Opening Week

• Time: 8-10:30 a.m.
• Registration: Open to all UWRF employees, new and returning
• Location: University Center

You’re invited to attend the 5th annual Employee Resource Fair from 8-10:30 a.m. in the UC. This event is a unique opportunity for all UWRF employees to connect with campus departments and support organizations and to learn more about the many resources and services available to support your work and wellbeing. It’s a great way to meet colleagues from across campus and start the academic year in a welcoming and informative environment. The staff from Human Resources will also be available to assist with questions and onboarding concerns.  

Questions? Email Jennifer Seger.

• Time: 8:30-9 a.m.
• Registration: By invitation only.
• Location: Falcon's Nest Mezzanine, UC, 2nd Floor

Continental breakfast and networking for university awardees and campus leadership.

Questions? Email Wendy Stocker. 

• Time: 9-10 a.m.
• Registration: Open to any colleagues who would like to attend and support staff being recognized. No registration required.
• Location: Falcon's Nest, University Center

The UWRF All-Campus Awards Program will recognize our university’s outstanding faculty and staff and celebrate their impact on the education and student experience here at the UW-River Falls. Awards being recognized are:  

• Distinguished Teacher: Sierra Howry
• Michael Martin Adviser of the Year: Sylvia Kehoe
• University Excellence in Research, Scholarly and Creative Activity Award: Shaheer Burney
• University Excellence in Service Award: Arriety Lowell
• Paul B. and Robert Dykstra Faculty Excellence Award: Daniel Ehlinger
• Keith Wurtz Award for Teaching Excellence: Logan Kelly and Gregory Ruegsegger
• Manley Olson Instructional Academic Staff Professional Development Award: Amber Qureshi
• Chancellor’s Award for Excellence Recipients: Becky Pribnow, David Toles, Rachelle Haroldson, Daniel Waletzko, Steve Stocker, Jolene Summers and Joni Rose
• Sally Margis Award Recipient: Cathi Garbe, Stephanie Trinidad and Joni Rose

Questions? Email Wendy Stocker.

• Time: 10:30-11:30 a.m.
• Location: Riverview Ballroom, 2nd floor UC

Celebrate the beginning of the fall semester by attending the annual all-campus Opening Meeting. In addition to university updates provided by Chancellor John Chenoweth and other campus leaders, the meeting will include honoring our years of service recipients and acknowledging faculty and staff awards. The meeting will not be livestreamed but will be recorded and available for later viewing. 

Email Jenna Lindseth with questions. 

• Time: 11:30 a.m.-1 p.m.
• Location: Riverside Commons, UC lower level

Those attending Opening Meeting in person will receive a free lunch ticket to attend an Employee Appreciation Lunch directly following the meeting. Attendees can pick up lunch at Riverside Commons (lower level of the University Center) from 11:30 a.m. to 1 p.m.  

Questions? Contact Jenna Lindseth.

College of Agriculture, Food and Environmental Sciences

• Location: 114 Ag Science
• Contact: Rachel Frederickson

College of Arts and Sciences

• Location: Blanche Davis Theatre, KFA
• Contact: Donna Thompson

College of Education, Business and Allied Health

• Location: 120 South Hall
• Contact: Amanda Houghton

• Time: 8 a.m.-4 p.m.
• Registration: By invitation
• Location: St. Croix Valley Business Innovation Center

By invitation for department chairs and hosted by the Provost. Email Wendy Stocker with questions. 

• Time: 8:30 a.m.-4 p.m.
• Registration: By invitation only. 
• Location: WEB 117

The Center for Excellence in Teaching and Learning (CETL) will host this orientation focused on providing essential information about syllabi and course policies, how to refer students for additional support and how to navigate educational technology and systems at UWRF. 

Questions? Email Cyndi Kernahan.

• Time: 8-10:30 a.m.
• Registration: By invitation
• Location: Kinnickinnic Theater, UC

Led by HR, we are excited to bring together all recently hired employees for this orientation. The goal is for new employees to obtain valuable information, resources and connections from across campus.   

Questions? Email Jennifer Seger.

• Time: Noon-2 p.m.
• Registration: Open to campus. Registration link.
• Location: Falcon's Nest, UC

In January 2026, UWRF hosted Dr. Peter Felten to discuss and share ideas from his book, "Relationship Rich Education." As a follow-up to that discussion, we would like to check in and share ideas about what you have done or would like to do with respect to building meaningful relationships on campus. You can learn more about "Relationship Rich Education" at the Center for Engaged Learning. Please note that you do not need to have read the book or attended the January session to sign up! Light lunch provided. Please sign up using the Relationship Rich Education: Follow Up Sign Up. If you do not have a book and would like to receive one before our session on August 26, please reach out to Jody Sather. 

Questions? Email Jody Sather.

• Time: 8:30 a.m.
• Location: Falcon's Nest, UC

Join us for coffee and tea in the Falcon's Nest!

• Time: 9-9:45 a.m.
• Location: Falcon's Nest, UC

This presentation will detail the results from our spring 2026 anonymized survey of nearly 600 UWRF students on the topic of AI. Survey questions asked how students feel about AI, how and when they are using it and how they believe AI will affect their futures.  

Email Cyndi Kernahan with questions.

• Time: 10-11:30 a.m.
• Location: Falcon's Nest, UC 

AI has arrived in our classrooms and students bring complex responses to it: curiosity, anxiety, fatigue and pragmatic calculation about when and whether to use it. How can college instructors make choices about AI that serve their courses and their students' learning? "AI-aware" teaching means understanding how AI has reshaped the landscape of teaching and learning, then leading students along new paths through it. Whether you want to resist AI or engage with it, being aware of how AI changes learning will help you meet your own pedagogical goals. Drawing on her recently released "The Norton Guide to AI-Aware Teaching," Annette Vee will help you consider the impact of AI on your curriculum, courses and assignments and realign your learning outcomes in light of AI's problems and possibilities. 

Questions? Email Cyndi Kernahan.

• Time: 11:30 a.m.-1 p.m.
• Location: UC Tabling 

Questions? Email Rachelle Haroldson.

• Time: Noon-1:30 p.m.
• Location: Falcon's Nest, UC

Faculty from across campus will showcase their efforts from the Generative AI Curriculum Development Initiative, a program supporting the integration of GenAI tools into courses. Forty participating faculty developed and will pilot GenAI-focused course components in the 2026-2027 academic year. These components range from building student AI literacy and discipline-specific skills to using GenAI to enhance teaching, learning and assessment. Stop by to see their posters and learn how colleagues are putting GenAI to work. Lunch will be provided.

Questions? Email Paige Miller.

• Time: 1:45-2:45 p.m.
• Location: Falcon's Nest, UC

April Chaney, Title IX Coordinator, will provide hands-on experience with the management of sexual misconduct disclosures from students. Participants will leave with an understanding of what and where to report, as well as a better understanding of how you can support students impacted by sexual misconduct.  

Questions? Email Cyndi Kernahan.