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July 21, 2025
On June 26, 2025, staff from across Campus and Student Life gathered at Ida Noyes Hall for the inaugural CSL Connect Conference, a four-hour event dedicated to collaboration, community, and shared learning. The conference was designed both as a professional development opportunity and a celebration of CSL’s work and impact on student life at UChicago.
The organizing and execution of the conference was a collaborative effort led by the CSL Connect Planning Committee. Headed by Derek Bundy, Associate Director of Operations for Campus and Student Life, the team included volunteers from throughout CSL who oversaw everything from event logistics and curriculum development to collateral design and outreach.
The conference began with welcoming remarks from Mike Hayes, Dean of Students in the University, followed by presentations from the AI Working Group and the CSL Culture & Community Working Group. Together, these talks set a thoughtful tone for the day ahead, examining how emerging technologies like AI are impacting higher education and how CSL can continue to foster a more inclusive campus culture.
Throughout the morning, breakout sessions encouraged participants to engage more deeply with their work and the challenges they face. In one session focused on navigating difficult conversations, staff explored practical frameworks for approaching moments of tension with empathy and clarity, skills that are essential for effectively engaging with students and colleagues alike.
Other sessions offered behind-the-scenes insight into key CSL programs, including Dean-on-Call: A Week in the Life, which focused on the 24/7 support network UChicago provides for students navigating emotional, logistical, or legal challenges. Cassie Kramer, one of the session’s organizers and a member of the CSL Connect planning committee, shared that the goal of the panel was to give attendees a fuller understanding of the Dean-on-Call’s responsibilities and the breadth of situations they help manage.
“Most people know about the Dean-on-Call,” she said, “but to really sit down and understand—like, these are the kinds of situations you're dealing with, these are the challenges you’ll face, and these are the kinds of people needed for the role—I think was helpful. We wanted to spread awareness about what the Dean-on-Call does and doesn’t do, and the kind of support the role provides. A couple of people even expressed interest in joining the program after the panel, which is absolutely fantastic.”
The most commonly used adjective to describe UChicago’s departmental structuring is “siloed”—a reflection of the University’s highly decentralized nature. That’s why conferences like CSL Connect are so valuable: they offer staff a rare opportunity to connect with colleagues beyond their own units and to recognize that they are part of a broader community and support network.
Nicole Kaupp, Assistant Athletic Director for Student-Athlete Development, echoed this sentiment. “What was impactful to me was the chance to learn alongside colleagues from completely different areas,” she explained. “For example, during the session on having difficult conversations, I was sitting next to one of the staff psychologists, and we were both able to say, ‘Yeah, I deal with this in my work too’—just from different sides. I think moments like that really help build a sense of community.”
As the new academic year approaches, CSL Connect reaffirmed a simple but important truth: even though our work takes many different forms, we are all united by a shared commitment to enhancing the student experience.