p.m. | Morning Concurrent Sessions |
| 12:00–1:00 p.m. | Catered Lunch |
| 1:00–4:00 p.m. | Afternoon Concurrent Sessions |
| 4:30–6:30 p.m. | Offsite Social Gathering, Sponsored by CETL |
| Time & Location | Information |
|---|---|
| 8:00–9:00 a.m. | Registration |
| 9:00 a.m.–3:30 p.m. | Assorted workshops and cohort gatherings with catered lunch |
Sponsors
Career and Professional Development, Center for Excellence in Teaching and Learning, Office for Inclusive Strategy and Excellence, Office of Undergraduate Education, Student Success Initiatives, Technology-Enhanced Learning and Online Strategies, and Hokie Wellness