2024 PACK Welcome Week

Yang Style Tai Chi is a movement meditation practice that involves a series of slow, gentle, ongoing movements that when combined with breath support create a peaceful, meditative and mindful state. We will practice a short sequence of this ancient discipline as an approach to self-care and balance. No matter what your major will be at WOU, Tai Chi can be for you. It is a great way to get exercise and to clear and focus the mind.

• This session is also available at another time(s) this week.

Learn more about the Accelerated Undergraduate to Master's Pathway programs at WOU. You can get a master's in one year post degree completion.

We've all seen how it plays out on tv. The quirky investigator enters the dark room gripping the flashlight only to discover what appears to be a skull partially embedded in soil. Is it really bone? Is it human? Is that hole an effect of projectile trauma? What can we say about the decedent from their skeletal remains and what techniques can we use to help catch the perpetrator? We'll cover all this and more in this hands-on session in forensic anthropology and investigation. Caution: you may never be able to watch forensics on television in the same way again.

Embark on a journey to uncover the transformative realm of Education (ED) at our upcoming session. Dive into the heart of this dynamic major, where passion meets purpose and learning extends far beyond the classroom walls. Join us to explore the diverse pathways and boundless opportunities that await within the ED program. Whether you're intrigued by teaching, educational leadership, or shaping the future of learning, let us inspire your educational journey. Don't miss out on this chance to learn about the ED major and unlock the door to endless possibilities.

In this session, you will learn the do's and don't's of communication with faculty and staff. What should you say in an email to a professor? What can you ask for, and what should you avoid? How can you get help when you're confused? What should you do if you're late or absent? And how do you navigate hybrid and online etiquette?

Join us to learn more about the On Track Program. This program is designed to provide historically underrepresented students with academic and personal support that will assist in ensuring academic success, as well as provide opportunities for social development. (NOTE: This session is not for students already accepted into this program. For students already accepted, please attend the On Track Orientation on Thursday)

It's a big world after all... but how can you live and travel abroad with no income? Answer: by teaching English. There are more English as a second language users in the world than native speakers of English, and there is still a high demand for English teachers in countries where English is not a language used by most people at home. However, unlike in the past when any native speaker of English was assumed to be capable of teaching the language to students, today the field of Teaching English as a Foreign Language (TEFL) has become professionalized and schools want to hire trained English teachers. WOU's English Studies Department offers a 26-credit TEFL Certificate that can be completed as a Minor in Linguistics and will complement any number of Majors from Business to Education to International or Interdisciplinary Studies or English Studies. Join us to learn about teaching abroad and answer any questions you have. Whether you make teaching your career or use your skills to live abroad for a year or two after graduating but before starting a career in the US, employers value experience abroad, and your life will never be the same.

For many people, the idea of giving a speech or presentation in front of a group of strangers or even our peers is often anxiety-inducing - but it doesn't have to be. In fact, the process of preparing a speech can be as simple as making a sandwich! In this mini-class, we will discuss the basics of speech organization. No public speaking experience is necessary and all majors are welcome. Learn some tips and tricks about how to build confidence and craft a speech that is easy to follow and hard to forget!

How do you know what the requirements are for getting a degree, and how do you keep track of your progress? This session presents an overview of using Degree Tracks, WOU's online progress-tracking tool.

Math and science classes can be challenging. Faculty members from these departments invite you to learn about techniques that help students succeed. Current WOU students will share their experiences and thoughts on student success, as well as tips on how to connect with other students through clubs and organizations such as FEM in STEM, the Natural Science Club, the Pre-Med Club, the Math Club, and Byte Club. Attendees will have the opportunity to ask questions about the strategies and skills that will help them succeed at WOU. We welcome students who plan to major in math and sciences, as well as students who plan to major in other disciplines but want to do well in their General Education required courses.

A discussion of the complex forces behind international migration and the enormous impact it is having on our globalized world. This includes such recent events as the Ukrainian refugee crisis, violence against immigrants in South Africa, support for right-wing political parties in Germany, Australia's use of offshore detention centers, and the Trump administration's efforts to curb immigration.

Picture this: you just finished high school, and now you're at college. You're excited to explore your major and try new things. Then you meet with an advisor...and they tell you that you have a ton of required classes like math, English, science, and more...what gives? Is this just high school 2.0?

While it might seem like "General Education" is just a buzzword, WOU's General Education Program will really help you in your life at WOU and your career afterwards. Come learn about why General Education exists, and how YOU can make the most of your Gen Ed experience.