Alternative Grading Institute

Overview

The Alternative Grading Institute is an intensive, hands-on, online experience where faculty learn core concepts of alternative grading and build a course-ready grading scheme.

• Day 1 focuses on aligning grading with your pedagogical values and context, and comparing standards-based, specifications, and collaborative grading.
• Day 2 is a guided design sprint in your chosen approach, with structured feedback from facilitators and peers.

Participants leave with a concrete grading plan, peer feedback, and resources for implementation.

Eligibility & Expectations

The Institute is open to higher-education instructors from all institution types (2-year, 4-year, public/private, minority-serving, research-intensive, comprehensive, liberal arts). Participants are expected to…

• Bring one specific course you plan to revise (syllabus or outline encouraged).
• Have basic familiarity with learning-centered course design concepts (learning objectives, alignment, scaffolding).
• Commit to full participation across both days and light pre-work.

Facilitators

The Institute is led by a team of experienced educational developers and faculty who bring both broad and deep expertise in alternative grading.

• Each facilitator has general knowledge across the major approaches and specific expertise in one of the three primary schemes: standards-based, specifications, or collaborative grading.
• Collectively, they have published peer-reviewed research on alternative grading, authored widely read blog posts, and presented workshops at national conferences.
• They are skilled facilitators with strong ties to university teaching and learning centers as well as the Center for Grading Reform.