The Office of Undergraduate Advising invites faculty advisors, professional staff advisors, and campus partners to join us for Coffee & Conversations: a morning of networking, collaboration, and meaningful discussion in a welcoming and inclusive environment.

Connect with colleagues from across the University, exchange ideas and best practices, and learn more about advising initiatives, campus resources, and the spaces that support student success. Coffee will be served.

Thursday, September 17, 2026, 10:00 a.m. – 12:00 p.m.

Location: Susan Herbst Hall (SHH), Room 408, Storrs Campus

REGISTER HERE

The College of Liberal Arts and Sciences Academic Advising Team invites faculty advisors, professional staff advisors, and campus partners to join us for Coffee & Conversations: a morning of networking, collaboration, and meaningful discussion in a welcoming and inclusive environment.

Connect with colleagues from across the University, exchange ideas and best practices, and learn more about advising initiatives, campus resources, and the spaces that support student success. Coffee will be served.

Thursday, February 11, 2027, 10:00 a.m. – 12:00 p.m.

Location: Susan Herbst Hall (SHH), Room 408, Storrs Campus

REGISTER HERE

This session focuses on two areas where institutional policies frequently influence academic decisions. Advisors will gain a better understanding of financial aid and immigration-related considerations, common student questions, and effective referral practices.

Monday, September 21, 2026, 2:00 – 3:00 p.m. (Virtual)

Presenters:

• Arthur Galinat, Director, International Student & Scholar Services
• Suzanne Peters, Director, Office of Student Financial Aid Services

REGISTER HERE

Whether you are new to advising or looking for a refresher, this session provides an introduction to undergraduate faculty advising at UConn. Participants will gain an understanding of the role of advising, key university policies and processes, essential advising systems, and the resources available to support effective advising and student success.

Topics include:

• Introduction to undergraduate advising at UConn
• Academic policies and key university offices
• Advising systems and tools, including Nexus, the Student Administration System, and HuskyCT
• Campus resources that support effective advising and student success
• Opportunities to connect with colleagues and continue your growth as a faculty advisor

Thursday, October 8, 2026, 12:30 – 1:30 p.m. (Virtual)

Presenters:

• Erin Ciarimboli, Director of Undergraduate Advising
• Kelly Gilbert, Assistant Director for Engagement, Learning, and Development, Office of Undergraduate Advising

REGISTER HERE

Structured advising programming can be a valuable tool for delivering timely, consistent student guidance while still supporting one-on-one advising. Whether you’re working with a large caseload or a smaller group of students, an Advising Education Program can help address common advising questions, support students’ transition to college, and create more opportunities for meaningful engagement.

In this session, we’ll walk through our process for identifying student advising needs, developing learning outcomes, and choosing the right format, whether it’s virtual, in-person, or both. We’ll also share tips, examples of CoE Undergrad Advising programming, and lessons learned from our experience of building and refining our advising program.  Our goal is for advisors to leave with ideas that can be adapted for your own students and programming needs.

Thursday, October 15, 2026, 10:00 a.m. – 11:00am (Virtual)

Presenters:

• Amy Donofrio, Associate Director, Undergraduate Program & Academic Advising, Undergraduate Program, College of Engineering
• Ashley Rose Slotkin, Associate Director for the Undergraduate Program, Academic Advising, College of Engineering

REGISTER HERE

How can coaching enhance the work of academic advisors? This panel discussion explores practical coaching strategies grounded in the University of Central Florida’s Higher Education Coaching Academy student success coaching framework. Panelists will discuss how coaching techniques can help advisors foster student reflection, encourage problem solving, and support students in taking ownership of their academic success. Participants will leave with practical tools they can immediately apply to strengthen advising conversations and promote student growth.

Wednesday, October 21, 2026, 1:00 – 2:00 p.m. (Virtual)

Moderator:

• Whitney Losapio, Executive Director, Undergraduate Programs, College of Engineering

Panelists:

• Kristin Glinsak, Assistant Director, Undergraduate Programs Office, School of Business
• Trevor Madore, ACES Advisor
• Kiara Ruesta Schliphack, College Success Coach, RISE, Hartford Campus

REGISTER HERE

This session is designed for advisors, faculty, and staff who support students in the Academic Standing Program. Participants will gain a comprehensive understanding of program requirements, academic standing policies, and the processes used to support students with a focus on the academic dismissal process. The session will also provide hands-on guidance for using the Academic Standing Program’s Slate platform and applying consistent practices across schools, colleges, and regional campuses.

Topics include:

Overview of the Academic Standing Program and student requirements

Academic standing and dismissal policies and procedures

Evaluating dismissal decisions and applying university standards consistently

Using the Academic Standing Program Slate system to manage student records, communications, and workflows

Resources, best practices, and opportunities for collaboration with colleagues

Who should attend?

Academic advisors, faculty advisors, and campus partners involved in Academic Success Plan meetings and the academic dismissal review process.

Thursday, December 10, 2026, 2:00 – 3:00 p.m. (Virtual)

Presenter:

• Kelly Gilbert, Assistant Director for Engagement, Learning, and Development, Office of Undergraduate Advising

REGISTER HERE

This interactive session will focus on developing and/or refining the framework of your advising philosophy, an essential tool to grounding and guiding the work of all advisors.

Participants will leave this session with the ability to:

• Articulate a personal advising philosophy that reflects core values, beliefs, and goals in student support and development.
• Evaluate and refine existing advising frameworks to ensure alignment with institutional mission, student needs, and professional standards.
• Apply advising philosophy as a guiding tool for decision-making, relationship-building, and continuous improvement in advising practice.

Wednesday, February 10, 2027, 10:00 – 11:00 a.m.

HBL 1102, Storrs Campus with virtual option

Presenters:

• Caitlin Robertson, Academic Advisor, Chemistry Department, College of Liberal Arts and Sciences
• Nicole Santoro, Academic Advisor, Academic Advisor, Admissions and Enrollment, School of Nursing, Waterbury

REGISTER HERE

Knowing When and How to Connect Students with the Right Support

Academic advisors are often the first to recognize when a student needs support beyond the advising relationship. This session will provide an overview of three key campus partners: the Dean of Students Office, the Office of Student Care and Concern (CARE Team), and the Office for Inclusion and Civil Rights (Title IX). Participants will learn the purpose of each office, the types of concerns each addresses, and how to make timely, appropriate referrals that support student success while maintaining their role as an advisor.

Through case-based discussion and practical guidance, advisors will strengthen their confidence in responding to students experiencing personal challenges, concerning behaviors, or issues involving sex-based discrimination, harassment, or sexual misconduct. The session will also highlight resources available through Undergraduate Advising to help advisors navigate difficult conversations and connect students with the right support at the right time.

Participants will learn how to:

• Identify situations that warrant a referral to the Dean of Students Office, the Office of Student Care and Concern, or the Title IX Office.
• Distinguish the unique roles and responsibilities of each office and understand how they collaborate to support students.
• Recognize indicators of student distress and understand when a CARE Team referral is appropriate.
• Respond to disclosures with empathy while understanding advisor responsibilities and available reporting and support options.
• Apply advising best practices to connect students with campus resources while maintaining appropriate professional boundaries and promoting student well-being.

Thursday, March 11, 2027, 10:00 – 11:30 a.m. (Virtual)

Presenters:

• Maureen Armstrong, Assistant to the Vice President of Student Affairs, Dean of Students Office
• Kymberley Hendricks, Director, Student Care and Concern
• Jess Holman, Title IX Compliance and Education Specialist

REGISTER HERE

UConn is transitioning to an updated version of Nexus. Join the I3 Team for an overview of the new interface, enhanced features, and improvements designed to support your advising and student success work. This session will highlight key changes, demonstrate updated functionality, and provide practical tips to help you navigate the new version with confidence and make the most of its tools in your daily practice.

Date/Time: TBD

Advisors often play the “helper” role in our students’ development – even when we love and take pride in doing it well, we can still feel depleted. This workshop introduces psychological capital (PsyCap) & discusses the impact of noticing and strengthening hope, (self-)efficacy, resilience, and optimism (HERO) in ourselves and our students. Participants will engage in four, short lessons which can be utilized together or reused across multiple sessions to recenter and reclaim our PsyCap. In the words of Mufasa, “Look inside yourself. You are more than what you have become.” So, let’s “go from zero to HERO” and have some fun.

Thursday, February 11, 2027, 2:00 – 3:00 p.m. (Hybrid; HBL 1102 or Teams)

Presenter:

• Amy McKeon, Academic Advisor, Allied Health Sciences

REGISTER HERE

This session provides new advisors with a chance to meet in person, exchange experiences and resources, improve their advising skills, and ask questions.

Presenters:

• Abby Clark, Academic Advisor, Admissions and Enrollment, School of Nursing
• Kristen Dostaler, Academic Advisor, College of Agriculture, Health and Natural Resources (CAHNR)

REGISTER HERE

While having a desire to serve others is laudable, sometimes while doing this, our plates can get filled up. Attendees will leave the session with tools and practices that will reduce energy loss and help you to refill your reserves so that you can feel well and do well.

Presenter:

• Paula Wilmot, Assistant Dean of Students, Dean of Students Office

Facilitators:

• Abby Clark, Academic Advisor, Admissions and Enrollment, School of Nursing
• Kristen Dostaler, Academic Advisor, College of Agriculture, Health and Natural Resources (CAHNR)

REGISTER HERE

Meeting in the Middle: Connecting People, Purpose, and Possibility
Oklahoma City, Oklahoma – Oklahoma City Convention Center

Link to registration, schedule and other important information.

Sheraton Le Centre Montreal
Montreal, Quebec, Canada

Link to registration, schedule and other important information.
Registration opens in November 2026