Opening Week Events

8:30 a.m. – 2:30 p.m.

REGISTRATION REQUIRED.

Location: Riverview Ballroom, University Center (second floor)

8:30 a.m.: Coffee and Tea available

RSVP deadline is Wednesday, Aug. 13.

9 a.m. workshop: Substantial and Meaningful Interaction: Pushing Back Against the Transactional in Our Teaching, Cyndi Kernahan, CETL Director

It is an understatement to say that teaching is challenging right now. A lot of factors have conspired to make it harder than ever to focus on the core of what we do: teaching and the facilitation of student learning. In this session, I will share some ideas and research about the challenges we are facing and how we can use some core elements of High Impact Practices (HIPS) to push back against these challenges. More specifically, we will focus on using structured facilitation techniques to increase substantial and meaningful interaction with students. We will also talk about how to use Utility Interventions to increase student motivation and engagement with material that students may not always appreciate. Lots of time for questions and discussion.

12-1 p.m.: Lunch Provided  

1-2:30 p.m. workshop: Rosey the Robot, Snakes, and CRAB: Critically Thinking About AI in Your Teaching, Rachelle Haroldson, CETL Instructional Designer

Come learn more about how to infuse AI concepts and tools into your courses. Drawing from content presented in the summer AI course and the AI Snake Oil book, this workshop will review big ideas around the benefits of AI, the myths of AI, and the approaches to critiquing generative AI output with students.  Participants can expect opportunities for conversation and activities to develop their AI literacy. No need to have taken the course or read the book to participate!

Questions? Email Cyndi Kernahan. 

8-8:30 a.m.

BY INVITATION ONLY

Location: Falcon's Nest Mezzanine, University Center (second floor)

University Awardees Breakfast with Campus Leadership

Continental breakfast and networking for university awardees and campus leadership.

Questions? Email Wendy Stocker. 

8:30-9:45 a.m.

Location: Falcon's Nest, University Center (first floor) – open to colleagues who would like to attend and support staff being recognized

All-Campus Awards Program

This third annual UW-River Falls All-Campus Awards Program will be recognize our university’s outstanding faculty, staff and programs and celebrate their impact on the education and student experience here at the UW-River Falls. Awards being recognized are: 

• Distinguished Teacher – Kurt Torgersen, Senior Lecturer, Chemistry and Biotechnology
• Adviser of the Year – Kateri Carver, Assistant Professor and Director of EdD in Montessori Studies Program, Director of MSE & Montessori Teacher Education Programs
• University Excellence in Research, Scholarly and Creative Activity award – Gregory Ruegsegger, Assistant Professor, Health and Human Performance
• University Excellence in Service award– Ozcan Kilic, Professor of Management and Marketing
• Paul B. and Robert Dykstra Faculty Excellence Award: Shawyn Domyancich-Lee, Assistant Professor, Social Worker & Brooke Krejci, Assistant Professor, Mathematics
• Keith Wurtz Award for Teaching Excellence: Hannah Freeman, Assistant Professor, Art; Bob Zhiwei Zeng, Assistant Professor, Ag Engineering Technology; Blair Troudt, Assistant Professor, Chemistry and Biotechnology
• Manley Olson Instructional Academic Staff Professional Development Award – Rhonda Petree, Lecturer, English Department
• Chancellor’s Award for Excellence: Susan Bischof (Univ. Staff Category B), Steve Alton (Univ. Staff Category A), Heather Davis (Instructional Academic Staff), Pam Bowen (Non-Instructional Academic Staff), Katy Huneke (Limited)
• Chancellor’s Award for Excellence: Sustainability Office (Academic Staff Program)
• Chancellor’s Award for Excellence: Central Receiving and Postal Services (University Staff Program)
• Sally Margis Award Recipient: Molly Matzek, Human Resources Coordinator; Kelly Grenzow, Tutoring Coordinator, Exploratory and Tutoring Services
• 2025 Board of Regents Teaching Excellence Award for academic departments and program: Plant and Earth Science Department / Chair: Holly Dolliver

Questions? Email Wendy Stocker. 

10-11:30 a.m.

Location: Riverview Ballroom, University Center (second floor)

Fall 2025 Opening Meeting

Celebrate the start of fall semester by attending the annual all-campus Opening Meeting. In addition to university updates provided by Chancellor John Chenoweth and other campus leadership, the meeting will include honoring our years of service recipients and acknowledging faculty and staff awards. The meeting will not be livestreamed but will be recorded and available for later viewing. 

Questions? Email Jenna Lindseth. 

11:30 a.m. - 1 p.m.

Location: Riverside Commons, lower level, University Center

Employee Appreciation Lunch

Those attending opening meeting in person will receive a free lunch ticket to attend an Employee Appreciation Lunch directly following the meeting. Attendees can pick up lunch in Riverside Commons (lower level of the University Center) from 11:30 a.m. to 1 p.m.

Questions? Email Jenna Lindseth. 

8:30-10:30 a.m.

By Invitation Only.

Location: Kinnickinnick Theater, 3^rd floor, University Center

New Employee Orientation

Led by CETL and HR, we are excited to bring together all recently hired employees for this orientation. The goal is for new employees to obtain valuable UWRF information, resources and connections from across campus.

Questions? Email Jennifer Seger.

11 a.m. - 4 p.m.

By Invitation Only.

Location: Falls Room, lower level, University Center

New Instructor Orientation

Questions? Email Cyndi Kernahan.