The Division of University Studies celebrated formerly undeclared students with an afternoon of community and fun.

Most academic ceremonies are formal affairs, but Temple’s Division of University Studies (DUS) is different. The annual Major Declaration Celebration, held on April 21, 2026, was an open-format event with games and activities available for attendees to play, plus an abundance of food and music. At the end of the night, each student was handed a certificate in a brief ceremony.  

DUS’ mission is not only to help and undeclared students find majors, but to foster their growth every step of the way. This ceremony was a celebration of that growth. 

“Students don't always feel great about being undeclared,” said Director of the Academic Resource Center Neal Conley. “What they might not know is that DUS helps students look into majors strategically. They make progress toward their degree while they investigate their options, and they graduate on a similar timeline as students who start in a declared major.” 

The celebration marked the culmination of these students’ journeys from undecided to declared, supported by their peers and the DUS staff as they forged their own paths through academia. To that end, formerly undeclared students who declared their majors in years past were invited as well. 

Tara Diffley, CLA ’15, ’20, FOX ’24, an academic advisor within DUS, was once an undeclared student herself, so she understands some of the inner conflicts these students might endure. 

“Students often come into DUS with the impression that everyone else has their major figured out already, which is simply not the case,” she said. “Many students change direction at some point. We encourage our students to expect that they’ll grow and change their mind in unexpected ways at Temple, and to keep an open mind as they learn more about the many amazing programs here.” 

This is important because that stigma around starting out undeclared often translates to a worry that a formerly undeclared student might not graduate in four years. DUS is aware of this misconception and intentionally guides students toward a timeline that includes room to dig into their options without pushing into extra semesters. 

Willow Shields, a formerly undeclared junior mathematics and computer science major from Landenberg, Pennsylvania, says that her advisor played a key role in helping her find and declare her own major, and she encourages students not to stress excessively when it comes time to choose. 

“I think by exploring my major I was able to really understand myself and my interests,” she said. “In the end, I also learned not to stress about a college major. I learned that my major should be something I enjoy doing, something where I look forward to the classes and somewhere I could see myself building a career. I learned not to be afraid to commit to something, because after all, there’s nothing wrong with changing your plans in the future.” 

Shields encourages undeclared students to take advantage of everything Temple has to offer, from advisors to social events, and to trust in yourself. After all, no one can make this decision for you, and your choice will likely come from the things you try out. 

“Exploring doesn’t just benefit the students academically, but on a deeper human level,” Diffley said. 

Temple students interested in looking at major options with a DUS advisor can contact their office for an appointment.