The Science and Health Careers Information Center in the science building always has its door open. However, many science and mathematics majors may not even realize what is there.

This center provides many ways to help out students finding their road to becoming a doctor or pharmacist. Offering a variety of services such as directing students to the correct advisers, tutoring and advising on which classes to take when and how.

“Part of the Science and Health Career Center is to alert students as early as possible in the career, that there are information elements that can be found at the center,” said Shirley Kovacs, biology professor and prepharmacy adviser. “It’s just getting to know who the advisers are, and trying to stimulate the student’s interest in contacting them as early as possible.”

The center is putting on an open house Sept. 5, so students can meet with advisers, as well as new and returning students involved with the program.

“We want people to at least explore their options and opportunities. We offer workshops at the beginning of the school year,” Kovacs said.

The workshops following the open house are presented by the program’s advisers and scheduled Sept. 6 through Sept. 27.

Saeed Attar, predental advisor, and David Frank, the premedical advisor as well as Kovacs, are running their own workshops for students that fall under their major.

Joseph Gandler, the faculty adviser, received his doctorate in chemistry and wants to help students succeed.

“We like to think of the center as a one-stop shop. They come and get a lot of information about different programs and major requirements,” Gandler said.

The major focus of this center is to be the health careers, Kovacs said. Medical, pharmacy, veterinary medicine and many of the other careers are the most popular.

Students should really take advantage of this service, Attar said.

“Most of the individuals in science degree programs need to be thinking about post-graduation opportunities to become scientists or medical professionals,” Kovacs said.

Linda Hall is the administrative support assistant and also sits at the main desk of the center to provide help for students that walk in.

“Hall is the one who holds the whole operation together,” said Gandler. “She helps everyone who comes in and answers every question.”

The center has brochures and pamphlets available for visitors.

“We make referrals with prehealth advisers,” said Gandler. “There is a lot of information that they can get relatively easy and in a friendly environment.”

There are professional programs within the College of Science and Mathematics including premedical, predental, prepharmacy, preoptometry, preveterinary, and preclinic laboratory studies. Students can receive help from the center with tutoring and advising.

Students can also come to the center and apply for scholarships, with adviser’s help, with no limit on the amount that you may receive.

Health Careers Opportunity Program is another service provided by the Science and Health Careers Information Center. The program provides a range of support for students who are interested in careers in the health professions and come from educationally or economically disadvantaged backgrounds. They must meet the programs requirements.

“If people could actually come in to ask questions, that would be great,” said Attar, who has a doctorate in organic chemistry. “You can find a lot of things on Google, but that may not be everything that could be helpful, such as contacts.”

The center can help people — all different majors —plan their current schedules and careers.

“We want to help students organize and become familiar with all the programs in the college,” Gandler said. “We keep as many resources as possible, available on campus for students and make the information as readily available for the student as we can.”