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CoLAB

Collaborate. Co-create. Contribute.

Program Overview

CoLAB is the Education Team's collaborative partnership program. Through CoLAB, we work alongside students, faculty, staff, and community partners to explore questions, develop initiatives, create learning experiences, and bring new ideas into practice.

In alignment with this year's theme, Imagining Towards... CoLAB welcomes projects at all stages—from concrete deliverables to emerging ideas that require space for reflection, experimentation, and possibility-building.

Some applicants may be invited to participate in a Futures Lab cohort, a small learning community for partners interested in speculative thinking, creative problem-solving, and exploring what new possibilities might emerge before a project is fully defined.

  • CoLAB: We are working with you on a project you’re already doing and offering support. We are not working for you.
  • Futures Lab: We will help you flesh out an idea, possibly alongside some other people working on developing projects. We are thinking with you, not for you. The goal is to leave this program with a clearer idea and concrete future directions.
Application opens August 30th

Program Details

What We Offer

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  • Collaborative Design and Development: Our team will partner with you to shape and launch your initiative, program, or resource.
  • Funding Support: Access to seed funding or full support depending on scope and alignment.
  • People Power: Dedicated hours from our facilitators, educational designers, and project managers.
  • Thought Partnership: Strategic insight from experienced educators and collaborators to make your idea sustainable and impactful.

Who Should Apply?

  • Faculty interested in creating new tools, programs, or cross-campus learning initiatives.
  • Staff seeking to build workshops, resource hubs, or pilot programs for their department or team.
  • Students hoping to develop tools or experiences that connect with the broader campus community.
  • Campus Offices looking to bring creative ideas to life with support from a skilled education team.

What We’re Looking For

  • We are especially interested in proposals that:

    • Respond to emerging needs or opportunities on campus.
    • Bridge roles, disciplines, or departments.
    • Offer new approaches to learning, working, or building connection.
    • Can be adapted, scaled, or shared across the university.
    • Contribute to a more engaged and responsive campus environment.

Examples to Spark Ideas

  • Partnering with an office to develop a Digital Wellness Toolkit for navigating campus tech tools more mindfully.
  • Collaborating with students and faculty to build a Pop-Up Exhibition on Local and Global Migration Stories.
  • Creating a Workshop Series on Navigating Uncertainty and Change, tailored for department staff or advisors.
  • Co-creating a Conversation Guide and Resource Collection for teams going through internal transitions.
  • Designing a Cross-Unit Training Module to support onboarding and shared team culture

Apply for CoLAB

Applications for CoLAB are open to all Northwestern faculty, staff, and student. Submit your application today!

Apply