With themes of “community” and “belonging,” the event began with a welcome address from VP-OUE Dr. Steven Girardot, program updates from Dr. Catherine Thomas (Assoc. Director of Undergraduate Transition Seminars), and a keynote address by Mr. Kyle Poe of the Career Center on one of the GT 1000/2000 signature assignments, “Enhancing the Career Exploration Project.”

Multiple breakout sessions were offered throughout the day on different course elements to incorporate in teaching the seminars, thematic threads in GT 1000, and pedagogical approaches. Two lively panel discussions also were held, one on how to effectively engage student Team Leaders in the sections, and one “Ask Me Anything” general discussion.

Over one hundred people attended, including 70 faculty and staff instructors and 25 campus partners.

This event offered a number of opportunities for meeting new and returning instructors, learning new pedagogical approaches, sharing best practices, and preparing for our upcoming semesters teaching the transition seminars,” said Thomas. “It was wonderful to meet so many of the people who make GT 1000 and 2000 a success, and I look forward to working together as we move into the new academic year.

The Instructor Training Conference is the largest of several professional development opportunities for new and returning instructors in the Undergraduate Transition Seminars program. It provides an invaluable foundation for instructor onboarding and GT 1000/2000 community-building.

Conference attendee feedback was overwhelmingly positive. Here are just a few examples:

• "The breakouts were top-notch. It was difficult to choose among them!"
• "Location was great! And SNACKS, what great snacks!"
• "The conference really felt like a conference rather than a training, and that was fantastic. I also liked that it was in-person and that the sessions were helpful to me as a returning instructor, and that sessions were themed sessions rather than simply having campus partners present their campus services."
• "The venue space was gorgeous! I also enjoyed speaking with fellow instructors to learn best practices."

What’s next for Undergraduate Transition Seminars:

• Summer iGniTe GT 1000s and late summer GT 2000 begin 6/21
• Summer training for fall TL’s and instructors continues
• Info presentations and tabling for FASETS
• Developing a year-long professional development program around G. Cohen’s Belonging
• Welcoming our new Program and Operations Manager June 26th