The Annual Conference for First Year Innovation brings people together from across UConn to share about, and learn from, our work supporting students in transition. In honor of the First Year Experience Program’s 25th anniversary, the conference will focus on rethinking transitions across the first year as they are experienced by today’s students and the ways in which we are innovating practice to support them as a truly “student-ready” university.  

Call for Proposals  

Proposals are invited on topics addressing myriad aspects of the first year of college and student transitions. Proposals undergo review by FYE staff and the conference planning committee and are selected based on relevance of the topic to the first-year experience, importance of the topic as an emerging trend or innovation, and the implications and/or adaptability for practice. 

Session Topics 

Below, find examples of broad topics you may address in your session. This is not an exhaustive list; we welcome all creative ideas for session topics and formats relevant to the conference. 

• New and innovative FYE lessons, curriculum or pedagogy 

• Innovative ways of working with peer mentors or fostering mentor/mentee engagement 

• Classroom management tips and techniques  

• Use of technology to support the First Year Experience 

• Holistic support for first year students 

• New research in the First Year Experience 

• Methods for creating opportunities for authentic community participation for students in the first year 

Session Types 

All sessions are in-person, interactive 50-minute concurrent sessions. Each session will have approximately 20-30 attendees. Each presenter will have access to technology to present slides, if needed. 

Proposal Components 

• Session Abstract (100 words or less) and Title (10 words or less) to be used on the website and in the conference program, if accepted. 

• Detailed Description (300 words or less) of your session including topic, relevance to the conference theme of innovation, and brief description of how the session with be interactive for participants. 

All proposals are due March 31st. Please reach out to Michelle Johnson (michelle.k.johnson@uconn.edu) with questions.