Presenters: Jennifer Parker and Betsy Guala Are you or your students feeling isolated and anonymous in your online course? Want to learn strategies to overcome feelings of isolation and anonymity? If so, then join us to discuss ways to enhance instructor presence and student engagement in Online Asynchronous (OA) and Online Synchronous (OS) courses. Objectives: *Assess the current level of student engagement and instructor presence in your online classes *Define student engagement and instructor presence *Identify strategies to increase meaningful student engagement and instructor presence in your classes. Register - https://fins.uconn.edu/secure_inst/workshops/workshop_view.php?ser=3556 (https://fins.uconn.edu/secure_inst/workshops/workshop_view.php?ser=3556)

Offerings at the market may change each week, so stop by to see what we have. Bakery items may include freshly-baked pies, breads, cookies, bars, cake slices, and gluten-free/vegan offerings. Feel free to chat with the student farmers and learn more about some interesting varieties they grow, their farming practices, and what they love about Spring Valley Student Farm. Fall Market: Thursdays from Aug 28th through October 30 (pending produce/harvest availability, market may stop before October 30th)Where: Under the tents on Fairfield Way near the UConn Library Farm Fresh Market can only accept credit/debit. Open to all. Market updates: Please follow UConn Dining Services (http://instagram.com/uconndining) or Spring Valley Student Farm (http://instagram.com/springvalleystudentfarm) for market updates.

Write your memoirs to share in class. These can be short unrelated pieces or part of a larger work. New members are welcome.Facilitator: Cathy Belanger

Write your memoirs to share in class. These can be short unrelated pieces or part of a larger work. New members are welcome.Facilitator: Cathy Belanger

Committee Amanda Denes, Ph.D., Department of Communication, Major Advisor R. Amanda Cooper, Ph.D., Department of Communication, Associate Advisor Elizabeth Hintz, Ph.D., Department of Communication, Associate AdvisorAbstract Relational maintenance is a complex process that is theoretically, contextually, and conceptually varied. Although scholarship on relational maintenance often centers on positive relational outcomes and prosocial maintenance strategies, there is little work investigating manipulative behavior within the context of maintaining interpersonal relationships. The current literature tends to examine manipulation as a single construct, underscoring its link to concepts such as Machiavellianism, psychopathy, narcissism, and sexual coercion. It is essential to demonstrate the importance of recognizing and mitigating detrimental relational outcomes; however, manipulation is not inherently negative. The present proposal uses self-determination theory to frame manipulation as an influential behavioral strategy that serves a psychological function and may operate to sustain relationships. A Model of Manipulative Maintenance (MMM) is presented, which outlines the antecedents to manipulative acts that partners engage in, how those behaviors are enacted, and the relational outcomes of manipulative behaviors. To test the model, a longitudinal study is proposed, utilizing weekly surveys to examine how psychological need fulfillment and personality traits predict manipulative behaviors and subsequent relational outcomes. A cross-lagged panel model (CLPM) within a multilevel structural equation modeling (MSEM) framework will be specified to assess the proposed pathways over time.

Get comfortable using HuskyCT, StudentAdmin, Nexus, and other online tools you'll need for your classes at UConn. This workshop will show you how to find what you need, keep track of your work, and feel more confident using the technology that supports your academic success

Students who may benefit from attending a Let's Talk: Mental Health Office Hours session include:Students who want help connecting to resources but are unsure where to begin Students who are looking for advice on a non-clinical issue Students who are unsure about therapy and are curious about what it is like to talk to a therapist Students who may have concerns about the mental health of a friend and seek advice on how to support their friend If a student is not an imminent risk, and is refusing your support in contacting our office, you may also consider contacting the UConn Student CARE Team (https://studentcareteam.uconn.edu/). This session is held by Daveon McMullen, Psy.D (https://studenthealth.uconn.edu/person/daveon-mcmullen/)

Meetings are open to Professional Staff of the Rainbow Center, Rainbow Center Staff, IRIS Mentors, and invited guests only. Meetings are for communicating important operational and program information for student staff to accomplish their tasks. If you have questions about the Rainbow Center Staff Meetings, please connect with a member of ProStaff for assistance.

Shade Tolerance in Cool-Season Turfgrasses: Insights from Dwarf Mutants and Candidate Gene Analysis   Cool-season turfgrasses, such as tall fescue (Lolium arundinaceum) and perennial ryegrass (Lolium perenne), are widely used in managed landscapes but frequently suffer quality loss in shaded environments. Shade avoidance syndrome (SAS)—characterized by elongation growth, leaf etiolation, and reduced turf density—limits their performance and aesthetic value. This research combined physiological, biochemical, and transcriptomic analyses to investigate shade tolerance mechanisms in newly developed dwarf mutants, with the goal of identifying specific genetic targets for breeding and gene editing. Dwarf mutants were produced using traditional methods such as EMS and gamma ray mutation. These were screened under 90% shade for five weeks. Several mutants displayed superior shade tolerance, maintaining darker leaf color, suppressed elongation, and 30–50% lower malondialdehyde (MDA) levels compared to wild type—indicating reduced oxidative stress. Antioxidant assays revealed that peroxidase (POD) and superoxide dismutase (SOD) activities were stable or elevated in tolerant mutants under shade, supporting a link between antioxidant capacity and stress resilience. Hormone treatment experiments showed altered gibberellin (GA) and brassinosteroid (BR) sensitivity; in some mutants, application of growth-promoting hormones reversed tolerance traits, suggesting reduced functionality in SAS-related growth pathways under normal conditions. Transcriptomic network analysis of a shade-tolerant genotype revealed co-expression modules enriched for hormonal signaling and stress regulatory genes. Key hub genes included FAR1-like transcription factors, peroxygenase-like proteins, and KAO1 (ent-kaurenoic acid oxidase), an enzyme critical to GA biosynthesis. Notably, KAO1 was downregulated under shade in the tolerant genotype, consistent with suppression of elongation growth and enhancement of stress tolerance. Gene ontology enrichment further implicated pathways related to ROS detoxification, membrane transport, and transcriptional regulation in shade adaptation. By integrating phenotypic, biochemical, and transcriptomic evidence, this research identifies distinct physiological and molecular signatures underlying tolerance. The perennial ryegrass mutant A7 exhibited low baseline MDA, strong antioxidant responses to GA application, and minimal height change under GA treatment, indicating a probable KAO1 loss-of-function mutation. This would reduce GA biosynthesis, attenuate SAS, and sustain antioxidant defenses. The tall fescue mutant BND-1 showed no biochemical or morphological response to BR treatment, suggesting brassinosteroid insensitivity consistent with BRI1 receptor loss-of-function. Such disruption in BR signaling would inherently suppress elongation responses to shade. Collectively, the findings show that dwarf phenotypes confer shade tolerance through a combination of reduced hormonal responsiveness and enhanced oxidative stress protection. Identifying KAO1 and BRI1 as candidate causal loci provides tangible molecular targets for CRISPR-based editing and accelerated breeding programs. These results advance the understanding of shade tolerance in turfgrasses and support the development of low-input, sustainable cultivars capable of maintaining quality in heavily shaded urban and recreational landscapes.

Opening reception for the exhibitionsFate & Magic: the Art of Maureen McCabe (https://benton.uconn.edu/fate-and-magic-the-art-of-maureen-mccabe/)Clouds: A Collaboration with Fluid Dynamics (https://benton.uconn.edu/clouds-a-collaboration-with-fluid-dynamics/) Encounters with the Collection: Exploring America at 250 Light hors d'oeuvres and cash bar Everyone is welcome. FREE admission (Suggested donation $5) RSVP Appreciated but not required.

Vibrant paintings by Andrea Sanchez and Jaii Marc Renee on display in the Celeste LeWitt Gallery — Join us for a meet and greet from 1:30 to 2:30 p.m. Friday, Aug. 29.

Registration Opens: June 1, 2025 Registration Closes: September 2, 2025 at 8:00pm Recruitment Orientation: September 2, 2025 6:00-7:30pm PNM Orientation #1 (Groups 1-8) 8:00-9:30pm PNM Orientation #2 (Groups 9-16) Scholarship Round: September 3 & 4, 2025 4:00pm - 10:15pm (Two Days) Philanthropy Round: September 5, 2025 3:00pm - 12:30am Sisterhood Round: September 6, 2025 11:0am - 9:15pm Preference Round: September 7, 2025 9:00am - 3:30pm Bid Night: September 7, 2025 7:30pm - 10:00pm

The exhibiting artists are Marsha Borden, Helena Chastel, Kathryn Frund, Phoebe Godfrey, Hugh MacDonald, Bob Pavlik, Dan Potter, and R. Douglass Rice. Open Air 2025 is open daily and will remain on view through October 6, 2025. June 19, 2025 iis the last day to visit indoor art exhibitions. Exhibitions inside the AVS Gallery will resume on September 11, 2025