On Saturday, April 13, admitted first-year students and their families will gather at the University of California, Riverside (UCR) campus for Highlander Day, the annual all-day open house showcasing the richly diverse and inclusive array of opportunities available at UCR.

Highlander Day also gives students admitted to UCR’s College of Natural & Agricultural Sciences (CNAS) a detailed look at the exciting future that awaits them by helping them to explore new opportunities and think about the academic pathways they might pursue. Admitted students learn about CNAS’ core areas, what makes the college unique, and how to get involved in research projects.

The day begins with CNAS information sessions, scheduled to occur at 10:00 a.m., 11:00 a.m. and 1:00 p.m. in University Lecture Hall. These sessions provide students with an in-depth look at the college’s mission, goals, and resources. After welcome remarks at each session by CNAS Interim Dean Peter W. Atkinson, Connie Nugent, Divisional Dean of Student Academic Affairs, will give a presentation on CNAS followed by a current student panel, where panelists will share their experiences inside and outside of the classroom and take questions from the audience.

Concurrent CNAS campus tours, led by the CNAS Science Ambassadors, will be offered from 9:30 a.m. until 2:30 p.m. A primary goal of the tours, which will meet at the Bell Tower and be headed by Nicolas Sanchez, CNAS Science Ambassador and Vice President of the Tours, is to provide admitted students with an opportunity to discover all that CNAS has to offer through the unique perspective of their current student tour guides.

During the CNAS faculty meet & greet, admitted students will learn about a major hallmark of the UCR experience – the college’s commitment to student success. The session, which will take place from 12:00-1:00 p.m. in the Physics 2000 lecture hall, will be preceded by half-hour reception at 11:30 a.m.

The CNAS alumni panel, which takes place at 2:00 p.m.,  includes Stephanie Dingwall, Associate Professor of Teaching in the Biochemistry department, and Nathaniel Co ’22, a medical student at UCR’s School of Medicine. The panel will provide invaluable perspective on the UCR experience, and what comes next after graduation. Professor Dingwall earned her Ph.D. at UCR, while Co graduated with a B.S. in Cell, Molecular and Developmental Biology.

Another standout feature of Highlander Day is the college fair, which will take place from 9:30 a.m. until 2:30 p.m. on Rivera Lawn, and features booths dedicated to the CNAS Peer Mentors, Science Ambassadors, Learning Communities, and academic majors. All of the booths will be staffed by CNAS faculty, advisors and students, who will chat with admitted students and their families about life at UCR.

In addition, Highlander Day will provide students with information about financial aid, as well as housing and various campus resources, including the low-down on student clubs, organizations, and much more.

To learn more about Highlander Day, visit highlanderday.ucr.edu.

Can’t make it to Highlander Day? Learn about CNAS virtual events.