Topic-Specific Advisor Trainings
OUE Undergraduate Academic Advisor Trainings
Offered by the Office of Undergraduate Education (OUE) Academic Advising Initiatives
The University of Minnesota Twin Cities Campus is committed to providing an exemplary undergraduate advisor training program. This training program further elevates and develops the core skills advisors need to do their essential work. Training opportunities are made available to the advising community throughout the academic year. Common training topics include financial aid, student mental health, navigating the change-of-college process, advising students with underrepresented identities, preparing for new student orientation, etc. To see the variety of training topics offered, refer to the advising events page.
Timing: Training sessions are offered regularly throughout the academic year, typically starting in September and concluding in June.
Registration: All training registration forms offered by OUE Advising Initiatives are available on the events page.
Email: Academic Advising Initiatives, [email protected]
Transfer Student Advocate Training
Offered by the Office of Undergraduate Education (OUE) Transfer Student Experience Program
This is a workshop for U of M staff and faculty who want to learn more about the transfer student experience. The training will include U of M transfer student data, sharing of current U of M Twin Cities transfer student resources, a student panel, and some time at the end to think about how attendees can become more transfer friendly.
Timing: This training is offered every fall and spring semester.
Registration: Registration information is emailed out to the AAN, CDN and Diversity Link-Up listservs when the training is advertised.
Email: Sarah Ihrig, [email protected]
CAPE Overview & Exploring Students
Offered by the Center for Academic Planning and Exploration (CAPE)
Learn about CAPE's services for exploring students and hear about special needs and considerations in the major exploration process.
Timing: Typically offered once/semester.
Registration: Registration information is emailed out to the AAN and CDN listservs when the training is advertised.
Email: Kai Takatsuka, [email protected]
The View from 20,000 Feet: An Overview of Undergraduate Advising at UMTC
Offered by the Office of Undergraduate Education (OUE) Academic Advising Initiatives
This session provides advisors new to the University of Minnesota Twin Cities a big-picture look at undergraduate advising on campus. We discuss the organization of the campus and introduce the key groups and players in undergraduate education. What are the roles and goals of advising? What are some of the key campus resources and tools for advisors? We explore campus initiatives focused on undergraduate advising and students, such as goals for retention, graduation, and student degree progress.
Timing: This training is offered quarterly, typically March, June, October, and December and emails are sent to the AAN listserv with registration information and details.
Registration: All training registration forms offered by OUE Advising Initiatives are available on the events page.
Email: Academic Advising Initiatives, [email protected]
Global Programs
Supporting Multilingual Students
Offered by the Minnesota English Language Program (MELP)
MELP provides professional development opportunities for faculty and staff to develop skills, knowledge, and dispositions for working with multilingual students, as well as services that serve multilingual students and scholars. This includes developing awareness of second language acquisition (SLA) processes, connections between language and identity, and standard language ideologies.
Timing: Offered fall and spring semesters during the academic year.
Registration: Registration is available on the MELP site.
Email: LeeAnne Godfrey, [email protected]
Introduction to International Student Advising
Offered by International Student & Scholar Services (ISSS)
ISSS's advisor training is intended for new or seasoned academic advisors, Graduate Program Coordinators, career counselors, and student services staff who work with international students. It is offered twice a year. The fall training focuses on the needs of international undergraduate students. The spring training focuses on the needs of graduate and professional international students.
Timing: Typically offered once/semester.
Registration: Registration is available via the training hub.
Email: Beth Isensee, [email protected]
Learning Abroad Training for New Advisors
Offered by Learning Abroad Center (LAC)
This training is developed for new UMTC advisers working with undergraduate students planning to study abroad. We will cover the process and basics of how UMTC students plan for learning abroad academically, financially, and personally. This will be an overview of how the Learning Abroad Center works with students and an opportunity for participants to ask questions based on their own experience advising students. Relevant advising tools and resources for working with students interested in study abroad will be shared with participants.
Timing: Typically offered in February and October each year.
Registration: Registration is available on the LAC site.
Email: Scott Daby, [email protected]
Education Abroad Network Events
Convened by the Learning Abroad Center
The University of Minnesota Twin Cities Education Abroad Network includes and serves professional advisers, faculty members, administrators, and others involved with education abroad. Topics focus on sharing of practices, benchmarking, and updates to foster communication and expanded, multidisciplinary collaboration in regard to study abroad.
Timing: Events are offered occasionally throughout the calendar year.
Registration: Participants register on the Learning Abroad Center website.
Email: Brook Blahnik, [email protected]
Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion
Coaching Skills Training Program (CSTP)
Offered by the Center for Academic Planning & Exploration (CAPE) & President's Emerging Scholars Program (PES)
The Coaching Skills Training Program is an initiative intended to provide professional development and coaching skills practice with an equity lens to University of Minnesota, Twin Cities staff.
Timing: The 25-hour cohort program is run each fall and spring semester, roughly September-December and January-May.
Registration: Applications for Fall and Spring cohorts open in July and November, respectively, each year.
Email: Kai Takatsuka, [email protected]
Racial Justice Training Program (RJTP)
Offered by the Office of Undergraduate Education (OUE) Academic Advising Initiatives
The Racial Justice Training Program (RJTP) is a cohort-based, semester-long racial and social justice education program geared towards academic advisors. Over the course of a semester, participants further develop their awareness, knowledge, and skills needed to better serve students who identify as Black, Indigenous, and People of Color (BIPOC), thus also enhancing support for students from other historically minoritized groups.
Timing: Offered fall and spring semesters during the academic year; participants will take part in eight two-hour training sessions over the course of a semester.
Registration: Applications for Fall and Spring cohorts open in July and November, respectively, each year.
Email: Academic Advising Initiatives, [email protected]
Equity and Diversity Certificate Program
Offered by the Office for Equity and Diversity (OED)
The Equity and Diversity Certificate helps participants develop tools necessary for advancing equity and diversity in all aspects of their personal and professional lives. The program:
- Offers participants a theoretical framework for understanding equity and diversity work
- Helps participants develop necessary skills for equity and diversity work
- Gives participants direct experience working and communicating across differences
Please see the FAQs if you have any questions or contact OED.
Timing: Year round throughout the academic year.
Registration: To enroll in the Certificate Program use your university login and log into the Destiny One Registration System (DORS), and select add to cart for the Current UMN Staff/Faculty/Students.
Email: OED, [email protected]
Wellbeing
Boynton's Mental Health Training for Employees
Offered by Boynton Health Promotion
Mental Health Training is a free professional development opportunity designed for University of Minnesota faculty and staff. Participants will learn up-to-date information about UMN students and essential skills for supporting the needs of today’s students. Upon completion of the modules, graduates will earn the designation ‘Mental Health Advocate.'
This fully-asynchronous series of training allows participants to access the content proactively in full, or as your schedule allows in response to specific situations. The program is made up of eight, 20-minute long modules available through the Training Hub:
- Student mental health at UMN-TC – prerequisite module
- Making effective referrals
- Listening effectively to student mental health concerns
- Responding appropriately to student mental health concerns
- Situations of student suicidality
- The impact of identity and oppression on student mental health
- Beyond the individual: Promoting mental health for groups of students
- Taking action to promote student mental health: Applied project
Timing: On demand, through Training Hub
Registration: Self-enroll at any time through the Training Hub
Email: [email protected]
Center For Spirituality and Healing (CSPH) Webinars and Trainings
Offered by the Center for Spirituality and Healing
The Earl E. Bakken Center for Spirituality and Healing is an excellent resource for advisors and staff across campus. Among the many trainings and webinars they provide, a few highlights include Mindful Mondays, a variety of free webinars, and their wellbeing series.
Timing: Webinars are offered monthly; Mindful Mondays are offered weekly; the wellbeing series is typically offered during the academic year.
Registration: Registration information can be found on the CSPH website.
Email: [email protected]
Supporting Student Mental Health & Wellness
Adapted from the Mental Health Advocates curriculum by a team of mental health, public health, and student affairs professionals on behalf of the President’s Initiative for Student Mental Health
The University of Minnesota’s “Supporting Student Mental Health & Wellness” series of microtraining videos is designed to help faculty and staff on all system campuses build their competence and confidence in supporting student mental health. Example topics include making effective referrals and listening intentionally.
Timing: Available on demand any time
Registration: Not required.
Technology Training
APLUS Training
Offered by the Office of Undergraduate Education
APLUS Training is offered for student services staff that may be new to using APLUS, as well as continuing users that want to optimize their workflow. See the APLUS Training Calendar for upcoming training offerings, and add this to your Google calendar list to keep up to date.
Monthly Drop-in Hours: Join Kate Ryan at APLUS Support Drop-ins, offered each third Tuesday of the month. These will be conducted as open group meetings, where questions will be answered for all attendees to learn from.
APLUS Training Request Form: If you’d like to request an APLUS training for your unit, please fill out the form.
Timing: Monthly drop-in hours, APLUS Basics Training once a semester, and group training by request.
Registration: No registration needed for monthly drop-ins. APLUS Basics Registration information will be added to the APLUS Training Calendar when available.
Email: Kate Ryan; [email protected]
Information Technology Training
Offered by Information Technology
IT offers a variety of trainings designed to support university staff and allow them to better utilize the technology used in everyday work.
Timing: IT offers trainings regularly throughout the calendar year.
Registration: Registration information is available in the training hub.
Email: [email protected]
Professional Development
Academic Advising Network (AAN)
Offered by the Academic Advising Network (AAN)
AAN fosters opportunities for professional growth, personal development, and community building. AAN provides a forum for discussion and the exchange of ideas and information regarding academic advising within the University community.
Timing: AAN offers community building and professional development opportunities throughout the academic year.
Registration: All events offered by AAN will are available on the events page.
Email: [email protected]
John Tate Professional Development Conference and Awards Ceremony
Sponsored by the Office of the Executive Vice President and Provost and the Academic Advising Network
The John Tate Professional Development Conference and Awards Ceremony encourages fellowship and learning by bringing together faculty, administrators, professional advising staff, career counselors, and other members of the extended University community interested in academic advising.
Timing: The conference is held annually in early March.
Registration: Registration information will be posted to the Tate Conference website when live.
Email: [email protected]
First-Gen Institute Program
Offered by the Department of Organizational Leadership, Policy, and Development (OLPD) housed under the College of Education and Human Development (CEHD)
The First-Gen Institute focuses on researching, developing, and disseminating evidence based practices and building communities of praxis that relate to the experience of first-generation (FG) college and graduate students, FG employees, and faculty across higher education and initiatives and programs aimed at increasing access and success for first-generation college students across the country.
Timing: Typically offered every other year.
Registration: Registration information can be found on the First-Gen Institute website.
Email: [email protected]
Student Success Conference
Sponsored by the Office of Undergraduate Education (OUE)
The Student Success Conference brings together faculty and staff on the Twin Cities campus to dialogue and strategize about academic and student development issues relating to undergraduate students and their success. Hosted by the Office of Undergraduate Education, this bi-annual event includes a keynote speaker and concurrent sessions highlighting student success topics and campus initiatives.
Timing: Typically offered every other year.
Registration: Registration will be posted to undergrad.umn.edu when live.
Email: LeeAnn Melin ([email protected]) or Beth Lingren Clark ([email protected])