VPAASS Summit 2025

Thanks to all (faculty & staff) who joined us for our annual mini-conference showcasing the work of the Division for Academic Affairs and Student Success.

2025 Theme: Meeting Students Where They Are 

Much of our work - and your work - revolves around meeting students where they are and helping them move forward with intention and purpose.

VPAASS Summit: May 13, 2025

Agenda

8:30am - Coffee/Tea

Body

Opening Remarks 

J. Dickinson, VP for Academic Affairs and Student Success 

9:00 - 9:50am Breakout Sessions

Body

Coaching During Challenging Times

Chittenden Bank Room (413)

  • Join Sarah Heath, Director, and Sam Chambers, Career Coach, for tips & talking points to support students during tumultuous times (addressing economic worries, concerns that job prospects have been slashed by policy/funding, fears around workplace environments, etc.). Walk away with evergreen coaching tips, insights on how students FEEL about networking (given it's enduring importance), and updates on supports for Graduate Students (with guest Christopher Pallas).

Behind the Scenes on the Pre-Orientation Landscape

Williams Family Room (403)

  • Explore the changing pre-orientation landscape at UVM. Dani Comey (Director, CFAS) hosts a discussion with colleagues leading a wide range of programs, including the new STEM Scholars, revamped SESP (Summer Enrichment Scholars Program), First Scholars, UVMGO and more. Cohosts include: ahmed khanani (MOSAIC Center Director), Emily Morgan (STEM Scholars Manager), Zyakkiriah Rhoden (First-Gen@UVM Coordinator), and Caitlyn Clark (UVMGO Coordinator).

10:00 - 10:50am Breakout Sessions

Body

GenAI & Student Writing: Insights from Spring 2025 Research 

Williams Family Room (403)

  • How are UVM students are using and thinking about AI when it comes to writing? And how does increasing accessibility and ubiquity of AI impacts the peer-to-peer writing support offered by the Undergraduate Writing Center? Join Holly Painter (Interim Director) to find out what Undergraduate Writng Center Tutors discovered in their research, interviews, and focus groups with faculty, students, and tutors this spring.

UVM Global Learning Rubric

Chittenden Bank Room (413)

  • Come learn about UVM’s new Global Learning Rubric in a session led by J. Dickinson (Vice Provost of Academic Affairs and Student Success) and Caitlyn Clark (UVM GO Program Manager). We will look at UVM GO as a co-curricular example and learn about the creation of its newest program: UVM GO London: Local Histories, Global Connections. Discussion with members of the Global Learning Working Group will follow; feedback welcome!

11:00 - 11:50am Breakout Sessions

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Internships Are Great; Except When They’re Not

Chittenden Bank Room (413)

  • Students who intern are 49% less likely to be underemployed at graduation, but not every internship goes as hoped. Join Amanda Van Vranken (Assistant Director, Employer Engagement) and Sarah Heath (Director, Career Center) to explore how to support students when they’re not having a great experience – whether that’s about finding value in tasks they thought they’d like more; helping students navigate challenges resulting from deficient supervision, adverse work environments, or MOU violations; or anything in between. We will touch on the new MOU process and the role of the Employer Engagement team in difficult situations.

Beyond Compliance: Proactive Accessibility in Student Advising

Williams Family Room (403)

  • Join members of the newly centralized Office of Accessibility Services to learn about proactive strategies for creating inclusive advising experiences that go beyond legal compliance. This session will explore how small shifts in advising practices can remove barriers, support diverse learning needs, and foster a more equitable environment for all students. Whether you're new to accessibility or looking to deepen your approach, this conversation will offer practical insights and tools to help you embed accessibility into your everyday work.

Noon - 1pm

Body

Networking Lunch

Connect. Eat. Discuss. Enjoy. 


Registration for the networking lunch is closed. That said, please do join us for any of the morning sessions (even if you've not registered).

Be in touch with Carrie.Honeman@uvm.edu to request accommodations.