Sessions (45 minutes)

Karen Skudlarek, IT Accessibility Coordinator and Tyler Alexander, Accessibility Specialist
Information Technology Services

Make your digital content more inclusive and compliant. This session introduces Siteimprove and Blackboard Ally as key tools for identifying and reducing digital accessibility barriers on UConn websites and files. You’ll learn how website administrators can use these tools to monitor accessibility, prioritize fixes, and make meaningful, ongoing improvements. We’ll focus on practical workflows, along with common issues these platforms flag, and how consistent use supports long term alignment with Web Content Accessibility Guidelines. Whether you manage a site or support digital content, this session will give you practical ways to build a more accessible and user-friendly web experience for everyone.

Recommendations: If you want access to Siteimprove before the session, please email ITAccessibility@uconn.edu with a list of the websites you manage.

Daniel Warren, Director of Accounts Payable
Accounts Payable

See how automation can transform the way your team functions. In this demonstration, we’ll showcase how Power Automate and SharePoint are used to automate email notifications and replace inefficient manual processes. Using conditional logic, workflows determine and send the correct email automatically. The result? Faster communication, greater consistency, and significantly less manual effort.

Amy Bandy-Taylor, Senior Copilot Solutions Engineer
Valentina Vacarez, Sr. Solutions Engineer
Microsoft

Go beyond asking AI questions—learn how to build AI agents that work for you. This session introduces Copilot Studio and shows how teams can create custom agents to answer questions, guide processes, and support staff at scale, without deep coding experience.

What the Session Covers

• Defining Scenarios for Agentic AI
• Examples of custom agents for FAQs, processes, and workflows

Why Join

• Learn how AI can support teams—not just individuals
• Ideal for departments with repeat questions or processes

Recommendations: Have a Copilot Studio maker license, which you can request by contacting the Technology Support Center (techsupport@uconn.edu). Bringing a device is strongly encouraged to engage in hands-on experiences.

Amy Bandy-Taylor, Senior Copilot Solutions Engineer
Darren Clay, Sr. Regional AI Business Solutions Lead
Microsoft

Copilot Chat is the most accessible entry point into AI at UConn. This session introduces how Copilot Chat can support daily work—whether you’re drafting emails, summarizing documents, researching topics, or organizing your thoughts.

This session will cover:

• What Copilot Chat is and who has access
• How to use Copilot Chat for research, drafting, summarizing, and planning
• Prompting basics that work across roles
• Real examples staff can use immediately

You’ll learn:

• Prompts you can reuse the very next day
• Perfect first step into Safe & Secure AI within the Microsoft ecosystem

Recommendations: None; bringing a device is strongly encouraged for hands-on experiences.

Christine Vasington, Associate Director of Branding and Visual Identity, Lead Designer
University Communications

University-branded digital assets—such as PowerPoint templates and brochure templates—are essential for maintaining a cohesive and professional institutional identity. Yet many faculty, staff, and student workers are unsure where to find these resources or how to use them effectively, often leading to inconsistent branding and duplicated effort. This session offers guidance on locating, accessing, and using university-approved digital assets. Attendees will learn how to navigate the UConn brand website and SharePoint site to find up-to-date templates and logos quickly. The session will also cover best practices for customizing templates while maintaining brand standards, selecting appropriate formats for various communication needs, and avoiding common issues such as outdated files or incorrect logo usage. Through brief demonstrations, participants will gain information they can immediately apply. Emphasis will be placed on improving efficiency, reducing redundancy, and strengthening visual consistency across campus communications. Designed for users of all experience levels, this session equips attendees with the tools and confidence to ensure their presentations and brochures consistently reflect the university’s identity with clarity and professionalism.

Recommendations: Attendees should be sure they have access to the Brand SharePoint site, https://uconn.sharepoint.com/sites/UconnBrand. A laptop might also be helpful but is not required.

Alyssa Wojcik, Travel Services Specialist and Nancy Patrylak, Manager of Travel and Card Services
Procurement

Think of this training as your pre‑departure briefing. We’ll review recent travel policy changes, clarify expectations, and address common questions. It’s a focused review—no turbulence, just clear guidance and a smooth flight to compliance.

Jaron Tucker, Associate Director Office Service & Scholarships, Office of Student Financial Aid Services

Francesca Crivello, Assessment & Technology Coordinator, Center for Career Readiness and Life Skills

This session will guide university faculty and staff through the full lifecycle of on‑campus job posting and student application using UConn’s student employment job platform, 12twenty. Through a live demonstration, attendees will experience the platform from both perspectives, first as a hiring manager and then as a student job seeker. The presentation will walk participants through the process of creating an account, posting an on‑campus position, managing postings, and closing a job once hiring is complete. The session will then shift to the student view, demonstrating how students search for positions, review job details, and submit applications through the system. By the end of the session, attendees will have a clear understanding of how 12twenty supports student employment and will gain practical skills to confidently post and manage job opportunities. Participants will leave better equipped to navigate the platform, streamline their hiring processes, and successfully connect UConn students with on‑campus employment opportunities.

Recommendations: Recommend bringing a laptop to follow along for first-time users.

Jeremiah Macht, HuskyBuy Support, David DeNuzzio, Associate Director, and Thomas DeVito, Analyst
Procurement CoE

New to HuskyBuy or looking for a refresher? This session provides a practical introduction to the university’s online eProcurement system and essential tools needed to navigate it efficiently and effectively. Attendees will learn about:

• Procure to Pay Process
• How to Prepare and Submit a Requisition
• Supplier Onboarding Process
• Configuring User Profiles
• Setting up System Notification Preferences
• Using Support Channels, such as HuskyBuy Support

Please note: This session is designed for first-time, inexperienced, or occasional users who need a high-level overview.

Recommendations: You do not need experience prior to attending this session. You can bring a laptop to navigate along with us if you wish. That may assist you in retaining some helpful information.

Jeremiah Macht, HuskyBuy Support, David DeNuzzio, Associate Director, and Thomas DeVito, Analyst
Procurement CoE

Ready to level up your HuskyBuy skills? This interactive intermediate workshop is designed to help you work smarter, faster, and with greater confidence in your day-to-day procurement tasks. Go beyond the basics as we break down key concepts like the difference between catalog vs. non-catalog orders, quantity vs. non-quantity requests, and refund vs. reimbursement suppliers. You’ll also learn tips like how to maximize HuskyBuy’s search functionality and add multiple non-catalog forms to a single cart. Whether you’re looking for a refresher or aiming to sharpen your expertise, this session combines practical tips with hands-on experience. Bring your questions and current procurement needs, and we’ll provide the in-person guidance.

Note: This workshop will take two 45-minutes slots.

Jessica Henderson, IT Team Lead and Lou Begue, Application Administrator
Information Technology Services

This presentation is designed for both new and developing Kuali Build users looking to expand their skills. We’ll cover the fundamentals of navigating the platform, building forms, and creating workflows, while also highlighting newer features and practical tips to improve efficiency and functionality. Whether you’re just getting started or building on existing knowledge, you’ll gain a clearer understanding of how to create effective, streamlined solutions in Kuali Build—no advanced experience required.

Recommendations: There are no prerequisites for attending this presentation. You’re welcome to bring a device, but it’s not necessary. To start building Kuali Build applications, please submit a Kuali Build Access Request Form.

Brett Paulson, Director of Enterprise Applications
Information Technology Services

AI is moving beyond chatbots to systems that can plan, reason, and act. This session offers a non‑technical introduction to AI agents (agentic AI) and what they mean for administrative work in higher education. You’ll learn how AI agents differ from traditional automation, where they can realistically add value, and why governance, controls, and human oversight remain essential.

Amy Bandy-Taylor, Senior Copilot Solutions Engineer
Darren Clay, Sr. Regional AI Business Solutions Lead
Valentina Vacarez, Sr. Solutions Engineer
Microsoft

This session shows how Microsoft 365 Copilot brings AI directly into the apps staff already rely on every day. You’ll see how Copilot can help draft content, analyze information, summarize meetings, and accelerate common tasks.

What the Session Covers

• How Copilot connects to your work data inside Word, Excel, PowerPoint, Outlook, and Teams
• Practical scenarios for staff, admins, and managers

Why Join

• Save time on work you already do every day
• See real examples to increase work efficiencies

Recommendations: M365 Copilot license, which you can purchase on software.uconn.edu, because this session will showcase premium experiences that come with the M365 Copilot license. Attendees who don’t have the license are welcome to join to learn more about premium capabilities. Bringing a device is strongly encouraged for hands-on experiences.

Amy Bandy-Taylor, Senior Copilot Solutions Engineer
Microsoft

Planner helps teams move from scattered to structured. This session starts with the basics and then introduces advanced and AI-powered features as a show-and-tell, helping attendees understand what’s possible and when premium capabilities may be worth exploring.

What the Session Covers

• Planner fundamentals: plans, buckets, tasks, and assignments
• Collaboration and tracking work across teams
• Overview of premium features (including AI-powered capabilities)

Why Join

• Get organized without complex tools
• Learn how teams track work with notifications and transparency

Recommendations: None; This session will showcase a combination of Planner Basic and Planner Premium experiences. Bringing a device is strongly encouraged for hands-on experiences.

Darren Clay, Sr. Regional AI Business Solutions Lead
Microsoft

Teams is more than chat—it’s the hub for collaboration. This session helps staff understand how to use Teams intentionally, reduce noise, and choose the right collaboration method for the task at hand.

What the Session Covers

• Teams vs. channels vs. group chats
• Best practices for collaboration and communication
• File collaboration through Teams and SharePoint

Why Join

• Reduce confusion and duplicated work
• Learn how to structure collaboration effectively

Recommendations: None; bringing a device is strongly encouraged for hands-on experiences.

Les Martin, IT Manager
Information Technology Services

Nitro Trainers

Nitro PDF Pro is a comprehensive desktop and mobile application used to create, edit, convert, sign, and secure PDF documents. It serves as an alternative to Adobe Acrobat, featuring a Microsoft Office-style interface and OCR for scanning.  In this session, attendees will learn the basics of PDF editing and conversion through a comprehensive demonstration of Nitro PDF tools.

Les Martin, IT Manager
Information Technology Services

Nitro Trainers

Nitro Sign is a secure, cloud-based electronic signature (eSignature) service designed to streamline document workflows by allowing users to upload, send, sign, and track documents online. It eliminates the need for printing, scanning, and mailing, offering a faster, more cost-effective alternative to traditional paper signing.  In this session attendees will learn to upload and ready documents for signing as well as route documents through the signature process.

Kevin Brown, Manager, Identity and Access Management
Information Technology Services

We don’t give everyone a master key to every building, so why do we do it our applications? In Not Everyone Needs the Keys, we’ll walk through the basics of application access control using simple, real-world examples. We’ll cover who should have access to what, why least privilege matters, and how things like stale accounts and role changes can create risk if not managed well. We’ll also talk about what ITS can provide application owners to simplify access requests, reviewing access, and keeping up with joiners, movers, and leavers. If you use or manage an application, this session will help you think intentionally about access, and why it matters.

Valentina Vacarez, Sr. Solutions Engineer
Microsoft

This session moves beyond “file storage” into smarter collaboration. Learn how OneDrive and SharePoint work together, how to manage access responsibly, and how to use built-in features to track changes, organize content, and support team workflows.

What the Session Covers

• When to use OneDrive vs. SharePoint
• Sharing, permissions, and avoiding oversharing
• Version history, alerts, lists, and automation concepts
• Site ownership and content management basics

Why Join

• Avoid common sharing and permissions mistakes
• Learn how to manage content, not just store it

Recommendations: None; bringing a device is strongly encouraged for hands-on experiences.

Christian Bergeron, Information Security Analyst and Tyler Lemire, Information Security Engineer
Information Security Office

Passwords have long been a weak link in cybersecurity and a point of user frustration. Weak or compromised credentials can lead to account breaches, while forgotten passwords often cause lockouts at inconvenient times. Managing multiple passwords also encourages poor security habits and increases help desk requests for routine account support.

This session will introduce attendees to passkeys and passwordless authentication, exploring how these emerging technologies strengthen security while simplifying the user experience. Participants will learn how passwordless authentication can be used with university systems and to enhance their personal digital security.

Valentina Vacarez, Sr. Solutions Engineer
Microsoft

This session introduces low-code tools that allow staff to automate repetitive tasks and build simple apps. You’ll learn what’s realistic to build, how governance and sharing fits in.

What the Session Covers

• What Power Automate and Power Apps are
• Realistic use cases for staff and departments
• Governance considerations and best practices

Why Join

• See how automation can save time and automate processes

Recommendations: None; This presentation is designed to be a conceptual demonstration of Power Automate and Power Apps capabilities.

Brian Dunnigan, Team Lead, Web Development
Information Technology Services

Build faster, design smarter, and create more consistently in Aurora with the power of Patterns. In this session, you’ll learn how to create your own custom patterns, share them across multiple sites, and take advantage of a central library of prebuilt options. Patterns will make your website building experience less stressful and your site design more polished.

Benjamin Daniels, Project Manager, Mick Stevens, QA Analyst, Oren Corridon, Business Analyst
ITS Project Management Office

Being assigned a project at UConn doesn’t come with a manual, but this session helps fill that gap. This presentation offers practical, easy‑to‑apply guidance for managing university projects more confidently from start to finish. Attendees will be introduced to core project management concepts used by the ITS PMO to organize work and manage expectations, along with basic business analysis techniques to clarify goals and requirements and quality assurance tips to reduce rework and surprises. Participants will leave with realistic tools and insights they can immediately apply to projects in their departments, colleges, or university‑wide efforts.

Michael Williams, Director of Telecommunications
Information Technology Services

Learn how the infrastructure, systems, and equipment work together to connect your device to the Internet.

What the Session Covers

• Telecomm rooms and cabling: What is behind the network faceplate or wireless access point?
• Fiber Backbones: How are all the buildings and campuses connected?
• The role of the Data Center
• All the players - Co-Gen, Emergency Generator, CEN, and more

Why Join

• Understand how the network operates in your building, on campus and to the internet.
• Understand how to plan and ask for help with network projects
• Meet some networking folks who make it run.

Note: You must attend this session to sign up for the tour of the Gant Data Center.

Will Harris, Application Administrator and Katie Shi, Computer Support Technician
ITS Campus Technology Services

Nothing slows you down like an IT issue! This session covers how IT support functions on campus, and how to get help in the most convenient way for them. We’ll explore self-service options that can resolve common issues quickly, as well as learn when and how to connect with an expert.

Olson Briceno, Marc Hatfield, Lori Kalinowski, and Kerry Peterson
Office of the Registrar

Get more out of CoureLeaf Section Scheduler (CLSS), UConn’s system for managing departmental course schedules. This session provides an overview of CLSS, insider tips and often overlooked features, and a review of more complex topics.  After this session, attendees will be able to maximize CLSS and unlock more sophisticated scheduling tools.

Recommendations: Geared towards existing department schedulers with CLSS experience. Laptops are recommended for those who want to follow along with their own schedules. Open to anyone with an interest in the schedule of classes.

Jean Ose, Business Analyst and Noel McAvoy, Team Lead
ITS Reporting & Analytics

This session provides an overview of running Standard Reports in both Kuali Financial Data Mart and the Student Admin Data Mart. Whether you’re new to these data marts or just need a refresher, you’ll learn the basics as well as troubleshooting tips to avoid common issues.

Recommendations: Must have a WebFOCUS account with access to KFDM and/or SADM folders. You can request access at https://dataandreporting.its.uconn.edu/
Laptop recommended.

Jean Ose, Business Analyst and Noel McAvoy, Team Lead
ITS Reporting & Analytics

In this workshop, we will be addressing report writers' questions specifically related to using WebFOCUS with the Kuali Financial Data Mart (KFDM). Using the form, please submit questions in advance so we can prepare examples.

Recommendations: Must have a WebFOCUS account with access to KFDM folders & InfoAssist. Laptop required. Using the following form, please submit questions in advance so we can prepare examples: https://forms.office.com/r/e94yAemRTe

Jean Ose, Business Analyst and Noel McAvoy, Team Lead
ITS Reporting & Analytics

In this workshop, we will be addressing report writers' questions specifically related to using WebFOCUS with the Student Admin Data Mart (SADM). Using the form, please submit questions in advance so we can prepare examples.

Recommendations: Must have a WebFOCUS account with access to SADM folders & InfoAssist. Laptop required. Using the following form, please submit questions in advance so we can prepare examples: https://forms.office.com/r/e94yAemRTe

Game-ify your learning! Take a break from sessions to have some fun while learning more about how to stay cybersafe.

This optional lab-style session gives attendees time to ask follow-up questions, explore scenarios, and get help with concepts introduced throughout the day—supported by Microsoft and UConn staff.

What the Session Covers

• Open Q&A across Copilot, M365 tools, and Power Platform
• Guided help with concepts shown earlier in the day
• Tailored brainstorming of use cases

Why Join

• Real-time brainstorming to solve your use cases
• Apply what you learned right away

Bring your questions and projects for one-on-one consultations with the ITS Accessibility Team.