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Event will help students choose a major

Sept. 15, 2009

KALAMAZOO--Western Michigan University's fourth annual Major Excitement academic fair will take place from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. Thursday, Sept. 17, on the walkway outside the University's Chemistry Building.

Open to the public free of charge, the event is intended to help undergraduate students across the University explore many of the 140 majors available to them at WMU. Representatives from different program areas will be on hand to answer questions and assist students in finding majors that are compatible with their personalities, skills and interests.

"The purpose of the event is to introduce students to the many potential majors that exist within the College of Arts and Sciences' departments and programs and those throughout the University," notes Kevin Knutson, director of advising for the College of Arts and Sciences. "A second goal of the event is to assist students in selecting a major, earlier in their college careers, that is compatible with their skills and interests."

Targeting first- and second-year students in particular, Major Excitement also gives participants the opportunity to meet faculty, alumni, employers and peers in their fields.

Participating academic areas

  • Africana Studies program
  • Anthropology (Department of)
  • Aviation (College of)
  • Biological Sciences (Department of)
  • Business (Haworth College of)
  • Chemistry (Department of)
  • Communication (School of)
  • Comparative Religion (Department of)
  • Economics (Department of)
  • Education (College of)
  • Engineering and Applied Sciences (College of)
  • English (Department of)
  • Environmental Studies program
  • Fine Arts (College of)
  • First Year Experience program
  • Foreign Languages (Department of)
  • Gender and Women's Studies program
  • Geography (Department of)
  • Geosciences (Department of)
  • Global Education (Haenicke Institute for)
  • Health and Human Services (College of)
  • History (Department of)
  • Honors College (Lee)
  • Mathematics (Department of)
  • Paper Engineering, Chemical Engineering and Imaging (Department of)
  • Philosophy (Department of)
  • Physics (Department of)
  • Political Science (Department of)
  • Psychology (Department of)
  • Sociology (Department of)
  • Spanish (Department of)
  • Statistics(Department of)

Other units on hand for the event will include the Advocacy Office for Transfer Students and Military Affairs, Arts and Sciences Advising Office, Alumni Association, Career and Student Employment Services, Division of Multicultural Affairs, Parent and Family Programs, Study Abroad and student radio station WIDR 89.1 FM.

Incoming first-year students are particularly encouraged to attend the event, which will feature fun, music, games, prizes, giveaways and on-site advising. All participating students who visit six or more informational stations and get their "M.E. Passport" stamped at each will be eligible for the grand prize drawing. Passports to the event are available through the First Year Experience program office, First Year Seminar facilitators and at the event.

Alumni will again join the event this year to talk with students about their career paths and to network, before and after the event, with students, alumni, faculty and others in the University community.

"Our alumni participation is one of the greatest gifts they can give back to WMU," says Dorilee J. Schieble, director of development for the College of Arts and Sciences. "Having the chance to meet successful alumni could be the initiative a student needs to pursue a degree in a certain subject. And, it can work to create a lasting link between alumni and student."

Alumni wishing to attend the event can contact Schieble at dorilee.schieble@wmich.edu.

For more information, contact Cheri Bales at cheri.bales@wmich.edu or (269) 387-4578. Major Excitement is made possible by WMU's College of Arts and Sciences.

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Media contact: Cheryl Roland, (269) 387-8400, cheryl.roland@wmich.edu

WMU News
Office of University Relations
Western Michigan University
Kalamazoo MI 49008-5433 USA
(269) 387-8400
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