Students gathered at the majors and minors fair hosted Thursday afternoon through Academic Services to learn more about the majors and minors offered through the University.
Musiette Clay, instructor, academic advisor and Coordinator for the Living Learning Communities took charge of the fair this year along with help from Jennifer Stroup, Department Secretary, Dr. Mark Campbell, Department Chairperson, Christa Brahler, Instructor and Academic Advisor and Ryan Spangler, a student worker.
The purpose of the majors and minors fair was to offer representatives from all majors and some minors to represent their department to students looking to pick up or switch their major.
Clay said that all departments are reached out to but not all can attend. However, unlike last year, all departments were represented at the fair.
“Students want to come, and it’s disheartening that they come up and the major they want to talk to isn’t there,” Clay said.
Over 80 faculty and students were present at the fair to represent their departments. Average attendance from students ranges from 350 to 450, but Clay hopes to break that record.
“The majors and minors fair is a one stop opportunity where department representatives are there to talk to, versus running around campus and setting up meetings with everyone you want to talk to,” Clay said.
Although the fair wasn’t solely to promote the majors and minors, but also to give students more of an idea about what academic services does on campus.
Clay said that another purpose of the event was to provide students with a better understanding about the process and intention of the Academic Records office.
Clay is an adviser for exploratory students but also advises post backs, international students, fashion tracks, and special non-degree students.
As part of Clay’s roll at the university, she teaches a section or two of FYRST Seminar students. The students in her class are typically a blend, and not major focused or solely exploratory. Every spring Clay instructs the transfer section of FYRST Seminar.
“We bring in the transitional piece of how to get familiar with SRU, what you need to know and how to start thinking about majors and minors,” Clay said.
Clay advises her FYRST Seminar students to reach out to at least three departments while looking for a major or minor and to gather as much information as possible.
“Even if you come in with a major or you’re headset on a major, it may not be for you once you come in it, and [academic services] are always talking to all students,” Clay said.
The major and minors fair happens every year, but this year Clay said there was a different aspect before the expo at 12:30.
The nonprofit sector held a special event with games and prizes half an hour prior to the expo for exploratory students to learn more about the nonprofit sector and engage with other students.
“If this goes well, I’d like to have other events like this in the future, and highlight special things too,” Clay said.
