03/29/2009
The 27th Annual Admissions Open House, a one-day program allowing accepted freshmen, transfer applicants, and prospective students to better acquaint themselves with SUNY Cortland, is expected to attract 2,000 visitors to campus on Saturday, April 4.
"We have a variety of activities planned for the day, including tours of the residence halls and West Campus Apartments," explained Betsy Cheetham, assistant director of admissions at the College and coordinator of the Open House since its inception in 1983. "Several alumni volunteers will be available to eat lunch with our prospective students and their families in the on-campus dining areas and faculty will be encouraged to come meet them as well."
Events will take place in the Park Center, Studio West and Corey Union, she said.
"This year, more than 11,900 freshmen have applied for admission to the fall semester at SUNY Cortland," Cheetham said. "Additionally, we anticipate more than 2,500 transfer applications for the Fall 2009 semester. In the past, more than 70 percent of the freshmen students who attend Open House actually enroll in the fall semester and 90 percent of the transfer applicants enroll."
"This program serves as a defining moment for our accepted students in determining whether SUNY Cortland will be in their future," added Mark Yacavone, SUNY Cortland director of admissions. "This is an opportunity for our campus as a whole to welcome the prospective students and their families. There's an air of celebration to Open House."
The program begins at 9:45 a.m. in the Park Center Alumni Arena with welcoming remarks by College Provost and Vice President for Academic Affairs Mark Prus, Student Government Association President Margaret Rainsford, City of Cortland Deputy Mayor Thomas Gallagher and Yacavone.
An academic fair and a variety of student organization programs and student services will be offered in the Park Center's Corey Gymnasium between 10:15 a.m. and 12:30 p.m. Prospective Cortland students and their families can meet current faculty and students to discuss the College's major and minor programs, as well as its co-curricular clubs and activities. Walking tours of campus led by current students will include academic buildings and residence halls
Information on an array of programs relating to the academic, cultural and social life of the Cortland campus will be presented between 10:30 a.m. and 1:45 p.m., in the Park Center, Studio West and Corey Union. Sessions will cover housing and residential services, financial advisement, career services, technology on campus, academic support services, diversity on campus, meal plans, campus activities and involvement, Greek life, study abroad, student disability services, childhood and early childhood education, athletic training, sport management, pre-law advisement, pre-med advisement, learning opportunities for students who haven't declared a major, transfer credits and Army ROTC. In addition, DanceWorks will perform.
Lunch will be available in the on-campus dining facilities in Brockway Hall, Neubig Hall and Corey Union. Alumni volunteers and faculty will join prospective students and their families who choose to dine on campus.
At the conclusion of the day's events, Prus will host an honors reception in the Lynne Parks '68 SUNY Cortland Alumni House, 29 Tompkins St., for the freshmen and transfer applicants with the most outstanding academic credentials. Students receive personal invitations to attend this reception, where they can meet with the provost as well as the deans and faculty representing each major on campus.
Guests are also invited to attend campus athletic and cultural events. Home games will include the men's lacrosse team against SUNY Potsdam at 12:30 p.m., women's lacrosse taking on SUNY Oswego at 4 p.m., and a softball doubleheader versus University of Rochester at 2 p.m. There will be no admission charge for athletic events on Open House day. The fourth annual Voice Office Fashion Show, titled "House of Fashions," will open its doors at 6 p.m. in the Corey Union Function Room. The show is geared for mature audiences. Admission is $7 for students with ID and $8 for non-Cortland students, faculty and staff. At 8 p.m., the Broadway musical comedy, "Guys and Dolls," will take place in the Dowd Fine Arts Theatre. Tickets will be sold at the door for $7 for Open House guests and all students, $14 for senior citizens and SUNY staff and $16 for the general public.
For more information, visit online at www.cortland.edu/admissions or contact Cheetham at (607) 753-4712.