Weeks of Welcome 2020: August 19 - September 6
Schedule
WOW schedule coming soon!
New Student Week
New Student Week is a week dedicated specifically to our newest tigers! Prior to WOW, you will receive a virtual introduction to your Welcome Crew Leader - a current Pacific student who will be your guide through WOW, helping you to explore everything that Pacific has to offer. To provide a greater sense of community, you will meet with your Welcome Crew Leader and a small group of fellow incoming students.
Each day during New Student Week, there will be meetings with your WOW group, lots of break time, virtual socials, community building, and resource sharing.
Frequently Asked Questions
Please don't hesitate to call our office at 209.946.7619 or email orientation@pacific.edu if you have additional questions.
- Are Weeks of Welcome (WOW) events in person?
- I don't know where I am living this fall/spring, what does that mean for me and WOW?
- What technology do I need to participate in WOW events? If I don't have access to these resources, how can I participate in events?
- Due to COVID-19, I am unsure how I will be able to participate in WOW programs and/or other experiences in the Fall semester.
- Will I be expected to be on a computer or other device all day?
- How will I be connected to resources if programs are online?
- How will I find community as a new student?
- Will I be able to participate in WOW events if I live in a different time zone?
- How will I be connected to other new and continuing students?
- I have questions about how the changes to the Fall semester affect my housing, course enrollment, financial aid, etc. How do I contact the correct office to help me?
- I plan to start at Pacific in Spring 2021, what will that experience look like for me?
- Based on the campus plans, I am considering deferring my enrollment. Can I do that?
1. Are Weeks of Welcome (WOW) events in person?
Weeks of Welcome programs will be offered online for all students. WOW programming encompasses a wide variety of experiences, many of which are essential to occur in person. Orientation and Transition Programs is committed to providing the best new student experience possible. This means that programs best delivered in person may occur later in the year, depending on public health conditions. TOP
2. I don't know where I am living this fall/spring, what does that mean for me and WOW?
Regardless of where you choose to live, Orientation and Transition Programs is committed to facilitating your transition to University of the Pacific. WOW will host online programming for all students starting in August, with the possibility of some in-person components later in the school year. TOP
3. What technology do I need to participate in WOW events? If I don't have access to these resources, how can I participate in events?
All that is needed to participate in WOW are a computer/device and internet access. Our goal is to set you up for success beyond WOW. Pacific has frequently used Zoom and WebEx conferencing services to host meetings and events. Please contact the Pacific Technology HelpDesk for additional technology support. TOP
4. Due to COVID-19, I am unsure how I will be able to participate in WOW programs and/or other experiences in the Fall semester.
We are designing WOW with the intention that most programming can be completed on your own time according to your schedule. If you believe you will not be able to engage with WOW due to your circumstances, please contact Orientation and Transition Programs by August 7. TOP
5. Will I be expected to be on a computer or other device all day?
No - we recognize that being in an online setting is not the same as being in person. There are challenges with engaging in an online setting for long periods of time, so we are building WOW with that in mind. During New Student Week, all new students will meet with their Welcome Crew Leader each day at a specific time, but most of the content will either be available to view at your leisure and/or optional based on your interests. If you were to participate in all online programs in one day (including small group meetings, key events, and optional events), it would last no more than five to six hours per day. TOP
6. How will I be connected to resources if programs are online?
You will be introduced to resources at Pacific through your New Student Orientation and PacificPlus courses in Canvas and most campus departments have adopted their services to be accessible online. We are hoping to display as many resources as possible during WOW as campus departments continue to figure out how they can accommodate all students. TOP
7. How will I find community as a new student?
Departments and continuing students are working hard to answer this very question. We know that building community is essential to success at Pacific and new students' first semesters are extremely important for building their community. We are actively exploring different ways to help connect students with their peers and engage with their co-curricular interests. TOP
8. Will I be able to participate in WOW events if I live in a different time zone?
We hope to make all programming and discussion accessible, regardless of where you are. There may be some live discussions or events that occur during WOW, but we will choose timings that accommodate the most time zones for these events. TOP
9. How will I be connected to other new and continuing students?
During WOW, we plan to have multiple opportunities for new students to learn from the experiences of current Pacific students through group meetings and attending events. A key component of New Student Week is the small group experience led by Welcome Crew Leaders. Welcome Crew are continuing students who are volunteering their time to help make the transition to Pacific smooth. They will guide their small group of incoming students through programs during WOW. TOP
10. I have questions about how the changes to the Fall semester affect my housing, course enrollment, financial aid, etc. How do I contact the correct office to help me?
If you have a specific question, you can refer to the Department Directory for the office's contact information. If you are not sure exactly who to contact, you can contact our office at 209.946.7619 or orientation@pacific.edu and our OTP representatives will be happy ro refer you to the right resources based on your needs. While we may not be able to directly help you, we focus on helping students connect with resources that they will utilize throughout their entire Pacific career. TOP
11. I plan to start at Pacific in Spring 2021, what will that experience look like for me?
We are awaiting additional important campus decisions about what the Spring 2021 semester will look like. We will keep you informed on important dates and deadlines, so be sure to frequently check your Pacific email and insidePacific. TOP
12. Based on the campus plans, I am considering deferring my enrollment. Can I do that?
Any requests to defer your enrollment must be submitted and approved by the Office of Undergraduate Admission. Approvals could come with additional conditions of admission and/or steps to take in order to secure your enrollment. Be sure to check both your Pacific email and the email you listed in your application. TOP
Please don't hesitate to call our office at 209.946.7619 or email orientation@pacific.edu if you have additional questions.