Learn about major options within KPU’s Faculty of Arts at upcoming mentoring gathering
Students can chat with faculty, upper-year students, and academic advisors on Nov. 7 about declaring a major ahead of registration
KPU's Faculty of Arts is hosting its first “Pop-Up Mentoring Gathering” for students on Nov. 7 at Grassroots Cafe. (Submitted/Claudia Culley)
Kwantlen Polytechnic University students can explore various arts major options at a “Pop-Up Mentoring Gathering” on Nov. 7 to help them decide on a major to pursue before registration opens for the spring semester.
The event is hosted by the KPU Faculty of Arts and will take place from 4:00 to 5:30 pm at Grassroots Cafe on the Surrey campus. Students will be able to meet arts faculty, upper-year students, and academic advisors to learn more about picking an arts major.
“We’re hoping that [students] come with questions about how they can declare their major … and that students get inspired to hear from some of our engaging faculty and why they chose the discipline that they did,” says Celia Brinkerhoff, liaison librarian to the Faculty of Science and reference coordinator at KPU.
Attending students will be able to access resources, partake in trivia, and be eligible for door prizes. Snacks and refreshments will also be provided by the KPU library.
Not every academic path has a clear trajectory, and that’s okay, Brinkerhoff says, adding that the event will allow inquiring minds to explore what different career paths may look like and get inspired.
“It will be a very welcoming, comfortable, and casual space,” she says.
“We’re heading into a tough time of year, and if students are out there with questions and wondering what they might end up deciding on for their major, I think it’s important that we can support them in that.”
This is the first time the Faculty of Arts is hosting the “Pop-Up Mentoring Gathering,” which was inspired by a LibGuide both Brinkerhoff and KPU English instructor Jennifer Williams developed called “Diving into the Disciplines.”
Brinkerhoff and Williams started working on the LibGuide during the COVID-19 pandemic to provide a way for students who couldn’t meet with faculty to gain reading recommendations in their field of interest.
“Diving into the Disciplines” can be accessed online and features book recommendations from the Faculty of Arts’ English, history, educational studies, creative writing, criminology, anthropology, sociology, journalism, and fine arts departments. Students can access each recommended book through the KPU library.
“Jennifer and I also have a second goal with the guide, and that is to encourage students in long-form reading,” Brinkerhoff says.
“Most of the LibGuide book recommendations are in print. I think there’s very few that are online. So it’s this idea that as we spend more of our time online, it’s sometimes refreshing to grab a print book and immerse yourself in some good writing and some big ideas.”
“Diving into the Disciplines” and some of its recommended books will be available for students to check out at the “Pop-Up Mentoring Gathering,” along with additional educational resources to aid students in declaring a major.
“I think we need more events to engage students and to get people to come in and have these conversations,” Brinkerhoff says, adding that if the event is successful, she hopes to see it expand to other faculties and campuses.
Students can register for the event by visiting bit.ly/kpumentor. To learn more about “Diving into the Disciplines,” head to libguides.kpu.ca/disciplines.
