A student volunteer in the Student Community and Leadership Development Student Life Zone
York’s largest on-campus recruitment event of the fall took place on Saturday, Nov. 8 on the Keele campus.
This year’s Fall Campus Day saw a 15 per cent increase in online student registration for the event and an 18 per cent increase in attendance as compared to last year. The increases resulted in more than 4,300 visitors attending this year’s event on the Keele campus, with the majority being Ontario Grade 12 high school students.
Volunteers in the Student Life Zone get ready for visitors
Future students and their families were greeted by enthusiastic staff and student volunteers ready to help them navigate their way through campus to the Welcome Centre in the Vari Hall Rotunda. New to the agenda this year was an early bird session at 9:30am, which allowed visitors an opportunity to kick start the day before the official start time of 10am. The session included an overview of the day, a recruitment presentation and a question and answer session with York recruiters.
Also new this year, the Student Life Zone offered by Student Community & Leadership Development (SCLD). The zone filled the Ross Building with energetic, proud-to-be-York current students who were eager to welcome future students and their families. Future students could visit a mock YU Card photo booth before talking to representatives from college councils, York Federation of Students (YFS), SCLD, Housing, Sport & Recreation and York’s Red Zone.
Both the online and print agendas were also redesigned, making it easier for visitors to plan their day and navigate campus. Visitors were able to print out a customized agenda with their sessions of choice from the Future Students website. “The staff and student volunteers provided prospective students and their guests with welcoming smiles and were eager to provide them with support and guidance, “ said York’s new Director of Recruitment & Admissions, Jock Phippen. “It was great to accidentally overhear praise and positive feedback from the visitors about their experiences at Fall Campus Day.”
A York U volunteer hangs images from the photo booth on a drying line
To help students capture the spirit of Fall Campus Day, a photo sharing opportunity was set up in Vari Hall. Students could share a photo of themselves through Twitter or Instagram using the hashtag #YUCampusDay. Photos were printed on-the-spot and students also received free swag for their participation. In return, York University’s recruitment and Vice-Provost Students’ communications teams captured important qualitative data about what was a highlight for visitors.
Fall Campus Day is organized by the Recruitment Team in the Division of Students and relies on the efforts of a wide group of people, with help coming from staff in Admissions, VPS Communications, together with Faculty partners and many other service areas in the University.
More than 200 student volunteers helped make the day a success. The post event survey results have reflected this success – with student volunteers, tours, information sessions and Faculty tours all highlighted by positive survey results and comments. Data showed a 15 per cent increase in student likelihood to apply to York after the event.
Visit the Future Students website for more information about York’s recruitment sessions, Fast Track events and the daily campus tour program.