The Harriet W. Sheridan Center for Teaching and Learning

Equitable Learning Inquiry Program

Sheridan’s Equitable Learning Inquiry (ELI) Program provides resources and support to help faculty members investigate the extent to which student experiences and outcomes in foundational courses are equitable for students from different backgrounds and identity groups that have been historically underrepresented in academia or specific disciplines.

In the ELI Program, faculty members in the humanities, life sciences, physical sciences, and social sciences work with colleagues to:

  • Examine what equitable learning means in their courses.
  • Consider course-level data disaggregated by key demographic groups, including first-generation, historically underrepresented groups, international, and gender identities.
  • Develop and pilot an evidence-based change to their course.
  • Assess the impact.

Foundational courses refer to courses that provide entry points into a field of study, provide foundational knowledge and skills required in a range of disciplines, or focus on advanced skills necessary for success in a discipline. The ELI Program prioritizes working with faculty who teach courses that serve a large number of Brown students, including courses with many small sections. ELI Fellows will receive a stipend of $2,500 during their participation in the program.

Please send any questions to Sheridan_Center@brown.edu.

Key Program Dates

  • March 1, 2024: Call for applications
  • March 22, 2024: Application deadline
  • March 29, 2024: Faculty Cohort notified
  • June 3-4, 2024: 2-day ELI Institute
  • August 13, 2024: ELI Implementation Workshop
  • Fall 2024 and Spring 2025 Semesters: 1:1 Data Collection Meetings
  • June 10, 2025: ELI Data Analysis Workshop
  • June 18, 2025: ELI Showcase at the ELI Institute

The ELI Program has been made possible by a generous three-year grant from the Davis Educational Foundation.