WKU students shouldn’t be alarmed if they walk into a classroom to find a child sitting behind the desk.

Human Resources is hosting its first Take Our Daughters and Sons to Work Day today.

The event, which is happening in conjunction with the national event, is on campus today until 4 p.m. The national event is held annually in April.

Kari Aikins, assistant director of Human Resources, said she found an article about Take Our Daughters and Sons to Work Day in a newsletter at the University of South Florida and decided to model WKU’s after it.

Aikins said college campuses have a unique setting that can give children a look at multiple career opportunities in one day because of the different departments and programs at WKU.

Take Our Daughters and Sons to Work Day isn’t exactly what it sounds like, she said.

“It’s ‘bring your children to work,’ but with a twist,” she said.

Aikins said the students don’t shadow their parents all day. They also choose and participate in two “breakout sessions,” one in the morning and one in the afternoon.

She said the departments at WKU have helped a lot with the event.

“They’ve done a super job on designing the breakout sessions to really give the kids an insight into things they can do in different career fields,” she said.

Students will be allowed to shadow their parents after the closing ceremony if the parent’s department allows it.

Aikins said students don’t have to pick breakout sessions based on their parents’ positions.

The most popular breakout session this year is the one sponsored by the chemistry department, where the students will get to blow things up, she said.

She also said the biology department is sponsoring a session that deals with DNA. Students will be able to see how DNA is isolated and amplified, and then view the DNA for themselves.

Other breakout sessions include running plays and practice drills with Head Coach Willie Taggart and members of WKU’s football team, visiting the planetarium, performing arts, and several more.

President Gary Ransdell will be making an appearance at the event’s opening ceremony, along with Big Red.

Take Our Daughters and Sons to Work Day is for students in second through 12th grade.

Mason Biggs, 10, who is the son of Stacey and Craig Biggs, chief marketing officer and associate athletics director, respectively, will be participating in the athletics session in the morning and the chemistry session in the afternoon.

Stacey Biggs said her son was excited to participate.

“Especially when he saw the chemistry one where he could potentially blow something up,” she said.

Mason is in fifth grade at Plano Elementary School.

John Paul Carver, son of Diane Carver, group manager in administration systems in applications, is a 17-year-old junior at Warren East High School and will also be attending the event, participating in the biology session in the morning and an Information Technology session in the afternoon.

Diane Carver said her son is looking forward to the IT session because he is thinking about a career in the field.

She thinks the event will be a good experience for the children who are taking part in it.

“I think it’s a good way for the kids to see where we work and think about whether they want to go here,” she said.