Majors and Minors on Main
Associate in Arts Program students, parents gain insights in Newark visit
1:36 p.m., March 19, 2015--With more than 140 majors from which to choose, finding the right fit can be challenging, to say the least.
To help students nearing graduation from the University of Delaware’s highly acclaimed Associate in Arts Program map out the next stage of their academic journeys, UD hosted a Majors and Minors on Main event on Friday, March 13, at the Trabant University Center.
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Students completing the Associate in Arts Program degree requirements this spring or summer will transition to UD’s Newark campus this fall. After receiving their associate degrees, they will begin their junior year and declare a major.
Jack Bartley, director of the Associate in Arts Program, welcomed the audience of nearly 200 students, parents and guests to the 10th annual event.
“We have a great program in store in store for you today, with a lot of information for both students and parents,” Bartley said. “For students, there is an informational affair upstairs where you will be able to meet with department chairs, program directors and all kinds of people to help you figure out what you are going to be doing when you come to campus this fall.”
Academics at UD
The program opened with a panel discussion by members of the UD faculty and representatives from the state of Delaware and City Year Philadelphia, an organization that believes “education has the power to help every child reach his or her potential.”
Panelists included Eric Rise, associate professor of sociology; Frank Newton, assistant dean of the College of Earth, Ocean, and Environment; Dawn Lastowka, recruitment manager for City Year Philadelphia; and Jane Hahn, human resource specialist with the state.
Describing the many changes and opportunities he experienced during his personal academic journey, Rise urged students to be on the lookout for opportunities that appear from unexpected quarters.
“What you want to do is to be building skills, including working with people, understanding diverse populations, and communicating both orally and in writing,” Rise said, adding that students also will want to develop “critical thinking, data analysis and information management.”
“You can learn these things with almost any major,” he said.
The skills learned in a UD undergraduate education will remain as invaluable assets throughout any career, Newton said.
“How you take those skills and translate them as you go into the world is the important piece, because it’s really all about those skill sets,” Newton said. “It’s about building research skills, communication skills, and problem solving skills, all of which become crucially important regardless of what field you go into.”
Lastowka noted the importance of using life experiences to complement skills honed in the classroom and research laboratory.
“Internships allow you to explore your skill sets, your passions, and to figure out what you want to do in both the short and long term,” Lastowka said. “It also is important to take advantage of the services you pay for with your tuition.”
Hahn noted the importance of researching job opportunities through internships and learning how professionals work in a wide spectrum of career fields.
“I can’t stress enough how much you need to get internships to get that experience on your resume when you apply for a job,” Hahn said. “Research all that you can, and really try to make that good decision to get into a career that you love.”
Following the panel discussion students attended the information fair while parents learned about the wide range of student activities and the various financial options available.
Student life and financing
José-Luis Riera, dean of students, discussed the parent-student relationship and the importance for students to quickly become engaged in the wide variety of student activities on campus.
“I am proud that our Associate in Arts Program students are transitioning to the main campus after two years at our satellite campuses,” Riera said. “I also recognize that they need support in that transition, and that having their parents learn how the University will partner with them to aid in the success of their students is important.”
Nathan Franklin, manager of student financial services, offered a presentation on navigating financial aid, including topics such as completing and filing Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) forms, exploring types of federal aid and additional financing resources.
Associate in Arts Program student Anthony Bell said that speaking to representatives from several disciplines, including English, English education and history during the information fair helped in narrowing down choices for a major this fall.
“I also made it a point to visit the UD Library table, and to speak with philosophy and psychology representatives,” Bell said. “I now have a better idea of what I want to do.”
Renee Fisher, academic adviser in the Associate in Arts Program, said that participants in the student and parent discussion panels and representatives at the information fair helped to make the event a success.
“Both students and parents walked away from the morning with some really great information,” Fisher said. “Students also gained a clear sense of direction and confidence as they get ready to move to the Newark campus.”
Bartley also recognized the support of UD’s Career Services Center and the undergraduate studies group in helping the event earn positive comments from students, parents and representatives from participating campus departments and services.
“Majors and Minors on Main is an important event for many of our students since it may be their first actual contact with the people and services located on the Newark campus,” Bartley said. “It’s always important to get some ‘face time’ with the people you will be working with as you move toward the next degree.”
Article by Jerry Rhodes
Photos by Ambre Alexander Payne