UConn's Undergraduate Advising Professional Development Series supports and elevates inclusive and equitable faculty and professional staff advising practices. Specific dates and session information for the 2025-26 academic year can be found below.
All interested UConn faculty and staff are warmly invited to attend; however, please note that our focus is primarily undergraduate academic advising.
Reach out to Kelly Gilbert (Assistant Director for Engagement, Learning, and Development, Office of Undergraduate Advising) with any questions or if you require an accommodation for any of our sessions.
Register for all events, workshops, and training sessions HERE.
Office of Undergraduate Advising Coffee and Conversations (September 9)
Coffee and Conversations: Office of Undergraduate Advising
The Office of Undergraduate Advising invites faculty and professional staff advisors as well as campus partners for a morning of networking and conversation in a healthy, inclusive, and engaging atmosphere. Connect with colleagues and learn about advising structures, initiatives, and spaces. Coffee will be served.
Tuesday, September 9, 2025, 10:00 a.m. - 12:00 p.m.
Location: Rowe Center for Undergraduate Education, Room 424, Storrs Campus
College of Agriculture, Health and Natural Resources Coffee and Conversations (February 12)
Coffee and Conversations: College of Agriculture, Health and Natural Resources (CAHNR)
The academic advising team in the College of Agriculture, Health and Natural Resources invites faculty and professional staff advisors as well as campus partners for a morning of networking and conversation in a healthy, inclusive, and engaging atmosphere. Connect with colleagues and learn about advising structures, initiatives, and spaces. Coffee will be served.
Thursday, February 12, 2026, 10:00 a.m. - 12:00 p.m.
Location: TBD, Storrs Campus
New Undergraduate Faculty Advisor Onboarding and Training (October 9)
New Undergraduate Faculty Advisor Onboarding and Training (Virtual)
Participants will leave with an overview of undergraduate faculty advising at UConn as well as university policies and advising tools and resources.
At this session, the following topics will be covered:
- Introduction to Undergraduate Advising at UConn
- Policies and Important University Offices
- University Systems/Tools (e.g., Nexus, Student Administration System, HuskyCT)
- Resources to help you to be a successful advisor
- Connecting/growing as a faculty advisor
Thursday, October 9, 2025, 12:30 - 1:45 p.m. (Virtual)
Presenters:
- Erin Ciarimboli, Director of Undergraduate Advising
- Kelly Gilbert, Assistant Director for Engagement, Learning, and Development, Office of Undergraduate Advising
Undergraduate Faculty Advisor Panel: From Advising to Mentoring: Elevating your Skills in Faculty Advising (March 5)
Undergraduate Faculty Advisor Panel: From Advising to Mentoring: Elevating your Skills in Faculty Advising (Virtual)
Engage in a discussion focused on advising and mentoring with a panel of experienced faculty and staff advisors:
- Approaches to advising and increasing your advising and mentoring competency
- Advancing toward Mentoring
- Identify differences between advising and mentoring
- Formal and informal ways faculty advising happens
- Resources available to grow your advising skills
Thursday, March 5, 2026, from 12:30 - 1:45 p.m. (Virtual)
Facilitator:
- Kelly Gilbert, Assistant Director for Engagement, Learning, and Development, Office of Undergraduate Advising
Presenters:
- Mary Anne Amalaradjou, DVM, MVSc, MS, PhD, Associate Professor, Department of Animal Science, CAHNR
- Matthew Singer, Alan R. Bennett Honors Professor, Political Science, CLAS
New Advisors Connect (September 18)
Table Talk Series: New Advisors Connect
Undergraduate Advising Table Talk Series offers an opportunity for advisors to connect in person, share experiences and resources, and enhance their advising practices.
Thursday, September 18, 2025, 12:00 - 1:00 p.m.
Location: Susan V. Herbst Hall (OAK), Room 408, Storrs Campus
Presenters:
- Abby Clark, Academic Advisor, Admissions and Enrollment, School of Nursing
- Kristen Dostaler, Academic Advisor, College of Agriculture, Health and Natural Resources (CAHNR)
Communicating with Families (October 14)
Table Talk Series: Communicating with Families (Virtual)
This session focuses on enhancing understanding and practices related to family engagement, conversations, and student privacy in academic advising.
Tuesday, October 14, 2025, 12:00 - 1:00 p.m. (Virtual)
Key Topics:
- FERPA Considerations: Participants will review the Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act (FERPA), emphasizing its implications for communication with parents and guardians. The discussion will highlight common challenges, such as limitations on sharing student information and the importance of maintaining compliance.
- Facilitating Productive Conversations with Families: Strategies will be shared for navigating conversations with families, particularly in situations where privacy laws restrict information sharing. Attendees will discuss techniques for maintaining professionalism and empathy while reinforcing institutional policies.
Session Format
The session will be led by a facilitator, but attendees are encouraged to bring personal stories and case studies to enrich the discussion.
Presenters:
- Abby Clark, Academic Advisor, Admissions and Enrollment, School of Nursing
- Kristen Dostaler, Academic Advisor, College of Agriculture, Health and Natural Resources (CAHNR)
- Kelly Gilbert, Assistant Director for Engagement, Learning and Development, Office of Undergraduate Advising
Orientation and Advising (December 9)
Table Talk Series: Orientation and Advising
The Undergraduate Advising Table Talk Series offers a platform for advisors to connect, share experiences and resources, and enhance their advising practices.
This session will center on foundational Orientation advising resources, with a focus on “Advising 101” materials. Participants will engage in an interactive exchange of worksheets and handouts designed to support effective advising practices.
Attendees are encouraged to bring their own forms and resources to facilitate mini-group feedback sessions and contribute to a shared resource point, fostering collaboration and the refinement of tools used in academic advising.
Tuesday, December 9, 2025, 12:00 - 1:00 p.m.
Location: Susan V. Herbst Hall (OAK), Room 408, Storrs Campus
Presenters:
- Abby Clark, Academic Advisor, Admissions and Enrollment, School of Nursing
- Kristen Dostaler, Academic Advisor, College of Agriculture, Health and Natural Resources (CAHNR)
International Student Support (February 17)
Table Talk Series: International Student Support
This session will focus on the unique experiences and changing needs of international students.
Topics will include:
- Unique immigration constraints that pose challenges for international students
- Strategies for providing holistic support to international populations
Tuesday, February 17, 2026, 12:00 - 1:00 p.m.
Location: Susan V. Herbst Hall (OAK), Room 408, Storrs Campus
Presenter:
- Arthur Galinat, Director, International Student & Scholar Services, PDSO/RO
Facilitators:
- Abby Clark, Academic Advisor, Admissions and Enrollment, School of Nursing
- Kristen Dostaler, Academic Advisor, College of Agriculture, Health and Natural Resources (CAHNR)
Advisor Self Care and Mindfulness (March 19)
Table Talk Series: Advisor Self Care and Mindfulness
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.
Thursday, March 19, 2026, 12:00 - 1:00 p.m.
Location: Susan V. Herbst Hall (OAK), Room 408, Storrs Campus
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)
Advisor Community Building and Self-Reflection (April 14)
Table Talk Series: Advisor Community Building and Self-Reflection
This session will focus on strengthening advisor connection and fostering a sense of community. Participants will engage in a collaborative feedback session designed to reflect on their professional development experiences. The session will also provide an opportunity to celebrate highlights and accomplishments from the academic year, creating space for shared learning, recognition, and renewed motivation as a community of advisors.
Tuesday, April 14, 2026, 12:00 - 1:00 p.m.
Location: Homer Babbidge Library (HBL), Room 1102, Storrs Campus
Presenters:
- Abby Clark, Academic Advisor, Admissions and Enrollment, School of Nursing
- Kristen Dostaler, Academic Advisor, College of Agriculture, Health and Natural Resources (CAHNR)
- Kelly Gilbert, Assistant Director for Engagement, Learning and Development, Office of Undergraduate Advising
Academic Standing in Slate: ASP Reviews and Referrals (September 18)
Academic Standing in Slate: ASP Reviews and Referrals (Virtual)
This session offers hands-on guidance for using Slate to review Academic Success Plan (ASPs) and ASP referrals.
Participants will learn how to:
- Review student records in Slate, including Academic Success Plans (ASPs) and dismissal appeal forms and associated documentation
- Refer student disclosures appropriately
- Submit ASP reviews and ASP referrals
- Use the home dashboard to pull and export student lists
Who should attend?
Academic advisors, faculty advisors, and campus partners involved in Academic Success Plan (ASPs) meetings.
Thursday, September 18, 2025, 10:00 - 11:00 a.m. (Virtual)
Presenters:
- Kelly Gilbert, Assistant Director for Engagement, Learning, and Development, Office of Undergraduate Advising
Academic Standing in Slate: Data and Queries (October 16)
Academic Standing in Slate: Data and Queries (Virtual)
This session provides hands-on instruction for utilizing Slate’s data and query functions effectively.
Participants will learn how to:
- Navigate key Slate tabs: Dashboards, Reports, Timeline, and Historical Data
- Access and export data using approved queries and filters
Who should attend?
Academic advisors, faculty advisors, and campus partners with access to Slate for Academic Standing.
Thursday, October 16, 2025, 10:00 - 11:00 a.m. (Virtual)
Presenters:
- Kelly Gilbert, Assistant Director for Engagement, Learning, and Development, Office of Undergraduate Advising
Academic Standing in Slate: Dismissal Process Overview (November 13)
Academic Standing in Slate: Dismissal Process Overview (Virtual)
This session offers hands-on guidance for using Slate to support UConn’s academic dismissal process.
Participants will learn how to:
- Review student records in Slate, including dismissal appeal forms and associated documentation
- Navigate key Slate tabs: Dashboards, Reports, Timeline, and Historical Data
- Access and export data using approved queries and filters
- Submit and review academic dismissal appeal reviews and additional student information
Who should attend?
Academic advisors, faculty advisors, and campus partners involved in the academic dismissal review process.
Thursday, November 13, 2025, 10:00 - 11:00 a.m. (Virtual)
Presenters:
- Kelly Gilbert, Assistant Director for Engagement, Learning, and Development, Office of Undergraduate Advising
From Telling to Transforming: Coaching Strategies for Academic Advisors (November 4)
From Telling to Transforming: Coaching Strategies for Academic Advisors (Virtual)
Learn about tools to transform routine advising conversations into empowered growth for students! Grounded in UCF’s Higher Education Coaching Academy’s student success coaching framework, this session offers practical tools to deepen listening, ask powerful questions, and guide students toward their own solutions. You’ll leave with strategies to strengthen self-awareness, build skills, and inspire action, turning everyday advising moments into transformational conversations.
Tuesday, November 4, 2025, 9:00 - 10:00 a.m. (Virtual)
Presenter:
- Dr. Whitney Losapio, Executive Director, Undergraduate Programs, College of Engineering
Building Your Personal Advising Philosophy (February 10)
Building Your Personal Advising Philosophy
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.
Tuesday, February 10, 2026, 10:00 - 11:00 a.m.
Location: Susan V. Herbst Hall (OAK), Room 408, Storrs Campus
Presenters:
- Amy Donofrio, Associate Director, Undergraduate Program, College of Engineering
- Kelly Gilbert, Assistant Director for Engagement, Learning, and Development, Office of Undergraduate Advising
- Nicole Santoro, Program Coordinator, Office of Undergraduate Advising
The Power of Narrative: Leveraging Storytelling in Advising (February 24)
The Power of Narrative: Leveraging Storytelling in Advising
This professional development session will introduce academic advisors to Narrative Theory and the powerful role it can have in their advising practice.
The session will cover foundational principles of narrative theory, the elements of compelling storytelling, and practical strategies for listening to and eliciting stories. Advisors will also learn how to craft and share their own narratives to build rapport and inspire action, while examining ethical considerations and best practices for incorporating storytelling into our work.
Participants will gain the following from this session:
- Understanding of the foundational principles of Narrative Theory and its relevance to academic advising practice.
- Ability to apply narrative techniques to enhance understanding of student experiences, clarify complex information, and foster student agency.
- Demonstration of ethical and effective storytelling strategies to build rapport, inspire action, and support student development.
Tuesday, February 24, 2026, 10:00 - 11:30 a.m.
Location: Susan V. Herbst Hall (OAK), Room 408, Storrs Campus
Presenters:
- Amy Donofrio, Associate Director, Undergraduate Program & Academic Advising Undergraduate Programs, College of Engineering
- Kelly Gilbert, Assistant Director for Engagement, Learning and Development, Office of Undergraduate Advising
Coaching Community Session #1 (September 11)
Undergraduate Advising Coaching Community Session #1 (Virtual)
Thursday, September 11, 2025, 10:00 - 10:00 a.m. (Virtual)
Presenter:
- Dr. Whitney Losapio, Executive Director, Undergraduate Programs, College of Engineering
Coaching Community Session #2 (October 9)
Undergraduate Advising Coaching Community Session #2 (Virtual)
Thursday, October 9, 2025, 10:00 - 10:00 a.m. (Virtual)
Presenter:
- Dr. Whitney Losapio, Executive Director, Undergraduate Programs, College of Engineering
Coaching Community Session #3 (November 6)
Undergraduate Advising Coaching Community Session #3 (Virtual)
Thursday, November 6, 2025, 10:00 - 10:00 a.m. (Virtual)
Presenter:
- Dr. Whitney Losapio, Executive Director, Undergraduate Programs, College of Engineering
Coaching Community Session #4 (December 4)
Undergraduate Advising Coaching Community Session #4 (Virtual)
Thursday, December 4, 2025, 10:00 - 10:00 a.m. (Virtual)
Presenter:
- Dr. Whitney Losapio, Executive Director, Undergraduate Programs, College of Engineering