Every Fall, SUNY Cortland hosts their annual Family Weekend, providing families with an opportunity to visit their students and experience Cortland with them. Here is a preview of the variety of options for families to do over the weekend to get a glimpse of the college lifestyle from their students’ perspective.
Friday, October 17th
Family weekend will kick off on October 17th. The Student Life Center opens at 6 am with free admission for families. You will have access to the fitness center, including the pool, track, and workout equipment, until midnight. Just let the front desk staff know if you are with a student and complete the guest waiver.
Neubig Hall opens at 9 am, which is your family’s opportunity to purchase Cortland apparel, school supplies, and more! The bookstore will close at 6 pm.
From 10 am-8 pm, check out the Dowd Gallery at the Dowd Fine Arts Center.
At 4 pm, families can check in to the Corey Union Lobby and pick up the Family Weekend packet containing their pre-paid tickets and the updated event schedule.
The remainder of the night can be spent at Women’s Volleyball vs. Ithaca, which will be hosted at Park Center at 6:30 pm. Following the game, there is also an opportunity for the Student Activities Board Comedy Night beginning at 7 pm. Located in the Corey Union Function Room, enjoy free admission to Ryan Kelly and Dewayne White’s comedy show. Free appetizers and beverages will also be available.
Saturday, October 18th
The Student Life Center will reopen at 8:00 a.m. and close at midnight on Saturday. Families will have to complete the guest waiver each day they visit.
9:00-11:00 a.m., Families will check in at the Corey Union Lobby again to pick up the Family Weekend packet, which contains pre-paid tickets and the updated event schedule. Also, at 9 am, Neubig Hall will open, where families can stop in to purchase more Cortland apparel.
If you missed Women’s Volleyball the previous night, stop by their next game at 11 am in Park Center, or join SUNY Cortland’s President’s Brunch. The President’s Brunch is a popular tradition with families and students, consisting of remarks by University President Erik J. Bitterbaum and Student Government President Parker Arenas, as well as performances by A cappella groups. Note: General admission is $20 for adults, SUNY Cortland students, and children 6 and up. This event is limited to 300 participants. If there is a high enough demand, there will be a second seating opening at 9:30 am.
Following the brunch, there are a few sporting events happening that afternoon. Men’s soccer will host Morrisville at 1 p.m. at Holloway Field. Women’s Ice Hockey will have an exhibition game vs. Nazareth at 1 pm. Women’s Volleyball will also be hosting Bard at 3 pm in the Park Center.
2-5 pm, Beak & Skiff Apple Orchard will be open for Apple Picking. Take a drive to 2708 Lords Hill Road in Lafayette, NY, and experience apple picking firsthand.
From 3-5 pm, Planetarium Director and Physics Lecturer Sean Nolan will present planetarium shows every 30 minutes in Bowers Hall.
8 pm, Total Trivia Night! Hosted in the Corey Function Room will be a fast-paced trivia game, including multiple-choice questions covering a wide variety of topics. There are four rounds to each game and multiple chances to win $200 in cash prizes!
Sunday, October 19th
Family weekend will come to a close on the 19th. The Student Life Center will once again be open from 8 am until midnight, and for any last-minute shopping, Neubig Hall will open at 9 am.
We hope this is an enjoyable, fun-filled, and safe weekend for all families visiting their SUNY Cortland Students! Family Weekend is a great way for families to create memories with their students and experience college through their eyes.