Past Coffee Talks

Read relevant information and access materials from past presentations:

  • Crafting a Philosophy of Advising | March 2020
  • The process of writing an advising philosophy and/or re-visiting an existing philosophy brings about valuable self-reflection, alignment, and intentionality. Jordan Dade and Joe Lee presented on the process and components that make a compelling philosophy of advising, and provided resources for getting started. Explore the slides from this Coffee Talk.
  • Digital Engagement | November 2019
  • Representatives from Strategic Communications presented on digitally engaging with students. They recommended a big/pretty/simple approach for the web and suggested some strategies for capitalizing on social media platforms. View the presentation slides.
  • Vision Boarding Your Goals | August 2019
  • Advisors engaged in a reflection and self-care exercise about core values and personal and professional goals. The hands-on and introspective workshop centered around creating a vision board—a collage containing words and images to tangibly represent intentions for the year ahead.
  • Next Level Advising Certificate: Projects & Discussion | May 2019
  • Members of the Advisor Training and Development Committee shared structural details and longitudinal experiences regarding the academic advising certificate program plans after piloting a "next level" project-based certificate. The three participants who completed the pilot shared there projects. Explore the participants' projects.
  • Learning Strategies 101 | February 2019
  • Part of the mission of Learning Strategies is to translate research- and evidence-based learning principles into study strategies that students can implement to make their learning more effective and efficient. Many conversations about study habits begin with an academic advisor. In this coffee talk, Dr. Annalisa Teixeira gave an overview of the common study habits of UC Davis students, including myths and pitfalls. The presentation helped to equip advisors with additional learning strategies that they can introduce in an advising session to support the academic success of their advisees.
  • Supporting UC Davis Students’ Transition to College | November 2018
  • The College of Agricultural and Environmental Sciences (CA&ES) piloted an activity with incoming freshman and transfer students over the last two years to support UC Davis students’ transition to college. This activity, based on the research of Yeager et al. (PNAS, 2016, E3341-E3348), provides incoming students a framework for normalizing common social and academic struggles associated with the transition to college.  By using first person experiences from Sophomore, Junior, and Senior students, incoming students can begin to understand that many students worry about whether they will fit in and belong at the university and that over time almost all students are able to overcome these concerns and begin to feel at home on campus. Sue Ebeler, Donna Vivar, and CA&ES student representatives presented background research, the efforts at UC Davis to support students’ sense of belonging on campus, and tips and tools you can use in your everyday practice to help create a welcoming environment for our students.  Materials: presentation & handouts.
  • Myths and Misconceptions about Grad School | August 2018
  • Cloe Le Gall-Scoville, the Coordinator for Pre-Graduate/Professional Advising with the Office of Educational Opportunity and Enrichment Services, led a discussion on talking about graduate school with students. Students tend to believe that a graduate degree is a necessity for all career paths, despite work experience being more valued in many fields. Students also commonly misconceive the expense of graduate school and necessary qualifications for admittance. Coffee Talk participants learned about the services offered by Pre-Graduate Advising, as well as how to balance the pros and cons when discussing graduate school with students.
  • Student-Athlete Outcomes System | April 2018
  • Michael Lorenzen led a round table discussion about the Aggie EVO Student-Athlete Outcomes System. The purpose of the system is to systematically train, prepare, and launch student-athletes for postgraduate success in a way that provides a unique, sustainable competitive advantage for UC Davis. Coffee Talk participants learned about the system’s four key areas: skills, knowledge, opportunities, and tools.
  • Feel the Fear and Do it Anyway: Why Mastering Fear is Critical in Living a Life of Purpose | February 2018
  • As a continuation from a recent NACADA webinar presentation, Lisa Laughter discussed how fear has the unique ability to steal potential, to stand in the way of dreams, to prevent people from living lives full of intentionality and purpose. The session addressed the pitfalls of living in fear and how to "feel the fear and do it anyway."  Participants gained a greater understanding of the different levels of fear and concrete, innovative, and sustainable tools to work through fear (personally and with students).
  • Making Graduate School Work as an Advisor | October 2017
  • Natasha Coulter moderated a panel discussion about balancing work at UC Davis while pursuing a graduate level degree. Panelists Ariel Collatz, Jasmine Durias, Jordan Dade, Letia Graening, Eugenia Luu, and Lauren Worrell responded to questions from the moderator, as well as those posed by the audience during Q & A. This coffee talk focused on degree programs related to academic advising.  Presentation: Panelist Information
  • Aggie Food Connection | April 2017
  • Representatives from the ASUCD Pantry, Nutrition Services at Student Health & Counseling Services, and Student Housing presented on resources and services pertaining to food security and nutrition. These Aggie Food Connection partners represent three units of the campus-wide effort to provide easy, immediate, and confidential food resources. Presentations: Nutrition ServicesDining TransitionsASUCD Food Pantry
  • Health From Head To Toe | March 2017
  • Coffee Talk participants learned about the benefits of meditation and physical exercise. Mindfulness is receiving increasing scientific support as an effective tool for stress management; this session provided participants with a brief introduction to mindfulness and an experiential mindfulness meditation session. Representatives from the Staff and Faculty Health and Well-being Program, as well as Campus Recreation and Unions led the presentation and exercise. They shared the following online resources that aid in health and wellness with regard to mindfulness: Self-Help Library | Meditation Ambassador Program
  • Techniques for Helping Students Deal with Anxiety | January 2017
  • Academic and Staff Assistance Program (ASAP) directors Dr. Ruben Valencia and Dr. Satinder Gill led a conversation and process session about techniques for helping students to deal with anxiety. The inauguration and the Milo Yiannopoulos event on campus set the stage for a dynamic discussion about issues, concerns, and fears that affect students’ lives. Advisors engaged in dialogue, using scenarios inspired by actual advising sessions and thoughtful consideration of real student experiences.
  • Self-Care in the Workplace | December 2016
  • To celebrate the holidays (and the end of the year) advisors were guided through a number of self-care activities that included crafting vision boards, stress balls, and desktop snowmen. In addition to hands-on activities, the session addressed health and well-being mindfulness. Participants learned about approaches to improve productivity and happiness in the workplace.
  • Debriefing Community Tragedies: For Our Students and Ourselves | November 2016
  • Chaz Walker, Bruce Smail, Daniela de la Cruz, and Jinni Pradhan presented on and engaged advising colleagues in dialogue around Community-Tragedy impact. Participants shared experiences personally and professionally and reflected on thoughts, feelings, and reactions. Much of the discussion focused on the recent election and how to best serve students collectively. Presentation: Community Tragedy
  • NACADA Annual Conference Debrief | October 2016
  • Brett McFarlane moderated a discussion panel made up of advisors who had attended the NACADA national conference in Atlanta. Panelists shared highlights, as well as interesting and innovative ideas learned from the various workshop sessions. Interestingly, they approached breakout selections with very different motivations. There was consensus that UC Davis advisors have great potential to share successful concepts, programs, and ideas; thus, they talked as a wider group about how to accomplish the goal of representing our campus more consistently on a more public stage.
  • Cultivating Champions: Advising Intercollegiate Student-Athletes | July 2016
  • The advising team from Student-Athlete Academic Services (SAAS) presented useful insights about the academic, personal, and athletic demands unique to student-athletes.  They discussed NCAA rules and regulations that affect student-athletes' academics, the pressures they face on and off the field, and how advisors can support the student in the student-athlete. Presentation: Cultivating Champions
  • SDC 101: Understanding the Accommodation Process for Students with Disabilities | June 2016
  • Jennifer Billeci and Abby Tilden from the Student Disability Center presented on how the accommodation process works for students with disabilities at UC Davis. They shared basic information, discussed the accommodation request cycle, and provided examples of student scenarios. The session provided a great deal of insight for advisors to help enhance the experience for all UC Davis students.  Jennifer and Abby answered a wide variety of participant questions and encouraged advisors to call them about any uncertain circumstances. Presentation: SDC 101 
  • Does Spirituality Exist in Academic Advising? Let’s Chat About It | May 2016
  • Dr. Kawami Evans led an exploration of the relevance of spirituality in the world of academic advising. Merging research and practical experience, she provided a framework for understanding spirituality, as a core component of students’ development and its implication in the advising process. Specifically, the workshop drew upon NACADA (National Academic Advising Association) & CAS (Council for the Advancement of Standards in Higher Education) inclusion of spirituality in academic advising programs and discussed applications at UC Davis.  The audience heard from one of Dr. Evans’ students who provided a contextually salient student perspective to the conversation around the importance of the spiritual component in academic advising. Presentation: Spirituality Coffee Talk
  • Strategically Supporting Transfer, Re-Entry, and Veteran Students | April 2016
  • The TRV Center provides significant resources for an important student population.  Hope, Yolanda, and Victor presented information during this coffee talk to help advisors more fully understand these resources and prepare them for the forthcoming changes with the center.  Advisors learned about the specific challenges TRV students face, the unique perspectives that come from this population, and how advisors can most effectively collaborate with the TRV Center staff to support these students. Presentation and materials: Strategically Supporting TRV Students and FAQs
  • The University Honors Program – Transitions and Collaborations | February 2016
  • Did you know that UC Davis’ University Honors Program (UHP) is the oldest in the UC system?! UHP staff (all new since April 2015) led an energetic coffee talk, scattering little fun facts throughout an information-packed discussion about UHP admissions, the four year curriculum, student development programming and other topics.  Two UHP students followed up with personal accounts about the Honors program experience.  And the audience engaged in an open dialogue about UHP and the students within their disciplines.
  • The Mind Spa - Helping Students Manage Mental Health Stressors | January 2016
  • With the use of massaging recliners, biofeedback, and mindful relaxation techniques, the Mind Spa has quickly become a great place on campus for students to relax and utilize resources to help them refocus their cognitive abilities and restore good health.  Dr. Renee Lopez and student Wellness Ambassadors discussed mental challenges that students encounter in their daily lives and how the Mind Spa is an effective tool towards managing stress and anxiety.
  • AB540 & the Undocumented Student Center | December 2015
  • Andrea Gaytan and Daniela De La Cruz presented about the undocumented student experience.  They covered pertinent legislative and policy details, as well as resources available to support students at UC Davis.  They provided information and interactive activities designed for academic advisors and other staff who may work with undocumented students.  The coffee talk was dynamic and informative, keeping the audience highly engaged with clear explanations of complex policies, illustrative examples from real situations, and moving stories told directly by AB540 and undocumented students. Useful materials: UndocuAlly and Access & Support
  • Financial Aid: What You Need To Know | November 2015
  • Angela Brady, Jamila Brown, and Ron Bynes presented an informative session focused on introducing tools and opportunities to provide financial support to students, as well as increasing advisors’ awareness about common challenges students face regarding their financial aid. The Financial Aid and Scholarships staff discussed the myriad of ways students can seek financial support. Presenters also addressed common financial obstacles for students (such as submitting appeals) and how advisors can collaborate with the Financial Aid and Scholarships Office to help students navigate these challenges. Throughout the presentation, the team wove in answers to questions as submitted by staff prior to the event. The Office of Academic Advising hopes to provide an opportunity for advisors to see the Cash Course demo at a later date. Presentation: Financial Aid: What You Need To Know
  • Getting Started with Assessment of Academic Advising | October 2015
  • Campus academic coordinator Kara Moloney and academic assessment analyst Tiffany Johnson energetically explored the world of assessment and its role in academic advising. The engaging interactive session provided participants with concrete strategies for planning and implementing sustainable practices for advising assessment. They addressed questions such as: Why assessment? How can "assessment" help me? Where do we start? What kinds of data should we be collecting? What do we do with the data once we've collected? Presentation: Getting Started with Assessment of Academic Advising
  • Strategies for Communicating Effectively with International Students | September 2015
  • Dawn Takaoglu provided strategies in messaging to improve comprehension in light of the growing population of international and ESL students on campus. The dynamic, interactive session included examples of social-cultural barriers that cause international students to be skeptical or less receptive of good academic advice. Participants also learned how to recognize and use gestures and non-verbal cues to better support communication. Presentation: Strategies for Communicating Effectively with International Students
  • Student Outreach in Career Development | August 2015
  • The Student Outreach in Career Development Coffee Talk focused on advising strategies for cultivating relationships with potential employers, developing a “careers course,” guiding students in career preparation and professionalism, and tailoring student academic experiences for specific industries. Presentation: Student Outreach in Career Development
  • Intro to Health Professions Advising | July 2015
  • Health Professions Advising serves all UC Davis undergraduates, graduate students, and alumni pursing any health profession or allied health field. Any student, from any major can be on the pre-health track. The Health Professions Advising team uses a holistic approach while providing support and feedback during academic and application preparation. This coffee talk highlighted the services provided to students and answered questions relevant to academic advisors.
  • Working With Non-Degree Seeking Students | June 2015
  • In this talk, Jake Hosier identified the most common types of non-degree seeking students on campus: who they are, why they are here, and how to address their advising needs. Many of these students have contributed to campus in impressive ways. From Open Campus to Concurrent Enrollment to Education Abroad to Global Study to Visiting Researcher, advisors play an important role in the advancement of non-matriculating students. The coffee talk conversation was multifaceted, with specific programmatic questions answered and suggestions for better serving this student population offered. Presentation: Non-Degree Seeking Students
  • Helping Students Succeed Beyond the Classroom | May 2015
  • Leadership impacts every facet of life and all individuals have the capacity to serve as leaders. Providing students the opportunity to discover their leadership abilities and learn how to strengthen their skills, while learning new ones along the way, helps increase the likelihood of future success. This interactive coffee talk was delivered by Christie Navarro’s student intern who brought a unique perspective to the session, highlighting services offered by the Center for Leadership Learning and the program's approach to teaching 21st century leadership. Presentation: Helping Students Succeed Beyond the Classroom
  • What to Do When Students Report Sexual Harassment | April 2015
  • Harassment and discrimination can present in subtle and overt ways in the university setting. It is important to develop an understanding of what these terms mean, how students may experience these matters, which UC Davis policies apply, and learn your responsibilities. The discussion focused on harassment and discrimination, identifying campus resources, exploring hypothetical situations and allowing participants an opportunity to practice addressing these sensitive concerns.
  • Student Judicial Affairs: An Introduction for Advisors | March 2015
  • Student Judicial Affairs (SJA) administers the student disciplinary system, upholds student rights, responds to grievances, and facilitates student conflict management and mediation services. The presenters discussed students’ rights and responsibilities, as well as policies that address conduct and consequences. Academic advisors play a significant role interacting with students in situations that may require SJA engagement. Advisors’ ability to identify students of concern and to understand reporting and confidentiality issues are essential to constructive outcomes. Presentation: Student Judicial Affairs: An Introduction for Advisors
  • Advising International Students: What Academic Advisors Need to Know | February 2015
  • Academic advising is critical for international students, who face unique challenges and risks.   Understanding those challenges can help advisors guide international students through the consequences of academic dismissal. This talk provided an overview of the basic immigration requirements; described how requirements to maintain immigration status and university policies intersect and occasionally conflict; and discussed how to handle exceptions including illness, unexpected injury, or that student who is simply not prepared for the overwhelming demands of academic work in a foreign language and a new culture. Presentation: What Every Advisor Needs to Know about International Students
  • Student Health and Counseling Services | January 2015
  • A 2011 survey of almost 28,000 college students reported that in the past year, 60.5% reported feeling very sad; 45.2% reported feeling hopeless, and 6.6% had seriously contemplated suicide. An estimated 1,088 suicides occur on college campuses each year, making it the second leading cause of death among college students. SHCS places an emphasis on prevention and early intervention.  Dr. Adelson's presentation described prevention efforts and introduced some unique forms of outreach to destigmatize mental health issues and make support more accessible. Presentation: Student Health & Counseling Services - Advising Coffee Talk Presentation

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