FAYETTEVILLE, Ark. – The Center of Excellence for Poultry Science at the U of A recently sponsored an Open House for high school juniors, seniors and college transfer students. Fifty participating students came from Missouri, Texas, Oklahoma, Kansas, Illinois and Arkansas, and included prospective 3-plus-1 program transfer students from the University of Arkansas at Pine Bluff and Arkansas State University.

The 3-plus-1 Certificate of Poultry Science program allows for agriculture majors with an animal science option at UAPB to take poultry science classes at the University of Arkansas as seniors. Those courses are recognized by UAPB's School of Agriculture, Fisheries and Human Sciences, and count toward degree requirements. At the same time, those students earn a Certificate of Poultry Science from the University of Arkansas. Completion of the certificate requires 26-28 hours of poultry science credit.

The Open House provided an opportunity for prospective students to meet poultry science faculty, tour poultry science facilities and learn about the many career opportunities available with a major in poultry science. There were three workshops students participated in: Cell and Molecular Biology, Embryology and Food Product Technology.

"The Center of Excellence for Poultry Science Open House was a real eye opening experience for our UAPB students," said UAPB interim assistant dean for academic programs and extension livestock specialist David Fernandez. "Having the ability to physically see the opportunities they would have as part of the UAF/UAPB 3-plus-1 Poultry Science Program generated a lot of excitement and discussion about their future plans."

Students participated in the Open House and afterward attended the Arkansas-LSU basketball game.