CSL Connect Conference 2025

Agenda

The day will begin with an all-CSL meeting and an opportunity to hear from the CSL Culture & Community Workgroup and the CSL Artificial Intelligence (AI) Workgroup. The day will then transition to opportunities for us to tell the story of our work across Campus and Student Life, build bridges in our work, and engage in peer-to-peer learning from your colleagues.

Registration

Registration for CSL Connect is now open and closes on TBD. You will be asked to pre-select which breakout sessions you would like to attend, please see the schedule below for session descriptions. Register here. 

Schedule

• 8:00 AM - 9:00 AM: Registration (Coffee and Tea Service Available) & Headshots.

• 9:00 AM - 9:45 AM: Opening Session

  • Welcome and introduction by Mike Hayes, Dean of Students in the University

  • Updates from the CSL Artificial Intelligence (AI) Working Group and the CSL Culture & Community Working Group

• 10:00 AM - 10:45 AM: Breakout Session 1

  • Financial Systems Transformation (FST) Roundtable

    • ​This roundtable discussion invites CSL financial administrators to share their experiences and challenges in processing payments and transfers since the implementation of FST.

  • Navigating Difficult Conversations: Tools, Mindsets, and Strategies for Impactful Dialogue

    • This presentation equips staff with tools and strategies to navigate challenging conversations with students, colleagues, supervisors, and campus partners. Through real-life examples and practical communication frameworks, participants will learn to approach sensitive topics with empathy, clarity, and confidence to foster trust, accountability, and professional growth.

  • Recent Alumni in CSL: Leveraging Institutional Knowledge and Community Connections

    • This panel discussion features recent UChicago alumni now working in Campus and Student Life. The panelists will discuss how their experiences as students informed their work in CSL, with an emphasis on institutional knowledge and community building. They will also provide advice to offices looking to create positions for recent graduates.

  • QPR: Question, Persuade, Refer: A Suicide Prevention Model

    • This session will include a presentation, discussion, and practice scenarios around suicide prevention. Participants will increase their awareness of stigma and understand suicide as a public health issue, and learn how to recognize warning signs, apply the Question, Persuade, and Refer (QPR) method, and access local and national referral resources. 

• 10:45 AM - 11:15 AM: Coffee Break

• 11:15 AM - 12:00 PM: Breakout Session 2

  • Intro to Group Work and Group Dynamics (Presentation/Workshop Format, Rockefeller/Spiritual Life)

    • This presentation will provide an overview of group work in affinity, therapeutic, and task-based groups, drawing from both clinical and organizational frameworks. Topics will include stages of group development, common member roles, and practical strategies for group leaders and facilitators. The session will conclude with a Q&A and discussion to support participants in applying insights to their specific contexts.

  • ServiceNow for Managing Customer Service (Presentation Format, Bursar)

    • This presentation will highlight how the Bursar’s Office has used ServiceNow to manage inquiries efficiently across multiple audiences, improving response and resolution times. Participants will learn about the platform’s benefits, potential pitfalls, and how it can be used to support their units needs.

  • Dean on Call: A Week in the Life (Panel Format, UChicago HELP)

    • This panel discussion offers an inside look at the Dean-on-Call role, featuring veteran DoCs sharing real-life experiences supporting students through crises. Attendees will gain a deeper understanding of emergency response protocols and opportunities to get more involved in student support. The panel will feature Bias Education & Support Team (BEST) staff, Belinda Vazquez, Lynda Daher, and Cassie Kramer. 

  • TBD

• 12:00 PM: Transition to Unit Celebrations for the Afternoon