Faculty Development Institutes are sustained programs which run throughout the academic year and focus on developing a teaching strategy or approach. The cohort (10-15 members) meets approximately once a month with a coach/mentor. Times and dates will be decided by group members. The program provides an opportunity to learn new skills and strategies and then have time to develop, implement, reflect and revise them throughout the year.

In many ways they are similar; a FDI can be classified as a type of Learning Community. The decision of a participant to enroll in a FDI or a Learning Community is usually based on interest in the offered theme or topic. FDIs tend to be more structured with the fall focusing on concept and skill development and then the participants working on their own projects in the winter such as course redesigns or teaching related scholarship. Learning Communities tend to evolve as they progress based on the interests of the participants. FDIs are aimed for faculty where as LC are open to faculty, professional staff and graduate students. FDIs are facilitated by a CETL faculty member (Faculty Fellow or CETL Director) where as other Learning Communities are run by interested university faculty or academic professionals.