Workshops are one of the added benefits of being a UConn First Summer student, and they are a great way to explore the resources and opportunities available to you at UConn. These workshops are meant to help you feel prepared for the transition to college level life and learning.
Before you register, please note:
- Workshop registration is open until July 10th.
- Workshop registration will be available on a weekly basis (you'll receive a weekly email reminding you to sign up for the following week's workshops).
- You can take up to 5 workshops each week but are required to take at least 2. Some workshops are offered multiple times throughout the summer, so make sure to pay attention to which workshops you select.
- Your workshop selections can be taken on Tuesdays, Wednesdays, Thursdays, or Fridays depending on your schedule availability.
- If you have a class during the Tuesday and Thursdays slots, you can register for Wednesday and Friday workshops instead. If you have any scheduling conflicts, please contact us with this information.
Week 1 Workshops: The Husky Life
Team-Building & Effective Communication
Description: Our team-building and communication workshop allows participants to explore and learn both as individuals and as a group. It features a variety of group initiatives that are focused on problem solving, interpersonal and group communication skills, leadership traits, and organizational processes.
Facilitator: Sergeant Justin Chiney
Date: Tuesday, July 11
Time: 11:00am-1:00pm
Place: MCHU 107
Nutrition for the College Student
Description: Learn the basics of healthy eating with a registered dietitian from Student Health and Wellness! We will discuss the nutrition challenges facing college students and how to adapt to eat well. You will also learn about how to access UConn's FREE nutrition counseling throughout the school year.
Facilitator: Heather Phillips
Date: Tuesday, July 11
Time: 11:00am-1:00pm
Place: Rowe 331E
Setting Yourself up for Success with the AAC
Description: This workshop will help you start your semester on the right foot, get organized, prepare, and get in the mindset to succeed while providing strategies to develop study, time management, and attention management skills. We will also provide strategies to improve your communication skills during office hours, sending emails, and what are the “right” questions that will prepare you for your test.
Facilitator: Rachel Mongillo & Pam Fischl
Date: Thursday, July 13
Time: 11:00am-1:00pm
Place: MCHU 202
Navigating UConn Online
Description: Students will learn about online resources that help with their daily life on campus, including HuskyCT, dining hall menu, campus bus lines, myUConn app, RecCenter app, UConn social media and UConntact.
Facilitator: Your Student Mentors!
Date: Friday, July 14
Time: 11:00am-1:00pm
Place: MCHU 107
Week 2 Workshops: UConn Resources
The UConn Library Lowdown: It’s more than just books and a buildings
Description: Whether you’re doing research for a project or looking to borrow a graphing calculator, UConn Library is here for you! Join us to learn about the wide range of services and resources available. We will talk about the similarities and differences between the UConn Library ecosystem versus high school and public libraries. We’ll also help you to better understand college-level research expectations and what it means to develop the scholarly mindset that will aid you as you embark on your higher-ed journey.
Facilitator: Zach Claybaugh & Kate Fuller
Date: Tuesday, July 18
Time: 11:00am-1:00pm
Place: MCHU 107
How Major is Your Major?
Description: We believe that every student should be exploratory when it comes to majors. Whether they're anxiously undecided or comfortably declared, everyone can benefit from taking the time to examine their options. However, most students simply aren't prepared to explore. Preconceived assumptions and myths about majors prevent them from being able to take full advantage of the process. This fun and interactive presentation will focus on elevating the student approach to major exploration by acknowledging and correcting these misconceptions and demonstrating that choosing a major isn’t quite so major.
Facilitator: Jillian Johnston
Date: Wednesday, July 19
Time: 2:00-4:00pm
Place: MCHU 202
Transition to College-Level Writing
Description: We would like to use this time to introduce incoming students to diverse ideas on writing, including conversations on varieties of writing they might encounter at the college level and beyond. To do so, we would share a few short writing studies passages for them to read and discuss; follow that with some excerpts from Aetna award winners; and then proceed with activities and discussions focused around writing center work, the social nature of writing, and the resources and support available on UConn campus.
Facilitator: Tom Deans & Margaret Bugingo
Date: Thursday, July 20
Time: 11:00am-1:00pm
Place: MCHU 202
Wilbur Cross: What lies inside?
Description: Have you ever seen the UConn building with the huge golden dome and wondered what was inside? Well now you can find out. In this workshop we will discuss the different organizations and tools inside the building and help you feel comfortable using them.
Facilitator: Your SMs
Date: Friday, July 21
Time: 9:00-11:00am
Place: MCHU 107
From Overwhelmed to Organized
Description: Finding a way to stay organized can reduce feeling overwhelmed as a college student. We will discuss organization styles ranging from a detailed planner to a mental checklist. Come explore college organization and learn from your peers!
Facilitator: Your SMs
Date: Friday, July 21
Time: 11:00am-1:00pm
Place: MCHU 107
Week 3 Workshops: Exploring UConn Opportunities
Get Involved with Greek Life!
Description: We will discuss how to get involved with the Center of Fraternity and Sorority Development!
Facilitator: Tori Succi
Date: Tuesday, July 25
Time: 11:00am-1:00pm
Place: MCHU 107
Civic Engagement & Dialogue
Description: We will likely talk about the importance of informed dialogue and the range of civic engagement opportunities there are for students at UConn as well as in the broader context of their lives. We will also look to highlight particular opportunities at UConn to engage in political discussion.
Facilitator: Cami Wilson & Meg Marshall
Date: Wednesday, July 26
Time: 2:00-4:00pm
Place: MCHU 202
Researching with Professors
Description: Students will learn about the research opportunities on campus. How to land a research opportunity on campus? How to formulate an email to research labs that you are interested in?
Facilitator: Your SMs
Date: Thursday, July 27
Time: 11:00am-1:00pm
Place: MCHU 202
Husky Self-Care
Description: UConn has a lot to offer which can be both exciting and intimidating. College is a time of exploration, transition, and change. In the midst of all that, don't forget about yourself and your needs. In this workshop, we will review healthy habits, campus resources, and proper mindset to make sure your experiences at UConn remain enjoyable NOT unbearable.
Facilitator: Katie Grant
Date: Friday, July 28
Time: 9:00-11:00am
Place: MCHU 107
Getting Involved at UConn
Description: Do you want to be involved at UConn? This workshop will go over the variety of ways to become involved on all campuses. We will discuss clubs, organizations, activities, and building connections. Share your interests with your peers and start planning how you will be involved in the fall!
Facilitator: Your SMs
Date: Friday, July 28
Time: 11:00am-1:00pm
Place: MCHU 107
Week 4 Workshops: Individual Growth and Exploration
Makerspace Fun: Exploring Your Creativity, Innovative Thinking & Entrepreneurial Mindset
Description: In this session, participants will be introduced to the UConn Innovation Zone and its offerings while completing an Innovation Challenge. Following the challenge, participants will utilize materials and equipment in the space to create a custom item.
Facilitator: Innovation Zone
Date: Tuesday, August 1
Time: 11:00am-1:00pm
Place: Innovation Zone
Take It From Me (Dos & Don’ts)
Description: First Summer Student Mentors will share their experiences living, studying, working, and socializing on campus. Students will learn about the mistakes their mentors have made along the way and recommendations that they have for incoming students.
Facilitator: Your SMs
Date: Wednesday, August 2
Time: 2:00-4:00pm
Place: MCHU 202
Asian American Cultural Center
Description: TBD
Facilitator: Jeff Alton & Merz Lim
Date: Thursday, August 3
Time: 11:00am-1:00pm
Place: MCHU 202
Week 5 Workshops: Preparing for the Fall Semester
Thinking about Finding an Internship or Co-op
Description: Regardless of major, there are strategies that go beyond entering a keyword into a search engine you can utilize when searching for an internship or co-op. This workshop covers the main differences between internships and co-ops, student and employer motivations, how to effectively read a posting, and how to use Handshake for maximum results. Discover key steps to becoming a stronger candidate for your next internship or co-op!
Facilitator: Beth Settje
Date: Tuesday, August 8
Time: 11:00am-1:00pm
Place: MCHU 107
Career Exploration and Readiness
Description: Using Focus2, a Center for Career Development resource, students will take different self-assessments and learn about how their results relate to different career options and career preparation.
Facilitator: Steve Kligerman
Date: Wednesday, August 9
Time: 2:00-4:00pm
Place: MCHU 202
LinkedIn
Description: Do you have a LinkedIn account, but don’t know what to do with it? Are you looking to create a LinkedIn Account, but don’t know where to start? In this workshop, students will learn strategies for creating, improving, and using their LinkedIn profile.
Facilitator: Famularo, Lisa
Date: Thursday, August 10
Time: 11:00am-1:00pm
Place: MCHU 202
Welcome to my TED Talk!
Description: Making and presenting college presentations can be very nerve wracking but is a necessary skill. Come work on presenting skills and public speaking in this workshop. We will give you some tools to ace your academic and professional presentations.
Facilitator: Your SMs
Date: Friday, August 11
Time: 9:00-11:00am
Place: MCHU 107
Working on Campus
Description: In this workshop, students will learn about the platform to look for jobs on campus. They will learn to determine which jobs are best for their course schedule as well as balancing their academic and work life. Students will be introduced to resume formats, and learn how to tailor their resume to each specific job.
Facilitator: Your SMs
Date: Friday, August 11
Time: 11:00am-1:00pm
Place: MCHU 107
Sample Workshops
Combating Burnout in College
Description: This workshop will equip students with acknowledging the signs of burnout, what they can do if they are heading or in the cycle of burnout and the tools they can use to combat burnout. These skills are applicable in all facets of life- whether you are a UConn student or a professional. Participants will learn about how their results relate to different career options and career preparation.
Mental Wellness in College
Description: College can be stressful, but there are resources available to you at UConn to help you cope with the stresses that come with being a college student. In this session we will talk about prioritizing your mental health, coping with mental health challenges like stress, and utilizing the resources available to you through the office of Student Mental Health and Wellness.
Intentional Language and Active Listening
Description: Students will learn applicable skills to engage in healthy dialogue in and outside of the classroom utilizing intentional language as well strategies that will aid them in becoming active listeners.
The Love Languages of Leadership
Description: Learning the five love languages of leadership to better equip students with the tools to best work with their peers in and outside of UConn.
Mindfulness
Description: Mindfulness can often seem mystical, unattainable, and unrealistic for modern life. I break down the science and the mysticism and share accessible ways to be mindful in daily life.
Understanding Handshake
Description: Students will learn all about Handshake, a resource of the Center for Career Development, including how to navigate it, setting up their profile, and searching for jobs and companies. We will also go over what 1 on 1 career coaching is and how to sign up for appointments using Handshake.
Service Learning: A Different Way to Learn and Engage
Description: Service Learning (SL) is increasing across the University and we want students to be prepared to help guide their own education with SL in mind. An introduction to SL will be given and how to promote these learning opportunities within their own coursework even if the course they are taking is not officially Service Learning. Working with community and learning about other benefits of the pedagogy will be part of this presentation.