UMN Morris Welcome Back Week

Come socialize with your peers, meet new faces, and have some free coffee and light snacks before Professional Development Day events.

First-generation students are a vital part of the UMN Morris community, making up 32% of our student population (Fall 2022). This session will explore current data on first-generation student success through an intersectional lens, provide updates on UMN Morris grant-funded programs dedicated to supporting first-generation college student success, and examine contextual factors that influence our first-generation student outcomes at UMN Morris and beyond. 

This year's keynote address, "Belonging Beyond Barriers: Honoring the Strengths and Needs of the UMM First-Generation Community," will be presented by Dr. Kelly Collins, from the Office of Equity and Diversity at UMN Twin Cities. This keynote and extended follow-up workshop will explore how we can move beyond access to cultivate true belonging for first-generation students and community members at UMM. Grounded in an asset-based framework, it will highlight the strengths, knowledge, and skill sets that first-generation individuals bring, while also naming the structural and cultural barriers they navigate. Participants will leave with a deeper understanding of the local and national first-generation community and practical strategies for fostering learning and working environments where first-gen community members are seen, supported, and able to thrive. 

Kelly Collins, PhD, is the Director of Education at the University of Minnesota's Office for Equity and Diversity. A graduate of the University of Minnesota's Organizational Leadership and Policy Development doctoral program, Kelly began her career as an advisor for first-generation, low-income college students in the TRIO programs at the University of Iowa, where she also received a master's degree in Higher Education and Student Affairs and served on the Native American Staff and Faculty Council. Kelly has served as the Associate Director of Racial and Social Justice Education at the University of Minnesota and as the Native American Student Success Coordinator and Community Faculty in Ethics Studies at Metropolitan State University. She currently serves as a steering community member of the University of Minnesota's First Generation Institute and the University Indigenous Women & Women of Color Affinity Group. Kelly is a proud first-generation alumni and professional, community activist, intergenerational caregiver, traditional beadworker, and access and equity scholar and practitioner. 

Webinar Link for those unable to attend in person.

Dr. Kelly Collins will facilitate a gallery-style interactive workshop focused on centering intersectional First Generation voices/experiences. 

Keynote Extension: First Gen Gallery Walk & Design Workshop
This interactive workshop will center the voices and experiences of first-generation students, creating an engaging space to explore the dynamic strengths and diverse perspectives they bring to our learning communities. Participants will engage with a gallery of first-gen voices and perspectives to deepen their understanding and awareness of the first-gen scholar experience. Through interactive activities, participants will also explore how to design curricula, programs, and learning environments that recognize and build upon the assets and needs of first-generation students, staff, and faculty. 

Bridging "Gen"-erational Divide with Inclusive & Accessible Pedagogies: Useful Practices & Reminders for Starting the School Year

This session offers practical, inclusive, and accessible teaching strategies to support first-gen students from day one. Discover actionable tips from crafting welcoming syllabi to designing flexible course materials, from fostering reading and writing skills to building an equitable classroom environment, where all students, including first-gen students, can navigate their liberal arts education experience successfully. 

For many first-generation college students, navigating unstated academic norms - the "hidden curriculum" - such as understanding weighted grading, seeking assignment extensions, or knowing where students stand academically can induce anxiety and self-doubt. Canvas is more than an administrative tool; when designed intentionally, it serves as a transparent communication hum that reduces anxiety, builds trust, and normalizes help-seeking behavior. Join this 45-minute session to explore actionable, equity-focused Canvas strategies (focused more on the gradebook) that clarify expectations and can support student retention. 

Supporting UMM's first gen students takes intentional approaches and resources, some of which are housed out of the SSC's Learning Assistance area. This session will not only present data such as the course completion rates of first students at UMN Morris, but also share the services and programs Learning Assistance is providing to better support these students. These programs include our new Embedded Tutoring Program as well as StudyStrategist tutor role. Attendees will learn more about the ins and outs of these peer educator programs and how to best share this information with students. 

An interactive, educational workshop, designed to help educators combat burnout and navigate professional and personal stressors. The program defines resilience as the ability to adapt, recover, and grow from adversity. Participants build a practical "Resilience Toolkit" focused on three core pillars: reframing the physiological stress response through self-compassion, countering the brain's natural negativity bias using a 3:1 positive-to-negative reflection ratio, and fostering connection through structured peer co-regulation check-ins. 

Work session for instructional faculty only to discuss the Academic Calendar with the system aligned mission. 

You're invited to stop by the TRIO Student Support Services Lounge (HFA 123) to learn more about our program, meet the TRIO staff, and see the space where students build community, receive individualized support, and connect with campus resources.