UIC Open House

More than 8,000 visitors, including prospective students, families, alumni and neighbors, came to campus Saturday for UIC Open House, the annual showcase for academic programs and student life.

“Open House was great,” said Oscar Rodriguez, director of recruitment and outreach. “We had to open an hour early, it was still busy at the end of the day at 1:30, and it’s usually winding down at that point. It was lively and an absolutely fantastic event.”

Visitors had more than a hundred opportunities to experience UIC, such as listening to lectures by distinguished faculty, exploring labs, watching studio demonstrations, and engaging in activities in the quad.

Representatives from different departments and student groups also staffed tables outside to talk with guests during a daylong UIC Expo.

“We tried to bring everything in the central part of campus so people were very quickly able to do whatever they wanted,” Rodriguez said. “They could watch an admissions presentation, then do a quick tour, have lunch at Student Center East and then come back and do a housing tour.”

Visitors said they were happy with the warm welcome they received on campus, Rodriquez said.

“People were making sure everyone was finding everything OK, answering questions and escorting them to others if they couldn’t answer those questions,” he said. “I heard a lot of people say they were surprised everyone was so friendly — it wasn’t their expectation of an urban environment — but for those of us who are here, it doesn’t seem like a surprise.”

Photos: Julie Jaidinger