Open House Highlights Natural Sciences on Nov. 20

11/18/2015 

Prospective students with a mind for science won’t need a microscope to take a closer at SUNY Cortland. The College will host an Open House event on Friday, Nov. 20, to showcase a variety of majors in the natural sciences.

The event continues a larger effort to offer a more intimate campus visit experience for students interested in specific academic programs. Traditionally, SUNY Cortland hosts two larger fall Open House events on Columbus Day and Veterans Day, when most high school students have the day off from school. Friday’s session will take a closer look at the College’s biology, chemistry, geology and physics departments.

In addition to campus and department-specific tours, high school students and their parents can enjoy lunch and a demonstration in the College’s Planetarium. More importantly, they’ll hear from the award-winning faculty members and inspiring students within each department.

Open House guests also will receive an up-close look of Bowers Hall, SUNY Cortland’s state-of-the-art science center that received a major $43 million renovation in 2014. The upgrade included cutting-edge equipment, greenhouses and natural landscaping to train students who move on to careers in research, medicine and science education.

The Open House begins at 10 a.m. with a welcome session in Bowers Hall, Room 1129, before department tours and an overview of student clubs related the sciences. College President Erik J. Bitterbaum, a biologist himself, will provide welcoming remarks, A Planetarium show takes place before lunch at 1 p.m., followed by a full campus tour from 2 to 3:30 p.m. that will conclude the afternoon.

Guests can register online or contact the College’s Admissions Office for more information. Directions and a parking permit will be sent by email.