2026 Academic Innovation Winter Institute to Cultivate Partnerships for Inclusive Excellence – Cal Poly Pomona

Report on the 2026 Academic Innovation Winter Institute and its Alignment with Sustainable Development Goals

Introduction and Event Overview

The Office of Academic Innovation at Cal Poly Pomona has announced the 2026 Academic Innovation Winter Institute, scheduled for January 14-15. The event’s theme, “Cultivating Partnerships for Inclusive Academic Excellence,” directly supports the United Nations’ Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) by focusing on collaborative strategies to enhance equitable student success. The institute will utilize the Kellogg Honors College (KHC) as a case study, examining its successful model of engaged learning, civic engagement, and undergraduate research which has resulted in higher graduation rates and reduced equity gaps, key metrics for sustainable educational development.

Alignment with SDG 4: Quality Education

The institute’s mission is fundamentally aligned with SDG 4, which aims to ensure inclusive and equitable quality education and promote lifelong learning opportunities for all. The event will contribute to this goal in several key areas:

• Target 4.3 (Equal Access to Tertiary Education): By focusing on “equitable student success,” the institute promotes strategies to ensure all individuals have equal access to and can thrive within quality higher education.
• Target 4.5 (Eliminate Disparities in Education): The KHC model serves as a practical framework for reducing equity gaps. The institute’s sessions on inclusive mentorship and belonging are designed to dismantle barriers and foster an educational environment where all students can succeed.
• Target 4.7 (Education for Sustainable Development): The emphasis on civic engagement and community-focused learning equips students with the knowledge and skills necessary to promote sustainable development and global citizenship.

Contribution to SDG 10: Reduced Inequalities

A central objective of the Winter Institute is to address and reduce inequalities within the educational system, directly supporting SDG 10. The event’s focus on “Inclusive Academic Excellence” is a direct response to the need for institutional structures that support students from all backgrounds. By dissecting the success of the KHC in closing achievement gaps, the institute provides attendees with actionable strategies to foster equity and inclusion on a broader scale, thereby contributing to a more just and equitable society.

Fostering SDG 17: Partnerships for the Goals

The institute’s theme, “Cultivating Partnerships for Inclusive Academic Excellence,” is a direct embodiment of SDG 17, which emphasizes the need for robust partnerships to achieve sustainable development. The event is structured to:

• Strengthen collaboration between academic and student service units, creating a more integrated and supportive institutional ecosystem.
• Encourage participants to seek out diverse collaborators across campus, fostering a culture of partnership essential for innovation and student success.
• Model how cross-unit collaborations can serve as a powerful mechanism for achieving shared institutional goals, mirroring the global partnerships required for the SDGs.

Broader SDG Implications

Beyond its primary alignment with SDGs 4, 10, and 17, the institute’s themes also support other global goals. The focus on inclusive practices contributes to SDG 5 (Gender Equality) by ensuring equitable opportunities for all genders. Furthermore, by enhancing student outcomes through engaged learning and undergraduate research, the institute supports SDG 8 (Decent Work and Economic Growth) by preparing a skilled and competent workforce.

Event Objectives and Participant Outcomes

Throughout the two-day interactive event, participants will work towards several key objectives:

1. Explore foundational themes such as inclusive mentorship, engaged learning, community belonging, and faculty-student research partnerships.
2. Identify transferable practices in mentorship and community building that can be applied within their respective units.
3. Strengthen collaborative ties between academic and student service departments to create a more holistic support system for students.
4. Examine strategies for expanding mentoring and program resilience through the development of student leadership roles.

All attendees will receive a digital badge acknowledging their professional development and commitment to inclusive excellence and engaged learning.

Registration and Contact Information

Faculty and staff are advised to register before the deadline of Friday, December 12. For additional details regarding the 2026 OAI Winter Institute, please visit the official website or contact the Office of Academic Innovation at ai@cpp.edu.

Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) Addressed

1. SDG 4: Quality Education

   The article is centered on an academic event, the “Academic Innovation Winter Institute,” which aims to improve the quality of university education. It emphasizes themes like “inclusive academic excellence,” “engaged learning,” “undergraduate research,” and achieving “strong student outcomes,” all of which are core components of providing quality education.

2. SDG 10: Reduced Inequalities

   A primary theme of the institute is “Inclusive Academic Excellence.” The article explicitly mentions the success of the Kellogg Honors College in achieving “lower equity gaps” and advancing “equitable student success.” This focus on creating inclusive environments and ensuring fair outcomes for all students directly addresses the goal of reducing inequalities within the educational system.

3. SDG 17: Partnerships for the Goals

   The institute’s theme is “Cultivating Partnerships for Inclusive Academic Excellence.” The article repeatedly highlights the importance of “fostering collaboration across campus,” “cross-campus partnerships,” and strengthening collaboration between different university units. This demonstrates a commitment to building partnerships to achieve the educational and equity goals discussed.

Specific SDG Targets Identified

SDG 4: Quality Education

• Target 4.3: By 2030, ensure equal access for all women and men to affordable and quality technical, vocational and tertiary education, including university. The article’s focus on improving student success and outcomes at Cal Poly Pomona, a university, directly relates to enhancing the quality of and access to tertiary education.
• Target 4.5: By 2030, eliminate gender disparities in education and ensure equal access to all levels of education and vocational training for the vulnerable. The emphasis on “equitable student success” and lowering “equity gaps” aligns with this target’s goal of ensuring equal access and outcomes for all student populations.

SDG 10: Reduced Inequalities

• Target 10.2: By 2030, empower and promote the social, economic and political inclusion of all, irrespective of… status. The institute’s goal to “build inclusive environments that empower both students and educators to thrive” is a direct application of this target within an academic context.
• Target 10.3: Ensure equal opportunity and reduce inequalities of outcome. The article’s mention of the Kellogg Honors College’s success in achieving “lower equity gaps” and “strong student outcomes” directly corresponds to this target of reducing inequalities of outcome.

SDG 17: Partnerships for the Goals

• Target 17.17: Encourage and promote effective public, public-private and civil society partnerships. The article showcases an initiative within a public university system to “foster collaboration across campus” and “strengthen collaboration between academic and student service units,” which is a practical application of building effective partnerships to achieve specific goals.

Indicators for Measuring Progress

1. Higher Graduation Rates

   The article explicitly states that the Kellogg Honors College’s model has led to “higher graduation rates.” This is a direct, quantifiable indicator that can be used to measure progress towards ensuring quality education and successful student outcomes (Target 4.3).

2. Lower Equity Gaps

   The mention of “lower equity gaps” is a key performance indicator mentioned in the article. This implies the measurement and comparison of outcomes (like graduation rates or academic performance) across different student demographics to track progress in reducing inequalities (Targets 4.5 and 10.3).

3. Student Participation in Engaged Learning Activities

   The article highlights “civic engagement and undergraduate research” as key activities. The rate of student participation in these programs can serve as an indicator of the quality and inclusiveness of the educational experience being offered.

4. Formation of Cross-Campus Partnerships

   The institute’s theme is to cultivate partnerships. The number and effectiveness of new “collaborations across campus units” that are formed as a result of the institute can be an indicator of progress towards Target 17.17.

Summary Table: SDGs, Targets, and Indicators

Source: cpp.edu