York's annual Fall Campus Day Preview Party, which took place at the Keele campus on Saturday, Nov. 6, smashed the attendance records of previous years. The York Lions Mascots, York cheerleaders, entertainers and student volunteers welcomed more than 2,000 prospective applicants and guests. At Glendon the next day, the turnout again eclipsed last year's (see More News).
Right: York Mascots hitch a ride to their next appearance
At Keele, visitors were given the full celebrity treatment, walking along a red carpet and under a regal awning as they streamed into Vari Hall Rotunda. They were greeted by more than 120 students, staff and professors who volunteered to answer questions about academic programs, student resources and campus life. On hand were representatives from a variety of student services, including Student Financial Services, Campus Security, the Career Centre, On-campus Housing, Alumni Services and York is U.
There were a myriad of innovative presentations by the faculties of York University. Atkinson's presentation, titled "Who Wants to Be A Millionaire?", was delivered complete with prizes and "dial-a-friend" lifeline.
Left: The crowds around Atkinson's Faculty Zone include a Mountie stilt-walker
The Faculty of Arts presented an interactive, dynamic mock tutorial and the Faculty of Environmental Studies' presentation was given by a current student who spoke about his internship in India this past summer. The Faculty of Science & Engineering provided demonstrations of the laws of physics and the School of Kinesiology and Health Science demonstrated to the prospective students how a physiology test is done.
"Your Career at York" – presented by the Career Centre team – was an important outcome-oriented session providing information about gaining work experience and valuable employment skills while at York. The Office of Admissions representatives offered plenty of information and soothed questioners' worries about entrance requirements and the admission process. The Parents' Roundtable responded to the needs of the prospective parents of future York students. Visitors to Glendon's Faculty Zone returned on Sunday to Glendon's Fall Campus Day event.
Volunteer tour guides led campus and residence tours on foot, by bus or, for some lucky visitors, by stretch limousine! And, when they needed to catch their breath, guests stopped by the Chat with a York Student Café for a relaxed conversation with current students over a cup of something hot.
So far, the results of a follow-up survey conducted after the recruitment are very positive – the student volunteers, shuttle buses and tours, information sessions and Faculty tours were all winners. The event would not have been possible without the hard work of the many volunteers from across the university.
Right: Two guests check out the program of events.
As one Fall Campus Day guest wrote, "I think everything was just right and I had the most pleasant day at York. I did not want to leave to the campus because I wanted to attend York right then and there."
For more information about York's recruitment events and the regular daily campus tour program, click here.
Next up is York's annual March Break Gala which is scheduled to take place on the Keele campus on Saturday, March 12, 2005. The Glendon campus event will take place on Sunday, March 13, 2005.
Jump to the More News account of Glendon's day.