Cal U to hold open house for public
CALIFORNIA – California University of Pennsylvania often holds open houses for prospective students, but at the suggestion of the California Community Partnership, the university will now hold an open house for members of the public. The event is scheduled from 1-4 p.m. Sunday, Aug. 2, before students return to campus for the fall semester. Norm Hasbrouck, Cal U’s special assistant to the president for special projects and a member of the community partnership committee, said a recent survey done by the committee showed that many area residents haven’t even been on campus. “If you go to a speaker or a basketball game you see some community members there but not a lot of them. I think that a lot of people don’t go because they don’t know what’s available to them,” said Jon Bittner, president of the borough council. “They have great speakers and the Smithsonian exhibits at the library.”
Hasbrouck said the university would like the townspeople to think of the campus as just another neighborhood in the community. The campus begins just two blocks from the heart of downtown California.
“I think that some people feel that just because they aren’t a student, they can’t walk on campus. We’re part of California Borough. We’re neighbors and we want to be good neighbors,” Hasbrouck said.
Hasbrouck said the open house will include guided tours of the campus to let area residents see the new construction, including dormitories and “smart” classrooms.
“The Smithsonian exhibit will be open at the library and we’ll have some videos showing the different projects on campus,” Hasbrouck said.
A big-screen television will be set up in Hamer Hall showing highlights from some of the Cal U sports teams, Hasbrouck said.
Light refreshments including fresh fruit and beverages will be provided at the open house. Hasbrouck said area residents interested in participating in the open house are asked to call the welcome center at 724-938-1626 so adequate plans can be made for tour guides and refreshments. Tours will be offered at 1 p.m., 2, p.m. and 3 p.m.
“No matter what the turnout, we’ll feel it’s been successful because at least some people came,” Bittner said. “We hope to repeat this in the future.”
Bittner said the community partnership committee meets every other week, so any problems that develop between the borough and the university can be quickly addressed. Bittner said the committee is also working on partnerships to improve the appearance of the community, including new banners to welcome Cal U students and hanging flower baskets in town to match those on campus.