Research Connections, a signature event during the Month of Discovery, is celebrating its 10th year! Started by the Office of First Year Programs & Learning Communities and the Office of Undergraduate Research in 2015, Research Connections is an event designed to expose first- and second-year UConn students to UConn’s rich research landscape as a Research 1 institution.  

The 10th annual Research Connections event was on October 10 from 3-5 p.m. Students who attended had the opportunity to connect with almost 100 faculty, staff, graduate students, and peers about a wide variety of research opportunities as well as resources available to them as UConn students. There were dozens of offices and departments represented at this year’s event, with over 300 students in attendance. Pictures, below!

Over the last 10 years, Research Connections evolved into a larger Month of Discovery event series. The Month of Discovery is a series of events to help students explore opportunities in the fields of research, innovation, and creativity. Each year, the month includes four signature events: Makerspace Bounce, Research Connections, Experience Innovation Expo, and Fall Frontiers. It is a collaborative effort organized by Innovate Labs, the Office of First Year Programs & Learning Communities, the Office of Undergraduate Research, and the Werth Institute for Entrepreneurship and Innovation, with many other UConn departments hosting partner events during the month of October.

Celebrating 25 Years of FYE at UConn!

This year marks an incredible milestone—25 years of First-Year Experience (FYE) at UConn! And we couldn’t be more excited to kick off the new academic year with an amazing team dedicated to helping our first-year students succeed.

FYE serves as the backbone of UConn’s Learning Communities (LCs), first-generation student initiatives, international student support, and programs across all campuses. With the commitment of our program faculty, staff, and graduate student instructors, partners and student leaders, we’re helping students find their home at UConn.

Over 350 Mentors, Coaches, TAs, Supervising TAs, Floor Mentors, and Maker Mentors returned to campus early, eager and ready to go through extensive training, ensuring they’re fully prepared to support our incoming Huskies. Their commitment to student success and passion for making a positive impact is what makes our FYE program truly special!

Here’s to a quarter-century of fostering student success, community, and growth—and to many more years of excellence ahead. Let’s go, Huskies! 💙🤍

On Friday July 19th, the Center for Access and Postsecondary Success (CAPS) brought together 600 students and staff currently participating in CAPS Summer programs spanning across all five UConn campuses for a day designed to celebrate UConn’s commitment to access to higher education and holistic and equitable college student success. In the first event of it’s kind at UConn, high school students participating in Upward Bound/ ConnCAP, incoming UConn freshman participating in CAPS Summer Bridge Program, and current UConn upper classmen working toward advanced degrees participating in CAPS Research Opportunities joined on the Storrs campus to socialize and enjoy activities in joyful celebration and CAPS pride.

“The CAPS Family Gathering event was truly a phenomenal display of UConn’s dedication to advancing educational access and equity! With UConn’s history as a Land Grant University and TRIO’s 60 years of supporting first generation students to attend and graduate college; it was a perfect fit to gather our students and staff in community to celebrate a summer of their commitment and dedication. I truly feel that the Center for Access and Postsecondary Success is the living legacy of our promise to make college an option for any person with the desire to attend.” – Herman Shelton, CAPS Executive Director

Read the feature published in UConn Today: https://today.uconn.edu/2024/07/caps-program-holds-campus-celebration/ 

The Institute for Student Success Center for Access and Postsecondary Success (CAPS) is celebrating the receipt of a three-year award from the Connecticut State Office of Higher Education to support the Connecticut Collegiate Awareness and Preparation (ConnCAP) Initiative. In the first year of funding which begins on July 1, this award will provide a total of $400,000 to ConnCAP programs based at UConn Hartford, Stamford, Storrs, and Waterbury campuses to serve young scholars throughout the state. 

The UConn ConnCAP program is part of UConn’s College Access Programs (UCAP), which provides first-generation and/or low-income pre-college students with the academic and personal skills needed to graduate high school and succeed at the postsecondary level. UCAP Advisors are dedicated to empowering and guiding students in grades 9 through 12 from communities throughout Connecticut. Its comprehensive academic year component focuses on crucial areas such as high school success, standardized test prep, college readiness, STEM workshops, financial aid advising, and family engagement, bolstered by mentoring, health and wellness initiatives, and personal development opportunities like leadership training and service projects. 

During the summer, ConnCAP students immerse themselves in a multi-week on-campus experience, delving into foundational courses ranging from English and math to science, economics, and human rights. Summer programming emphasizes research, academic survival skills, college preparedness, and career exploration, while also nurturing a well-rounded college admissions profile through social and cultural enrichment, community service projects, and voluntary personal development activities like sports, art, leadership, and culinary arts. 

UCAP is hiring! Learn more and apply: https://jobs.hr.uconn.edu/en-us/job/498386/upward-boundconncap-academic-coordinator  

2020. Remember when the world turned upside down that year? The Center for Access and Postsecondary Success (CAPS) (formerly known as Student Support Services) Summer Program shifted online that year, throwing us into uncharted waters. Students in that cohort had their high school graduation ceremonies canceled, participated in the Summer Program online, and completed their first year of college almost entirely or entirely online. 

This is one of two reasons why this year’s annual CAPS Senior Recognition Ceremony, themed Students Today, Huskies Forever, was so special. Held on April 18, 2024, in the Alumni Center Great Hall, over 100 students and their family members and friends came together to celebrate their hard work and accomplishments in-person, and receive their CAPS/SSS senior medals to wear at commencement.  

 This year’s ceremony also marked the first time a student was awarded the Dr. Bidya Ranjeet CAPS/SSS Pride Award. The award is given to a senior who has demonstrated a strong connection to CAPS/SSS throughout their tenure at UConn, and a deep commitment to and pride for being a member of the UConn CAPS/SSS community.  The inaugural award recipient was Julio Serna. Julio served as a CAPS/SSS First Year Experience Mentor, assisting with an in-person UNIV 1800 course, a Peer Mentor, a Peer Caller, a Summer Program Community Leader twice, a Student Advisory Board Member, and was part of the community leader interviewing team – and these are only his CAPS/SSS related accomplishments. The award comes with a scholarship for career or graduate school related expenses. 

 Well done seniors, and congratulations to Julio! 

The Louis Stokes Alliance for Minority Participation (LSAMP) provides holistic support, career and professional development advising, community, and a commitment to undergraduate research for students that are traditionally underrepresented in STEM. Supported by the National Science Foundation, LSAMP works for the undergraduate success of its scholars and at UConn, utilizes the majority of its participant funding to support scholars participating in meaningful undergraduate research both at UConn and beyond the borders of Storrs.

Currently serving nearly 200 undergraduates, the number 45 is significant because it represents the number of scholars directly supported by LSAMP at UConn to conduct summer undergraduate research since 2019, which includes an entire summer lost to the global pandemic. Students are introduced to the variety of opportunities for undergraduate research immediately through the custom 1-credit class for first-year students and through success seminars for incoming transfer and campus change students. LSAMP provides supportive funding to ensure that as many students as possible can participate in the transformative experience of undergraduate research.

The commitment to research has become a foundation of this community of scholars, and LSAMP students also pursue and receive competitive summer research opportunities through the NSF-REU as well as a variety of Summer Undergraduate Research Fellowships (SURF) and Summer Undergraduate Research Programs (SURP) nationwide. These experiences then flow into LSAMP scholars presenting at conferences and moving on into competitive PhD, MD, DMD, MS, professional programs, and NIH-PREP opportunities. LSAMP is research excellence!

To learn more or discuss collaborative opportunities, please contact UConn LSAMP Program Director Michael Petro.

In the ever-evolving landscape of creativity, innovation, and entrepreneurship education at the University of Connecticut, the UConn Innovation Zone (IZone) stands as a beacon of progress and opportunity. With a staggering 7,639 sign-ins recorded during the 2022-2023 academic year—an impressive 22% increase from the previous year, the IZone continues to grow and evolve to meet the changing interests and demands of our students. This is made evident by the growth of the program from the singular Makerspace, to now encompassing both the new Emerging Tech Center (ETC) and Recording & Editing Center (REC) under the Innovation Zone umbrella. This expansion has proven immensely successful in promoting hands-on learning and has become a hub for exploration, creativity, and skill development. In a world marked by constant change, the Innovation Zone has emerged as a vital catalyst for students, offering free access to cutting-edge equipment, materials, and expertise.

The numbers tell a compelling story—the 7,639 sign-ins represent not just a statistic, but a testament to the IZone’s popularity and its role in shaping the educational journey of countless students. This surge in usage underscores the program’s unique position as a resource that transcends theoretical knowledge, providing students with tangible skills that are invaluable in the real world. Moreover, the IZone’s impact extends beyond STEM disciplines, offering a diverse array of skills that cater to a broad student audience. Whether it’s mastering the intricacies of 3D modeling, gaining experience implementing design thinking, or learning the timeless art of sewing, the IZone fosters a learning environment that caters to a spectrum of interests and career paths. A trip to the UConn Innovation Zone or their upcoming Women in Making Forum and Modified Pinewood Derby is not just a visit; it’s an investment in one’s future—a journey that extends beyond the classroom, offering the practical know-how crucial for success in any field.

Get involved in upcoming IZone events!
– The Women in Making Forum is scheduled for Sunday April 14^th in Werth Tower
-The Sixth Annual Modified Pinewood Derby is scheduled for Thursday April 18^th 2-6pm on Fairfield Way, part of the Spring Weekend kickoff

Information provided by Cody D. Ryan, Makerspace Supervisor & Matt Chen, Makerspace Fellow

In the fall of 2023, U.S. News and World Report ranked the UConn Learning Communities Program in the top 25 of programs nationally. Earlier this month the Office of First Year Programs, Learning Communities, the Academic Achievement Center, and Innovation Zone (FYPLCAACIZ) welcomed Learning Community collaborators from across campus, alumni and friends, and current students to celebrate the profound impact of Learning Communities on student success and engagement.  Read more about the ranking from U.S. News & World Report here. 

Watch the Learning Communities Impact video created for the event here: https://lnkd.in/e85ASvBP 
 

Learning Communities (LC) trace back to the early 2000s when they emerged from the First Year Programs at UConn, although there were a few Learning Communities on campus in the 70’s and 80’s. Initially conceived as themed First Year Experience (FYE) courses tailored to specific majors, LCs have evolved into holistic programs supporting first- and second-year students in their collegiate journey. Students receive guidance on navigating campus resources, mentoring, and socio-emotional support; all aimed at fostering personal and professional growth leading to graduation. Select LCs incorporate service-learning courses, experiential learning opportunities, and communal living spaces within Residence Halls, enriching the overall student experience.

LCs offer cohorts of students a unique opportunity to explore areas of interest, whether aligned with their major or interdisciplinary subjects, through guided courses and co-curricular activities. The overarching vision of these communities is to foster knowledgeable, responsible, and engaged citizens within a culture of inquiry. These communities provide a supportive environment for students transitioning to academic life, offering the intimacy of a small college setting amidst the vastness of the larger UConn campus. They facilitate meaningful interactions with faculty, staff, and student leaders. Over 44 percent of incoming students participate in a learning community, extending beyond the first year to encompass hundreds of sophomores as well as some upper-class students serving in peer mentor roles. 

Over the years, the LC program has spawned numerous traditions and initiatives, including the LC Kickoff, LC Field Day events, Research Connections, and the Month of Discovery. Notable collaborative projects such as HackUConn with the Werth Institute for Entrepreneurship & Innovation, Public Health House’s Health Innovation Projects, and the establishment of the Spring Valley Student Farm and the Peter J. Werth Residence Tower – equipped with the UConn Innovation Zone – underscore the program’s role as a catalyst for innovation and positive change.  

Recognized as a High Impact Practice (HIP) in higher education research, Learning Communities continue to shape the academic landscape by providing students with transformative learning experiences.  
 

View images from the celebratory event below!