UNIVERSITY OF WISCONSIN River Falls

Opening Week Events

Opening Week Events

As we look forward to beginning the new semester, I hope that you are able to participate in many of the events listed below. 

Maria Gallo
Chancellor


 

 

Spring 2024 Opening Weeks Events

 

Thursday, Jan. 11

8 a.m. - 5 p.m.

Mental Health First Aid Training

Event full: Thank you for registering. We hope to offer more opportunities in the future.  

CETL, Career Services, and the Dean of Students Office will be offering a day-long mental health first aid training. This eight-hour training will be led by Becca Peine, assistant dean of students at St. Cloud State University, a trained mental health first aid instructor, and proud UWRF alum. This training is an early intervention public education program that teaches adults how to recognize the signs and symptoms that suggest a potential mental health challenge, how to listen nonjudgmentally and give reassurance to a person who may be experiencing a mental health challenge, and how to refer a person to appropriate professional support and services. We hope you are able to join us for this important training. Coffee, tea, and lunch will be provided. Please note the location change to UC Trimbelle River Room (231). 

Location: Trimbelle River Room, 231 UC

 

Tuesday, Jan. 16

10-11:30 a.m.

Spring 2024 Opening Meeting

Faculty and staff are encouraged to attend the meeting as campus leadership shares institutional updates.

Location: Riverview Ballroom, UC

1- 3 p.m.

Generative AI and Assignments


Learn more about using generative AI with your assignments!  We will start with assignment examples from instructors currently integrating these tools, then there will be time for you to work. Please bring an assignment or an idea of your own that you want to update to include or discourage AI usage. All levels of experience with AI welcome. 

Location: Trimbelle River Room, 231 UC

Wednesday, Jan. 17

9:30 a.m. - noon

New Instructors Session: Professional Portfolios and Research Resources

This session is primarily deigned for new instructors, but anyone can join to learn more. This time we will discuss the policies and procedures around renewal for those on the tenure track or those in instructional academic staff positions. This will include a discussion of required documents, the use of BP Logix, and the construction of a broader professional portfolio. In the second part of this session we will discuss UWRF resources for research work and have a mini-panel of faculty who will describe their scholarly work and how they get it done. Coffee and tea to start at 9:30 a.m. with presentations and discussion from 10 a.m.-noon. Lunch, provided by CETL, to follow. 

Location: Trimbelle River Room, 231 UC

10 a.m. - noon

Sustainability Visioning Session

Help identify a greener, more sustainable future at UWRF. Join us for an exploration of innovative ideas, collaborative solutions, and actionable strategies that will shape the future of sustainability on our campus and beyond. Staff, faculty, administrators, students, and community members are all encouraged to attend this session. Together, let's turn visions into actions and create a future where sustainability is not just a goal - it's a way of life! RSVP here, though walk-ins are welcome. Email sustainability@uwrf.edu if questions. 

Location: Riverview Ballroom A, UC

10 a.m. - noon

Navigate as a Driver of Enrollment and Student Success

Educators know how important it is to support students across all dimensions of wellbeing, in addition to academic success. This session will share an overview of Navigate’ s value in impacting student success at UWRF as a connector of students, faculty and staff to each other, services, and resources across campus. In addition, this session will also incorporate a mini focus group with those in attendance to aid with utilization expansion of the platform. Led by a representative from EAB Navigate. Lunch, provided by CETL, following the presentation. Questions? Contact Shamani Shikwabi

Location: Apple River Room, 333 UC

1:30 - 3 p.m.

CETL Session: Setting Boundaries in our Teaching

The last few years have continued to challenge the norms and expectations that we and our students hold about teaching and learning. There are often mismatches around things like technology, course flexibility, discussions of mental health, and time use. Please join us for a discussion of these issues and provide your experiences and perspective. We will start with a short presentation of where we are, how we got here, and some suggestions for boundaries we might set in response. Facilitated by Cyndi Kernahan. Come early for lunch, starting at noon, provided by CETL. 

Location: Trimbelle River Room, 231 UC

 

Thursday, Jan. 18

9 a.m. - noon
 

Career Readiness Advising Fellow Training

This three-hour training session is for those who have been selected by Career Services to be Career Readiness Advising Fellows. The purpose of these fellow positions is to collaborate with Career Services and learn more about how to use the National Association of Colleges and Employers (NACE) Career Readiness Competencies and the We Are Career Ready initiative through UWRF Career Services in their advising and mentoring work with students. To apply for Spring 2024 and attend this session, please see more on the Career Services’ We Are Career Ready webpage.  

Location: 199 Rodli Hall

1 - 2 p.m.

 QPR Training

CETL, Career Services, and the Dean of Students Office have invited Becca Peine to QPR train our campus. QPR stands for Question, Persuade, and Refer — the three simple steps anyone can learn to help save a life from suicide. Just as people trained in CPR and the Heimlich Maneuver help save thousands of lives each year, people trained in QPR learn how to recognize the warning signs of a suicide crisis and how to question, persuade, and refer someone to help. Each year thousands of Americans, like you, are saying "Yes" to saving the life of a friend, colleague, sibling, or neighbor. This one-hour training is limited to 70 participants, so please register today! Register Here

Location: Falcon's Nest, UC

 

Friday, Jan. 19

9 a.m. - 4 p.m.

New Student Orientation and Registration