The College of Biological Sciences is a small, close-knit college community with all the benefits and resources of a major research university. Students and faculty are able connect with their students both in and out of the classroom and will see familiar faces in their classes throughout their four years at the University.

Each year, the College of Biological Sciences sponsors events that bring students and faculty together. For first-year students, the Nature of Life program is an excellent opportunity for the CBS community to spend some time together before classes even begin. During the academic year while everyone is on campus, the College of Biological Sciences Student Board hosts an event in the spring called BioDayz. This is a week jammed packed with fun-filled activities, seminars and social gatherings that bring students, faculty and staff together. These are just a couple examples of the many events and activities available to CBS students.

Take a minute to check out the College of Biological Sciences events slideshow and see for yourself how students, faculty, and staff are connecting outside the classroom and sharing their CBS pride!

University Dining Services (UDS) opened four new restaurants over winter break: Topio's Pizza is in Coffman Union's Marketplace; Papa John's and Subway in Blegen Hall; and Cone 10 Cafe in the Regis Center for the Arts. I cannot wait to try some of these new on-campus eateries!

I love going out for dinner, and some of my favorite restaurants are right here on campus. Restaurants scattered across the East Bank, West Bank, and St. Paul Campus in very convenient locations. Some of my favorites are:

Panda Express
Panda Express offers Chinese favorites in Coffman Memorial Union's Minnesota Marketplace. There are a bunch of different places to eat in the Minnesota Marketplace (which is set up food-court style) but I crave the orange chicken and fried rice whenever I am at Coffman.

Wise Owl Cafe
I spend a lot of my time studying at Walter Library, and sometimes I need a little extra fuel to help me complete a paper or get through some dense readings. The Wise Owl Cafe is conveniently located in the basement of Walter Library and offers coffee, espresso drinks and smoothies, freshly baked pastries, and a selection of sandwiches, salads, sushi, and parfaits.

Nolte Restaurant
Nolte Restaurant is located in the basement of Nolte Hall. It is a quick walk through a tunnel from the Office of Admissions where I work, so I ate here a lot during while working full days during the summer. It offers delicious sandwiches, soups, salads, and entrees. 

Pioneer Hall
I have not been to the Pioneer Hall dining center for a while, but I miss its famous made-to-order sandwiches and pastas. When I was a freshman and lived in the 'superblock' (a block with four residential halls on it), I went to Pioneer Hall just about every day for lunch with my roommates from Territorial Hall.

Bleeker Street
Bleeker Street is my favorite place to eat on the West Bank. It is in the basement of the Carlson School of Management and offers great coffee and Panini sandwiches. I like to stop there before my classes on the West Bank.

Check out the University Dining Services website to learn more about good eats on campus!

This coming Wendesday, February 2, students from CFANS will be attending the the annual Environmental Internship and Career Fair. Employers from around Minnesota and the US will be on the St. Paul campus to recruit students for their environmental based openings. Some examples of employers attending the event are the Minnesota Department of Natural Resources, The National Parks Service, Barr Engineering, The Como Park Zoo and Conservancy, and the BioBusiness Alliance of MN, along with many others.

This fair is a great example of one of the many efforts CFANS makes to make sure that our students go on to lead successful careers after graduation. Some other efforts include resume reviews, mock interviews, and job postings on our Career and Internship Services website.

Check out this video current senior Hilary Baril, sharing some reasons why she chose to attend the U of M.

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Jasmine Omorogbe, a freshman admissions counselor and U of M alumna, shares why she chose the University of Minnesota for her college experience.

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