The Department of Biological Sciences Herrick Conservatory supports teaching and research in the department, and provides a showplace of botanical diversity for the university at large. The conservatory is named for emeritus faculty members Dr. J. Arthur and Margaret Herrick because of their long-standing support for the department. The facility is divided into several rooms that provide specialized growth conditions. In addition to two large sunken areas that house tree-sized individuals, there are rooms for cacti and succulents, ferns and other humidity loving plants, carnivorous plants, and general tropical collections.
Space is also available for other faculty members and for student research projects.
The permanent collections are utilized for various courses in the department, especially BSCI 40275, Systematic Botany. The Conservatory is attached to the north side of Cunningham Hall and is open weekdays from 9-5, and members of the university community are invited to visit.