By Estevan Chavez
Outside Belknap’s Strickler Hall, a mass of students gathered: Some hung around the courtyard and conversed while others moved into the building, beckoned by the call of pop music over loud speakers.
Undergraduate Studies sponsored a Majors Fair in Strickler Hall Thursday afternoon in hopes of offering students a chance to speak with representatives from the various colleges of the University of Louisville. Resources for Academic Achievement — REACH — cosponsored the event.
The event attracted students with offerings of free food and door prizes. Students could win Cardinal shaped pens, water bottles or U of L basketballs.
In return, UGS staff members asked students to fill out a survey as they entered the building.
Vickie Halsell, director of UGS Advising, said the survey’s intent was simply to track the effectiveness of the event.
UGS has held this event for the last three years. She felt the event is an effective way for new students to acclimate themselves to the university.
“In the fall, students are still becoming familiar with the procedures,” Halsell explained, but she has heard suggestions from students to stage the event in the fall as well.
While most students stood in line to receive a ticket for free food, a few were window shopping at the various booths.
One student, Anna Schweitzer, was strolling down the corridor, stopping at each booth. Schweitzer said she was intending to be a Biology major, but was interested in what else the university had to offer. Students like her were the focus of the day’s events.
“Students who are undeclared had an opportunity to have all their questions answered by faculty members,” Halsell explained.
Schweitzer said she found the fair helpful in this regard. She is currently hoping to be able to work in the experimental field of Biology. The Biology table displayed pictures as well as handout literature for those interested.
All the booths had something to offer, and people were eager to help with any questions students might have. The English department displayed the many published works from their faculty.
The College of Business and Public Administration featured a large backboard with information on their department, and the Brandeis School of Law handed out highlighters, much-needed tools for aspiring law students.
The day did not only cater to those who were undecided on their career path. Kelly Gornson, a junior, has already declared her major. She came to the fair to see what else her major had to offer.
“I’m already a communication major, but wanted to see what was going on,” Gornson said.
“Some students just want to come and make a connection with the faculty of their major,” Halsell said.
Halsell felt that UGS and REACH had successfully offered something for everyone.
She estimated that over 100 students attended the event, but made it clear that was probably an under estimate.
Any students desiring additional information can go to the UGS offices on the first floor of Strickler Hall or visit the university Web site at http://www.uofl.edu.
