Imagine starting college five weeks early with a robust selection of classes, action-packed activities and a full campus life.

At University of the Pacific, new and returning students no longer need to imagine. These experiences are part of “Back to Pacific: Ready, Set, Roar!,” a unique five-week summer session created to give students a head start on the 2021–22 school year. Beginning July 17, students can move into their on-campus residences—dormitory rooms, apartments, fraternity and sorority house, which they can remain in for the fall semester—and start classes two days later.

The program will run through Aug. 20 and lead into Pacific’s Week of Welcome, when other students arrive. It provides an ideal way for Pacific students to start or restart their on-campus college experience.

"After navigating the last 16 months of living and learning in isolation from their friends and classmates, Back to Pacific: Ready, Set, Roar! is an incredible opportunity for Pacific students to get a head start on their on-campus experience," said Pacific President Christopher Callahan. “We are thrilled to be able to invite them back to our beautiful campus to engage in a full set of classes and activities.”

Back to Pacific: Ready, Set, Roar! while available to all students, is tailored to two specific groups:

• Rising sophomores who have completed their first year at Pacific remotely due to the COVID-19 pandemic;
• First-year and transfer students looking to get acclimated early in their transition to Pacific.

Namorrah Ward ’24, an English major, is not sure if she can attend, but she told the Pacifican student newspaper there are many potential benefits.

“This gives everyone who attends time to adjust to and explore Pacific,” Ward said. “I also imagine that people get to know each other better and get used to being around people again.”

Academics

Classes will focus on first-year students and rising sophomores, but are available to all returning students.

First-year offerings will include a mix of classes aimed at helping students adjust to college as well as popular or required courses.

Introduction to Language, Personal Finance for Life, Accelerated Academic Writing, and Public Speaking will provide valuable skills that will be used throughout a student’s college years.

Topics in Popular Music and Drawing are among the classes that focus on the arts.

“Building skills is a way to up your game and develop confidence,” said Vice Provost for Undergraduate Education and Interim University Librarian Edie Sparks. “This is an opportunity to get a leg up and a head start in ways that will be very helpful to students when they start classes in the fall.

“For our rising sophomores, they get an early start on the college experience they missed out on last year. This also is an opportunity for faculty to teach classes in a unique, shorter format.”

Read More: Classes and how to register

Student Life and events

Events and programs are practically nonstop. They start early each day and continue into evening fireside socials. Student Life leadership crafted schedules so students can take part in exercise classes, watch concerts, attend special events at the president’s house and still concentrate on their studies.

There will be activities for second-year students as well.

“Our rising sophomores have never really been on a college campus,” said Allison Dumas, associate vice president for student involvement and equity. “They are so resilient. They have completed a year of college, and yet they have never really been able to be engaged at Pacific.

“We want to introduce all rising sophomore, first-year and transfer students to our Pacific traditions so that they can carry them into the school year.”

A rising junior who plans to take part in Back to Pacific: Ready, Set, Roar! said,

“I am looking forward to the special five-week period because there are many classes I find interesting such as the classics, mythology and personal finance. This can be a great comeback session. I look forward to being part of it.”

Here is a guide to the events during Back to Pacific: Ready, Set, Roar!

Housing and dining

Students can move into their residence early and get settled before the fall semester.  The coordination of scheduling provides common lunch and dinner times, which opens opportunities to meet fellow students.

“It is a great opportunity to settle in early, take a class or two, attend many events and get to feel comfortable with campus,” said Joe Berthiaume, executive director of residence life housing. “We also will have some raffle prizes for those who register for housing by May 30 including $250 Pacific cash, “B” lot parking passes, a $25 gift certificate to the bookstore and more.”

Read more: Housing, registration, costs, financial aid and more