Each Winter Institute is part of a series of annual, weeklong, intensive programs of presentations, small group mentoring, Special Interest Group meetings (SIGs), and participant dialogue on a theme relating to some aspect of learning assistance. 

Limited to 60 participants, the Winter Institutes are based on a teaching/learning philosophy created by Frank L Christ. Winter Institutes are designed to provide participants with optimal learning experiences that can be translated into practical actions upon participants return to their institutions.   

From 1992 to 2003, the Winter Institutes were co-sponsored by the University Learning Center of the University of Arizona and the Maricopa County Community College District. NoWinter Institute was held in 2004.

A new series of Winter Institutes began in 2005 sponsored by the University Learning Center, University of Texas/Austin with Alan Constant, the Director of the Learning Center at the University of Texas at Austin as its director and Frank Christ as its Associate Director.