Cornell parents needn't worry about how their children are doing in their first year away at college -- not with First-Year Family Weekend, which makes virtually every aspect of Cornell life an open book for parents and families each year.

From Oct. 26 to 28, families of the Class of 2011 will have opportunities to check out their students' residence halls and meet their classmates, sit in on open classes, and attend lectures and cultural events on and off campus.

Staff members will provide information about resources and opportunities available to undergraduates at a series of open houses across campus, covering everything from housing and Greek life to career services and study abroad.

Special lectures on Oct. 27 will feature Cornell faculty on topics including "A Romance with Spiders" (Linda Rayor, entomology), "Why People Believe Things That Are (Demonstrably) Untrue" (Thomas Gilovich, psychology), "Gandhi's Critics: Revolutionaries and Freedom Fighters in India, 1919-1947" (Durba Ghosh, history) and "Keeping Bad Bugs Out of Our Food" (Martin Wiedmann, food science).

Events will include two shows by comedian Stephen Colbert, Oct. 26 at 7 and 9 p.m. in Barton Hall. A limited number of tickets are available ($25 for students, $30 for others). On Oct. 27, Cornell Chorus and CU Winds will perform concerts on campus, and the play "Bedroom Farce" will be staged at the Schwartz Center.

The schedule also includes fitness activities, workshops, a tour of West Campus residences that house upper-level students, and receptions in North Campus residence halls where families, students and staff can mingle and meet.

For more information and a complete schedule, visit http://newstudentprograms.cornell.edu/FYFW/.