SRU to host STEM-H open house for prospective students Sept. 22
To accommodate the growing interest programs related to science, technology, engineering, mathematics and health sciences, Slippery Rock University's Office of Admissions is adding a STEM-H Open House at 12:30 p.m., Sept. 22.
Sept. 14, 2017
SLIPPERY ROCK, Pa. - The demand for a Slippery Rock University education has never been greater, as evidenced by the record freshman class - more than 1,500 - enrolled at the University this fall. To accommodate the influx of prospective students wanting to learn more about the University and its areas of study, the SRU Office of Admissions is adding a STEM-H Open House to its menu. The event is specifically designed for students interested in majors related to science, technology, engineering, mathematics and health sciences.
The STEM-H Open House will begin at 12:30 p.m., Sept. 22 at the Smith Student Center and last throughout the afternoon with stops at various locations around campus. High school juniors and seniors considering exercise science; public health; biology; psychology; recreational therapy; chemistry; health care administration and management; mathematics and statistics; computing; geography, geology, and the environment; or engineering majors are encouraged to attend.
In previous years, SRU conducted three open houses in the fall, before adding this fourth, major-specific open house this year.
"We wanted to add an event because of the interest in SRU and what it has to offer is so strong," said Mike May, director of undergraduate admissions. "We're focusing on the STEM-H group because interest in those programs from prospective students has grown over the years and we want to do something early in the fall to see if this format works for people."
The number of first-year students in SRU's College of Health, Environment and Science has grown 10.3 percent in the last two years, including significant increases for first-year biology majors (33 percent), computer science majors (32.6), mathematics and statistics majors (21.1) and physics and engineering majors (91.7). Additionally, this year's exercise science class, at 300 first-year students, is the largest in program history, up 13.6 percent from fall 2015.
May is anticipating at least 50 prospective students for the inaugural STEM-H Open House, while the regular open houses, which will take place Oct. 21, Oct. 28 and Nov. 4, typically attract more than 500 high school juniors and seniors.
"We provide students with a lot of different options and ways to visit," said Mimi Campbell, associate director of admissions, who also noted that the University offers weekday and select Saturday group visits as well as open house events in the spring and summer.
The schedule for the STEM-H Open House will be similar to other open houses and will include a welcome presentation, campus tours, academic breakout sessions and time for prospective students to meet faculty and learn about student support services, such as financial aid, housing, career education and development.
"Our faculty have been tremendously helpful in the success of our recruiting efforts," Campbell added. "Prospective students want to see who they are going to spend the next four years with, so our faculty are really engaged in the process."
For more information about STEM-H Open House or any of the opportunities to visit SRU, visit: www.sru.edu/visittherock or call 724.738.2015.
MEDIA CONTACT: Justin Zackal | 724.738.4854 | justin.zackal@sru.edu