2024 PACK Welcome Week

This learning experience will introduce the audience to the Blue Zones, which are areas of the world where higher than usual numbers of people live much longer than average. Within these Blue Zones are common elements of lifestyle, diet, and outlook that have allowed residents to achieve longer, better lives. During this learning experience, participants will learn about and engage with the nine powerful but simple lessons that can put us on a path to better health, well-being, and longevity.

So what's your major?" - We've all been asked this question at least once by a well meaning adult (and maybe felt some fear in not having the "right" answer). However, roughly 80% of students change their majors at least once during their college careers. So why do we insist that students decide their major as soon as they step foot on campus? Here's a little secret...you don't have to know! Exploring different subjects before making any decisions about your major, especially if you're not sure what you want to do, is why we have the Exploratory Studies major option. In this session, we will play a round of "What's My Major?" Jeopardy to investigate the different job opportunities that come from a variety of different majors. The major and career pairings might surprise you! After the game, we'll do some "Major Myth-Busting" to shed some light on the Exploratory Studies process and show you why being asked "what's your major?" isn't anything to fear!

In these days of Artificial Intelligence, Chat bots, and the digitization of human language there is a real need for collaboration between scholars and students of Computer Science, Information Systems, and Language (Linguistics). In 2022 faculty from these three programs at WOU created a Certificate in Computational Linguistics. This presentation will introduce you to the courses in the certificate and its benefits which are ideal complements to students who are already considering a major or minor in Computer Science, Linguistics, Information Systems, or Interdisciplinary Studies. Whether you are interested in languages and want to add relevant computer skills to your resume, or interested in computers and want the knowledge about human language that will enhance your degree, or if you want to pursue a Master's degree in the highly sought-after field of Computational Linguistics, this Certificate is for you.