Universities Fair than in 2015, just one measure of success enjoyed by the student recruitment team, says Lionel Walsh, assistant vice president for North American recruitment.

“We got contact information for almost 4,600 potential students, up from 2,350 a year ago,” says Walsh. “That is a fantastic year-over-year growth in numbers.”

He attributes the improvement to several factors: inviting guests into the booth so there were fewer barriers around its periphery; a concerted advertising effort in the weeks leading up to last week’s fair; a scanning system that made it easier to register contacts; and a better location within the hall.

 “I think our new promotional video and the virtual tour of campus were popular attractions were also big draws,” Walsh says. “I know a lot of people went away impressed.”

Visitors lined up to get the cardboard viewers that allow them to experience the campus tour as virtual reality on their smartphones. The app is available free for iPhone at the iTunes store and for Android in Google Play.

Walsh said he is always proud to have a great team of faculty and staff on hand providing a personal touch to conversations.

“It takes so many people to produce a successful appearance at the fair,” he says. “Everyone pitches in to promote the UWindsor promise.”

Now student recruitment officers are fanning out to visit high schools across Ontario and nearby states, building on the groundwork laid at the Ontario Universities Fair.