Each spring, high school juniors and seniors venture to area colleges and universities to sample the offerings of higher education. And every spring and fall, the University of North Georgia (UNG) prepares to showcase its attributes on all five campuses.

This year, a small and substantial change has been added to the Open House on UNG's Gainesville Campus. The sessions in Spanish will include a new student panel.

"Parents and students can ask questions of current students in their native language," said Molly Potts, director of undergraduate admissions.

Potts explained the panel was added for two reasons. First is the anticipated growth of native Spanish speakers considering UNG as their next academic step. Potts said it is driven by an increase of heritage Spanish-speaking students graduating from area high schools, specifically Gainesville and Hall County.

"That is where the demographic is growing," Potts said. "And we want to address those needs."

The second reason is the addition of Leri Argueta, the new assistant director for enrollment diversity.

"With Leri coming on board, we are able to focus more efforts on our native Spanish-speaking students as well as our under-represented student population," Potts said.

UNG started offering sessions in Spanish on the Gainesville Campus in spring 2018. The sessions include the topics of financial aid, admissions and next steps. Now, five UNG students can answer questions from parents and prospective students in Spanish.

"We want them to feel comfortable sending their children to us," Potts said. "By conducting a session in Spanish and answering questions in Spanish, they can feel confident in the decision they make as a family about higher education."

Potts added the best way for students and their families to find the right fit is to visit a college. Open houses provide them with an atmosphere to do simply that.

During the Open Houses on all five campuses, UNG will offer sessions about admissions, financial aid, the Honors Program, language programs, orientation and transition programs, student involvement, study abroad and transferring. Sessions specific to the Dahlonega Campus include housing and meal plans and the Corps of Cadets.

High school students will attend several sessions featuring admissions, financial aid, the Honors Program, language programs, orientation and transition programs, student involvement, study abroad and transferring.

Potts said the one of the prominent features of Open House is the academic and organization showcase.

"It is the most beneficial because parents and students get to talk with faculty and staff about potential majors and the students can ask about student life from current students," she said.

Potts said UNG has experienced a 73 percent increase in student attendee registration for spring Open Houses compared to last year.

"We attribute a great deal of this to the launch of a new digital media marketing campaign promoting these events," she said. 

The spring 2019 Open Houses will be:

• March 2: 8:30 a.m. to noon in Oconee
• March 23: 8:30 a.m. to noon in Dahlonega
• April 13: 8:30 a.m. to noon in Gainesville
• April 27: 9:30 a.m. to noon in Blue Ridge; and   9 a.m. to noon in Cumming

For more information, visit UNG's Undergraduate Admissions webpage.