About the Institutions

CIEL was first conceptualized by relatively like-minded campuses, particularly in their shared philosophy of progressive education and commitments to highly student-centered, heavily collaborative teaching and learning, experimentation, innovation, and interdisciplinary and experiential learning. They are schools whose history and practice indicated a willingness to take risks, schools that have taken leadership positions in higher education that involved advancing their practice beyond campus borders, while maintaining a certain humility about their role. However, they are also schools that are different enough so that faculty, staff, and administrators could learn from each other.

Higher education has witnessed a significant shift toward identifying, implementing, and evaluating the most effective educational practices by focusing directly on the teaching and learning process. CIEL member institutions are at the forefront of such innovation, showing particular success in student engagement. They are leaders whose experiences can be adapted to other colleges and universities to improve student learning and institutional culture.