Interfaith America is proud to announce the second Teaching & Learning Pluralism (TLP) Cohort, a distinguished group of campus Centers for Teaching and Learning (CTLs) committed to integrating pluralism into faculty development and undergraduate learning.  

Through this initiative, participating institutions will strengthen their capacity to equip faculty with the skills, resources, and pedagogical approaches needed to foster mutually inspiring relationships, respect across differences, and cooperation for the common good. 

Each participating institution is eligible to receive grants of up to $10,000 to support pluralism-focused faculty development initiatives. The cohort brings together a diverse mix of public and private institutions from across the country, reflecting a shared commitment to strengthening classroom cultures where students can engage thoughtfully across diverse identities, perspectives, and experiences. 

The cohort will launch at the 2026 Interfaith Leadership Summit in Chicago, where institutional teams will engage in workshops on pluralism-centered pedagogy and collaborate with peers from across higher education. Participants will develop implementation plans tailored to their campuses, helping faculty build the skills necessary to navigate challenging conversations and create learning environments characterized by mutual respect and engagement across deep difference. 

Over the course of the 2026-2027 academic year, cohort teams will participate in virtual convenings, peer-learning opportunities, and professional development experiences designed to advance pluralism-centered teaching and learning. Participants will also receive ongoing guidance from Interfaith America as they develop and implement sustainable strategies for integrating pluralism into their CTL programming. We are excited to partner with these outstanding institutions as they advance pluralism through faculty development and classroom innovation. Together, they represent a growing network of higher education leaders committed to preparing students for success in a diverse and interconnected world. 

Here are the participants of the 2026-2027 Teaching & Learning Pluralism Cohort: 

• Coastal Carolina University (Conway, SC) 

• The City University of New York (CUNY) Hunter College (New York, NY) 

• Governors State University (University Park, IL) 

• Southern Methodist University (Dallas, TX) 

• The State University of New York (SUNY) Oswego (Oswego, NY) 

Throughout the academic year, each CTL team will design and implement strategic initiatives to advance pluralistic teaching and learning on their campuses. These efforts may include faculty development workshops, learning communities, curricular resources, faculty fellowships, and other sustainable programming designed to help educators cultivate classrooms where students can learn across differences and engage diverse perspectives with curiosity and respect.  

Members of the 2026-2027 cohort will also have opportunities to engage with institutions from the inaugural (2025-2026) Teaching & Learning Pluralism Cohort through a series of shared virtual convenings. These cross-cohort conversations will allow participants to learn from peers who have already implemented pluralism-focused faculty development initiatives, exchange emerging best practices, and strengthen a growing national network of educators committed to advancing classroom pluralism. 

We look forward to the innovative work this cohort will accomplish and the impact these institutions will have on strengthening pluralism in higher education. Stay tuned for updates as their projects take shape over the coming year.