Center for New Designs in Learning and Scholarship

What Center for New Designs in Learning and Scholarship does

The Center for New Designs in Learning and Scholarship (CNDLS) is Georgetown University's internal center for teaching innovation, research, and pedagogical excellence, founded in 1999 and operating as a nonprofit academic support unit within the university. CNDLS serves Georgetown faculty, graduate student instructors, academic departments, and students through a portfolio of programs (including the AI Lab, Apprenticeship in Teaching, LEAP Initiative, Engelhard Project, IPAI, and the annual TLISI Summer Institute), services (consultations, Curriculum Enrichment Grants, Mid-Semester Teaching Feedback, Applied AI Microcredential, DLTA Program, Teaching Communities, Assessment & Analytics, Classroom Design, and Online Programs), and a substantial content library (AI Toolkit, Inclusive Pedagogy Toolkit, Inquiry and Discourse Toolkit, Active Learning guides, Syllabus Policies, and the What We're Learning About Learning podcast).

Technically, CNDLS does not develop proprietary software or AI models. Its expertise is pedagogical and advisory: the center provides guidance on integrating institutional technology platforms including Canvas LMS, Panopto, Turnitin, VoiceThread, Zoom, Gradescope, Tableau, Omeka, and AI tools (Gemini, NotebookLM, ChatGPT, Claude, and others). It maintains curated resource notebooks, hosts workshops on building custom GPTs and using AI for assignment design, and publishes guidance on AI policy, ethics, and instructional use. Its technology stack is integration-oriented rather than product-oriented.

CNDLS operates a community-led go-to-market motion entirely within Georgetown University, reaching faculty through institutional channels, departmental partnerships, workshops, events, and direct consultations. It is funded through Georgetown University's institutional academic budget and provides all services free of charge. The center has no external customers, no commercial pricing, and no revenue generation; its economic model is sustained institutional funding rather than market-based income. CNDLS holds partnerships with UIS (technology infrastructure), the Georgetown University Library (digital scholarship), and several academic programs including the Academic Honor Council, Writing Program, Engelhard Project, Doyle Program, Campus Ministry, and the Center for Research and Fellowships.

Name

Center for New Designs in Learning and Scholarship

Legal name

Center for New Designs in Learning and Scholarship

Website

https://cndls.georgetown.edu

Company type

Private

Founded year

1999

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

CNDLS is Georgetown University's internal center for teaching innovation, founded in 1999, that provides pedagogical consulting, programs, and resources to Georgetown faculty, students, and academic departments at no cost, funded through the university's institutional budget.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Higher Education Faculty Development

NAICS

Educational Support Services (61171), Colleges, Universities, and Professional Schools (6113)

SIC

Services-Educational Services (8200), Services-Management Consulting Services (8742)

akta.pro primary industry

Academic Support & Learning Assistance (Tutoring Centers) (EDALABAF)

akta.pro secondary industry

Arts, Humanities & Creative Research Universities (EDAHABAG)

Keywords

• Higher education pedagogy
• Faculty development programs
• Teaching innovation services
• Inclusive pedagogy support
• Educational technology consulting

Headquarters

HQ city

Washington

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Technology or R&D, Others

Revenue model

1. Institutional Funding: CNDLS is funded as a center within Georgetown University's institutional budget. All services, programs, and resources are provided free of charge to Georgetown faculty and students. The center does not generate commercial revenue.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels4 records

Marketing channels6 records

Core offering

CNDLS is Georgetown University's central hub for teaching innovation, research, and excellence, providing pedagogical consulting, programs, services, and resources to Georgetown faculty, students, and academic units. The center offers one-on-one consultations, workshops, fellowships (Apprenticeship in Teaching), annual institutes (TLISI), curriculum enrichment grants, AI integration support, inclusive pedagogy toolkits, and teaching communities. All offerings are provided free of charge and funded through Georgetown University's institutional budget.

Product overview

CNDLS (Center for New Designs in Learning and Scholarship) is Georgetown University's central hub for teaching innovation, research, and excellence. The center offers a comprehensive ecosystem of programs (including the AI Lab, Apprenticeship in Teaching, LEAP Initiative, Engelhard Project, IPAI, and TLISI), services (Consultations, Mid-Semester Teaching Feedback, Applied AI Microcredential, DLTA Program, Teaching Communities, Curriculum Enrichment Grants), and resources (AI Toolkit, Inclusive Pedagogy Toolkit, Digital Learning Tools, Active Learning guides, Teaching Well-Being resources, Syllabus Policies, Canvas course design guides, and the What We're Learning About Learning podcast). The center supports faculty across all modalities—on-campus, hybrid, and online—through direct consultation, workshops, grants, and self-service resources, with particular emphasis on AI integration, inclusive pedagogy, and experiential learning.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• CNDLS AI Lab Initiative to help departments and programs thoughtfully engage with AI in educational practices, providing guidance and support for integrating AI tools into teaching.
• Apprenticeship in Teaching (AT) Program Teaching skills program designed for students who are teaching or serving as teaching assistants, providing pedagogical training and professional development.
• The Engelhard Project for Connecting Life and Learning Program for faculty on incorporating wellbeing activities and perspectives into the classroom using a curriculum infusion model, partnering with campus health professionals.
• Learning, Equity, Access, and Pedagogy (LEAP) Initiative Program for building and sustaining inclusive learning at Georgetown through equity-centered pedagogical approaches.
• Initiative on Pedagogical Uses of AI (IPAI) Innovation grants designed to support AI explorations at Georgetown, providing funding for faculty to experiment with AI tools in their teaching.
• Teaching, Learning & Innovation Summer Institute (TLISI) Annual multi-day institute exploring topics in pedagogy through workshops, keynotes, and presentations for Georgetown faculty and staff.
• Applied AI Microcredential Microcredential program for faculty to develop applied AI skills for educational use, offered as a service for professional development.
• Consultations One-on-one consulting services for faculty on teaching practices, course design, and integrating technology into instruction.
• Mid-Semester Teaching Feedback Assessment technique conducted at semester midpoint allowing faculty to gather student feedback for mid-course adjustments.
• Curriculum Enrichment Grants Funding opportunities for faculty to enrich curriculum through innovative teaching projects and pedagogical enhancements.
• Digital Learning Technology Assistants (DLTA) Program Undergraduate student assistants who help integrate technology into courses, providing technical support for faculty.
• Teaching Communities Collaborative communities of practice for faculty to share teaching experiences and pedagogical strategies.
• Assessment & Analytics Service for academic programs and units providing assessment strategy support and learning analytics to inform program improvement.
• Online Programs Support for academic units developing and delivering online programs, including instructional design guidance.
• Artificial Intelligence (AI) Toolkit Comprehensive teaching guide covering AI integration in courses, assignment design, course policies, research, accessibility, and student perspectives on AI.
• Inclusive Pedagogy Toolkit Resource offering concrete suggestions for designing inclusive, equitable learning environments through five key aspects: Content, Pedagogy, Assessment, Climate, Power, and Mentorship.
• Inquiry and Discourse Toolkit Toolkit for fostering conditions for open, respectful discourse and intellectual exploration in the classroom.
• The CNDLS Podcast: What We're Learning About Learning Podcast series featuring Georgetown faculty and staff discussing teaching and learning topics including AI in education, belonging, accessibility, and pedagogical innovations.

Named customers3 records

Segments3 records

Ideal customer profiles3 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Integration18 records

AI capability11 records

Partnerships

Eight partnerships are on record, tiered core, major and supporting.

• University Information Services (UIS)coreTechnology or IntegrationUIS provides the technical infrastructure and institutional subscriptions for digital learning tools supported by CNDLS, including Canvas LMS, Panopto, Zoom, and other educational technology platforms. CNDLS provides pedagogical guidance for using these tools while UIS handles technical support and platform management.
• Georgetown University LibrarycoreTechnology or IntegrationThe Library partners with CNDLS on digital scholarship tools including Omeka for digital collections, data visualization tools like Tableau, and research support resources. The Library provides technical support for these platforms while CNDLS offers pedagogical integration guidance.
• Academic Honor CouncilmajorStrategic or Co-development PartnerThe Academic Honor Council works with CNDLS on developing guidance for AI tool usage in courses relative to Georgetown's Honor Code. CNDLS references the Honor Council's policies in AI teaching resources.
• Writing ProgrammajorStrategic or Co-development PartnerThe Georgetown Writing Program collaborates with CNDLS on resources for AI in writing instruction and writing pedagogy. Joint resources include guidance on teaching writing with AI tools.
• Campus MinistrysupportingStrategic or Co-development PartnerCampus Ministry partners with CNDLS on resources for religious and spiritual diversity in the classroom, contributing clergy perspectives to CNDLS podcasts and teaching resources.
• Engelhard Project for Connecting Life and LearningmajorStrategic or Co-development PartnerThe Engelhard Project, focused on integrating health and wellness into academic courses, operates as a collaborative initiative with CNDLS support, offering course profiles and faculty fellowship opportunities.
• Doyle Program on Engaging DifferencesupportingStrategic or Co-development PartnerThe Doyle Program provides faculty development on bringing conversations about difference into the classroom, complementing CNDLS's inclusive pedagogy resources.
• Center for Research and FellowshipssupportingStrategic or Co-development PartnerThe Center for Research and Fellowships works with CNDLS on undergraduate research opportunities and the GUROP program, collaborating on student research support resources.

Scale indicators1 record

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights4 records

Direct peers

• Stanford Center for Teaching and Learning: Stanford's hub for teaching excellence, offering faculty workshops, course design support, and teaching certificate programs. Operates as a comparable internal academic center within a private research university.
• MIT Teaching and Learning Lab: MIT's center for evidence-based teaching practices, providing pedagogical research, consultations, and instructional support. Comparable in mission and institutional placement to CNDLS.
• Columbia Center for Teaching and Learning: Columbia's teaching center offering course design consultations, teaching observations, and inclusive pedagogy resources. Direct peer in scope and function within a private research university.
• Yale Center for Teaching and Learning: Yale's center for teaching innovation providing pedagogical support, resources, and programs for Yale faculty. Structural and functional peer to CNDLS as a private-university teaching hub.
• Bok Center for Teaching and Learning (Harvard): Harvard's equivalent teaching and learning center, providing pedagogical support, consultations, and programs for Harvard faculty. Direct structural peer — both are university-embedded teaching innovation centers serving a private research university faculty base.
• Center for Innovative Teaching and Learning (Indiana University): Indiana University's center for instructional support, offering course design help, teaching consultations, and technology integration guidance. Comparable in mission and services offered.
• Vanderbilt Center for Teaching: Vanderbilt's center supporting faculty with pedagogical development, course design, and inclusive teaching. Direct peer in offering faculty development programs and teaching resources.

Others

• Every Learner Everywhere: Network of organizations supporting evidence-based teaching practices and equitable learning in higher education. Thematically adjacent — works on inclusive pedagogy and instructional improvement similar to CNDLS's LEAP and Inclusive Pedagogy Toolkit work.
• Intentional Futures: Higher education consulting firm advising universities on teaching, learning, and technology strategy. Adjacent service provider that competes for the same faculty-development and instructional design budgets that CNDLS-related work touches.

Broad incumbents

• EDUCAUSE: Higher education IT and learning association serving a broad membership of institutions with teaching, learning, and technology resources. Broader industry incumbent that publishes toolkits, runs conferences, and supports similar faculty development work across universities.

Market position

Strengths4 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat3 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/cndls
• Facebookfacebook.com/cndls
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/the-center-for-new-designs-in-learning-and-scholarship

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles1 record

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

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M&A

Investments

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Frequently asked questions about Center for New Designs in Learning and Scholarship