The John N. Gardner Institute for Excellence in Undergraduate Education is a nonprofit organization that provides tools, consultation, and data-driven services to colleges, universities, philanthropic organizations, educators, and other educational institutions. An outgrowth of the Policy Center on the First Year of College, which began operations in 1999, the Institute was incorporated in 2007 as a nonprofit organization.

Since 1999, the Gardner Institute of Excellence in Undergraduate Education has provided hundreds of colleges and universities with tools and processes designed to enhance institutional approaches to the first year. Through its efforts, the organization aims to advance equity and social justice in higher education institutions.

Examples of the Gardner Institute of Excellence in Undergraduate Education’s work include:

• Development of regional consortia to support first-year initiatives
• Collaboration with research universities and other organizations to create a variety of assessment tools and instruments
• Sponsorship of a national campaign to recognize “Institutions of Excellence” in the first college year
• National surveys of first-year policies and practices
• Authorship of several major books and articles on topics related to the first year and other learner transitions

Resources

Garden Institute | News & Resources

Garden Institute | Partnerships