By Stefanie Malinoski  

 

This spring, UConn Early College Experience certified 248 new instructors, including 189 new partner instructors who completed New Instructor Orientation on May 18th, expanding access to UConn courses across 45 disciplines in 126 Connecticut high schools.  

 

Led by Executive Director, Chris Todd, and the UConn ECE staff, the day-long orientation introduced educators to key program components, including instructional responsibilities, student registration processes, and alignment with NACEP standards. Breakout sessions highlighted UConn’s instructional resources, program operations, and student enrichment opportunities such as the Pre-College Summer program. Special thanks to Ery Caswell, Student Success and Engagement Librarian, Daniel Facchinetti, Director of Educational Technologies, and Samantha Hannagan, Educational Technologist, for sharing their expertise with the group. 

 

 In the afternoon, discipline-specific meetings connected new instructors with Faculty Coordinators and fellow instructors, fostering collaboration and a strong professional community across subject areas. Participation from Faculty Coordinators in each discipline reinforced ECE’s commitment to supporting its growing statewide network of instructors. 

 

As the academic year concludes, UConn ECE celebrates this milestone and remains focused on expanding access to rigorous educational opportunities for both teachers and students across Connecticut.  

 

 

 

 

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