Student Life Professional Development Day

We ask that you consider bringing the following to the event:

1. Your department provided name tag
2. A notebook (if you wish to take notes throughout the day)
3. Pen
4. A resuable water bottle

Throughout the day, we ask that you keep the following questions in mind. We will discuss these questions during the round tables at the end of the day.

1. TBA
2. TBA
3. TBA

Time: 9:15 a.m.
Location: Woldman Theatre, Norton 190

What does it take to better ourselves, our work with students, and the workplaces we share?

Join Dr. Paige Haber-Curran, leadership scholar and co-author of Emotionally Intelligent Leadership, for an engaging and practical exploration of Emotionally Intelligent Leadership and what it means to show up fully for yourself, your students, and your workplace. Drawing on three core capacities (consciousness of self, consciousness of others, and consciousness of context), this keynote invites participants to examine how self-awareness shapes the way they lead, connect, and show up for others, and how the dynamics of their workplace shape and are shaped by their leadership.

This session offers practical tools and meaningful reflection to help you lead with greater intention, awareness, and impact. Bettering us starts with each of us and is strengthened by all of us. 

A session for folks to understand their bias, what it means, and how it shows up in spaces, whether we know they exist or not. The session gives staff the tools to identify their own biases and the steps to ensure they are able to work on them while creating safe spaces for all students.

The topic focuses on how to support students who are not sure how to advocate for themselves.  What is it like to ask for help? How do student supports make college life better for students with access needs? Learn from a professional advocate who has lived the experience of asking for accommodations while earning a college degree.

This workshop is for those with an innovative spirit, dedicated to the growth, development and wellness of self and others, appreciative of nature, “soled” on the power of movement, inspired by the quest for adventure, and invested in creative, non-traditional approaches. Participants will actively engage throughout the workshop—a blend of education, reflection, and experiential activities—and walk away with personalized and tangible “next steps” & strategies for “sole support” in the workplace.

Come prepared with an appetite for connection and be ready for a short walk in nature.

Supporting others in the workplace often means managing our own challenges along the way. This session will provide an overview of the Employee Assistance Program (EAP) and how it supports UB staff through personal and professional concerns. Participants will learn about the range of confidential services available, how to recognize when support may be helpful, and how to easily access these resources. Designed for Student Life professionals, this session aims to increase awareness and confidence in using EAP as a tool for well-being and resilience.

Student employment plays an important role in our students’ career readiness development as well as our entire division’s ability to provide excellent customer service. This panel discussion will explore best practices for supervising students by hearing from professionals who know what works. Not only will we hear from our panelists, but attendees will be welcome to share their best practices too.

This one-hour session will provide an overview of the ways in which we can be personally impacted by our work—specifically focusing on the cycle of compassion fatigue, compassion satisfaction, and compassion resilience—and how to maintain our own wellbeing while continuing to do the work. The session will:

• Describe ways that staff can be impacted by the work (i.e., compassion fatigue, burnout, vicarious trauma, etc.)
• Explore strategies for promoting wellbeing, satisfaction and resilience
• Assess current wellness practices

Discover how to harness the unique strengths of every generation in your workplace. Engage in a dynamic, interactive session where you will learn powerful strategies for boosting collaboration and leveraging diverse talents.

In this workshop, you will learn basic information about mental health, facts that help to reduce stigma, the importance of de-escalation, community resources, and an introduction to other training opportunities with Compeer including Mental Health First Aid. 

How often do we pause to examine the thoughts driving our emotions, actions, and relationships? This hands-on workshop builds on the keynote by taking a deeper dive into consciousness of self, one of the core facets of Emotionally Intelligent Leadership.

Through a thought work model informed by cognitive behavioral psychologist Dr. Aaron Beck, participants will explore how their thoughts shape their feelings, behaviors, and impact on others across both personal and professional contexts. Using applied activities and guided reflection, participants will practice identifying thoughts that may not be serving them, consider strategies for shifting the thoughts, and explore how that inner work can strengthen self-awareness, improve relationships, and support their own growth and wellbeing.

This session is for anyone ready to do the inner work that makes bettering us possible.