2026 Academic Innovation Winter Institute to Cultivate Partnerships for Inclusive Excellence
The Office of Academic Innovation invites Cal Poly Pomona faculty and staff to register for the 2026 Academic Innovation Winter Institute.
The event is set for Jan. 14-15 from 8:30 a.m. to 4 p.m. in Building 162, room 1001. The institute’s theme is “Cultivating Partnerships for Inclusive Academic Excellence,” with the event spotlighting the Kellogg Honors College as a model for fostering collaboration across campus that advances equitable student success.
Since 2003, the Kellogg Honors College has championed engaged learning through community, honors courses, civic engagement and undergraduate research, leading to higher graduation rates, lower equity gaps, and strong student outcomes.
The Winter Institute will use KHC as a case study to explore how cross-campus partnerships can build inclusive environments that empower both students and educators to thrive.
“This year’s OAI Winter Institute highlights the Kellogg Honors College as a model of how collaborations across campus units can lead to inclusive excellence,” said Claudia Garcia Des-Lauriers, director of the Kellogg Honors College. “We hope that it will spark conversation and encourage participants to seek out diverse collaborators or build their own models of collaboration for supporting and expanding student success.”
Throughout the two-day interactive event, participants will explore key themes such as inclusive mentorship and advising, engaged learning, connection, belonging, and undergraduate research and faculty partnerships. Through hands-on sessions and discussions, attendees will identify transferable practices in mentorship, engagement, and community building, strengthen collaboration between academic and student service units, and explore ways to expand mentoring and program resilience through student leadership.
“Inclusive mentorship and hands-on learning are at the core of how we help students thrive beyond the classroom,” said Nina Abramzon, chair of the Department of Physics and Astronomy. “The Winter Institute is a great opportunity for our campus community to come together and share ideas.”
All attendees will earn a digital badge recognizing their commitment to inclusive excellence and engaged learning, ideal for professional portfolio or LinkedIn profile.
Faculty and staff are encouraged to register before the Friday, December 12 deadline to secure their spot.
For more information on the upcoming 2026 OAI Winter Institute, visit the website or contact the Office of Academic Innovation at ai@cpp.edu.