Office of Undergraduate Studies
Advising Conference
Tuesday, August 8, 2023
8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.
SPH Building
From increased caseloads to changes in student engagement, much has changed in advising over the past few years. However, one thing remains the same: UMD Advisors have never once stopped moving Fearlessly Forward. We have discovered innovative and creative ways to engage with our students and connect with colleagues across campus, meeting the challenges of an ever-changing world. This year’s conference provides us the opportunity to come together and share ways we have continued to move forward to support students, our teammates, and ourselves.
8:30 to 9:15 a.m.
Coffee, Network and Info Fair (SPH 0393)
9:15 to 10:00 a.m.
Keynote Address (SPH 1312)
10:15 to 11:05 a.m.
Breakout Session 1
11:15 to 12:05 p.m.
Breakout Session 2
12:05 to 1:05 p.m. Lunch
1:05 to 1:35 p.m.
Dean's Address and Awards (SPH 1312)
1:45 to 2:35 p.m.
Breakout Session 3
2:45 to 3:15 p.m.
Breakout Session 4
3:15 to 4:30 p.m.
Ice Cream Social,
Lawn Games & Raffle (SPH Overhang)
Featured Speaker
Dr. Jasmine A. Lee
Dr. Jasmine A. Lee is a diversity, equity, inclusion and justice scholar, practitioner, trainer and
coach. She currently serves as the Director of Inclusive Excellence, and leads the Initiatives for Identity, Inclusion & Belonging team at the University of Maryland Baltimore County. In this capacity, she works with students, staff and faculty to create inclusive campus environments through direct programming and strategic divisional leadership. Dr. Lee’s background encompasses campus climate studies and crisis response, inclusive hiring and supervision best practices, teaching and inclusive classroom pedagogy, diversity action planning and equity assessments, strategic student success outreach and academic advising, as well as traditional
diversity and inclusion programming.
Keynote Follow-Up (SPH 1312)
Dr. Jasmine Lee, Director, Inclusive Excellence &Initiatives for Identity, Inclusion & Belonging, UMBC
Research describes the unique challenges of first generation students, students of color and students coming from low socio-economic backgrounds. When specifically considering students of color attending predominantly white institutions, challenges include overt racism, facing daily microagressions, experiencing role strain, and difficulty feeling as if they belong at their college. This session utilizes Critical Race Theory (a theory that validates everyday racialized experiences) to explore affirming, supportive and advocacy techniques for advising students of color attending predominantly white institutions.
Reenrollment Basics (SPH 1301)
Nicole Pietrucha and Paulanne Walker, Student Success Office
The Student Success Office processes reenrollment applications and works with the University's academic colleges and departments in assisting students in their return to campus. This session will review basic information about that process.
Old Habits Die Hard: Sustainable Transportation at a Crossroads (SPH 1302)
Aysha Cohen, Department of Transportation
Learn more about resources for sustainable transportation to campus and incentives for students, faculty, and staff through the UMD Smart Commute and Prince George's County Ride Smart Program.
Lightning Talks (SPH 1312)
• Building Your Own UMD Directory
Shiloh Ortiz, Academic Advisor and Graduate Assistant, CMNS
• Leveraging LinkedIn Learning
Kate Juhl, Senior Program Director, University Career Center @ ARHU
• Resident Life: Living & Learning On Campus
Stephanie Olson, Coordinator for Community Development Initiatives, Department of Resident Life
• The Advisor Reading Group
Erik Hanson, Assistant Director of Undergraduate Studies, Department of Anthropology; Leslie Lindeman, Program Manager, Pre-Transfer Advising for Montgomery College; Neil Dhingra, Information Studies
• University Career Development Courses:
Transforming Students' Outlook, Skills, and Achievements
Sangida Akterand Jenny Sak, Graduate Assistants, Career Education & Exposure Unit
• I Said I Would, but...
Student Perspectives on Curricular and Co-curricular Engagement
Charlene Ploetz Savoy, Academic Advisor, Information Studies
Are We Back to Normal? (SPH 1301)
Abigail Do, Jamie Edwards, and Danielle Glazer, Office of Institutional Research, Planning, and Assessment; Joann Prosser, Division of Student Affairs
This session describes our changing world through longitudinal trends in UMD freshmen perceptions about academic/social transitions and well-being during their first fall semester. This presentation uses data from the 2015-2022 Beginning Students Surveys (BSS). Presenters will provide discussion guides developed by the Campus Assessment Working Group (CAWG).
Creating Your Advising Philosophy (SPH 1302)
Christine Bishamber and Jenyia Wilson, Department of Computer Science
This interactive workshop provides the tools for advisors to develop their own advising philosophy and use student development to guide their practices.
The Dean of Students Office: Helping Students Thrive (SPH 1303)
Andrea Goodwin & Ebonita Elliott, Division of Student Affairs
The Dean of Students Office was established in Fall 2021 to provide support, care and advocacy for students. This session will review the services of the Dean of Students Office and discuss how we can partner with academic advisors to assist students in need. We will share what we have learned about the needs of students over the past two academic years and provide resources for advisors.
Resiliency as a Means to Advise Fearlessly (SPH 1312)
Danielle Worsham, College of Behavioral & Social Sciences/Feller Center
In order to "advise fearlessly," one must feel equipped to address students’ needs while tending to one's own well-being. In this session, the presenters will describe how resilience assists advisors on how to best work with students in difficult situations.
TerpEngage in Action (SPH 1301)
Jason DeSanto Jones, Division of Information Technology;
Katherine Russell, College of Behavioral & Social Sciences;
Eric Johnson, Office of Letters and Sciences;
Brittany Johnson, Department of Computer Science;
Hind Alaasemi, Division of Information Technology;
Krishnapriya Sankar, Division of Information Technology;
What began as a tool for appointments and advising notes has emerged as a unified, student-centered, and data-driven portal. The presenters will provide a brief introduction, overview of new and upcoming features, including a centralized major change process, student tasks and notifications, drop-inqueues, useful reports, home page, and more.
Goodbye Careers4Terps, Hello Handshake! (SPH 1302)
Casey Miller, University Career Center @ AGNR;
Olivia Rosenburg, University Career Center @ CMNS
This session will provide advisors with a sneak peek of Handshake, an online career management tool for students to use to maximize their connections to future opportunities. Advisors will receive information on this tool for students.
In Their Shoes: Understanding the Unique Constraints of International Students (SPH 1303)
Kuan Zhai & Michael Waggoner, International Students & Scholar Services
The International Students and Scholar Services (ISSS) staff will engage participants in role-playing scenarios intended to help increase advisors' understanding of the challenges facing international students in the United States. This session will also provide information on how advisors can be better allies for students.
UMD Faculty Staff Assistance Program (SPH 1312)
Tonya Phillips, University Health Center
The Faculty Staff Assistance Program (FSAP) is an assessment, referral, coaching, consultation and short-term counseling service available to all full and part-time employees. Since 1988, FSAP has worked with thousands of employees to address a variety of work-related conflicts. FSAP also provides support for personal issues such as depression, anxiety, substance abuse, relationship and family conflicts, medical, legal and financial concerns.
Revitalizing the Freshmen Connection Enrollment Process (SPH 1301)
Gennifer Godley, Extended Studies
This session will provide an overview of the Freshmen Connection “revamp” process that was implemented for the 2023-2024 enrollment cycle. Enrollment numbers continue to increase and the pressures on advising offices continue to grow. In this session, advisors will hear about the changes Freshmen Connection has made and discuss how other units might implement them.
OpenBarre (SPH 1302)
Lauren, OpenBarre owner
Join Lauren for a brief introduction to the barre workout. Barre blends aspect of Pilates, ballet, and yoga.
UMD employees receive a 20% discount on purchases made in the University Campus Bookstore, just show your UID in order to receive a discount. Current University of Maryland faculty and staff can rent space in the Adele H. Stamp Student Union for weddings, parties, or family events and receive 25% off the normal room rental rate for events taking place in January, May, June, July, August or December.
The College Park City-University Partnership (CPCUP) Home Ownership Program is part of an effort to increase the number of University of Maryland employees living in the City of College Park as outlined in the University District Vision 2020. Through this program, employees of the University of Maryland can receive $15,000 in down payment or closing cost assistance for a home purchase anywhere in College Park.
The Faculty Staff Assistance Program (FSAP) is an assessment, referral, coaching, emergency fund loan, consultation, and short-term counseling service available to all full and part-time employees of the University.
On behalf of the Office of Undergraduate Studies and the Advising Conference Planning Committee, thank you! We are so happy that you could join us. Please take a moment to complete our conference evaluation form and share your valuable feedback with us.
Meet the 2023 Conference Committee!
Join us!
The Chronicle of Higher Education
The Future of Advising: Strategies to Support Student Success
Please fill out the interest form with your availability.
