Students descended upon the Academic Quad on Friday to learn about the areas of study available to them, at the annual Major & Minor Fair.

Despite the heat, students crowded around faculty members to learn about their fields, and this year, students could declare a major right at the fair.

The Office for Exploratory Studies, previously known as the Office of Undeclared Students, provided a laptop at the fair for students to begin filling out the paperwork to declare or change a major or minor. Interim Assistant Dean Denise Yarwood answered students’ questions and helped them get on track.

“The experience is really good. I think they were excited,” Yarwood said.

If a student meets the academic requirements he or she can complete an application through the registrar’s office online. Then the student would obtain signatures from his or her future department chair and college dean.

Visitors to the Major & Minor Fair enjoyed refreshments, games and prizes. The fair was built into the Welcome Week schedule for first-year students, according to Victoria Kerr, director of the Career and Community Engagement Center (CCEC).

The fair is a joint collaboration between the CCEC and the Elnetta G. Jones School of Academic Programs and Services. Kerr said attendance was “phenomenal,” with more than 200 students present.

Freshman Rasheid Williams-Connor declared his major in accounting that day. He was drawn to the major because of his interest in numbers. Williams-Connor said the Major & Minor Fair helped him make his final decision.

“Faculty are great here at Ship because they really support student success and exploration of different majors and minors,” Kerr said. “We’re trying to create an environment for success, with the SU capitalized.”

The CCEC will host the Job/Internship Fair on Oct. 4 from 1-4 p.m. in ShipRec. More than 100 companies and organizations are currently registered for the fair, according to Kerr. Additional information on the CCEC’s upcoming events can be found online at www.ship.edu/career.

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