­­Prospective students and their families will tour the campus, learn more about academic programs, and discover student services at the University of Windsor’s Fall Open House on Saturday, November 4, from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m.

This year’s event aims at offering students a glimpse of what university life is all about, and the tools available to make a smooth transition. Lionel Walsh, assistant vice president for North American recruitment, will lead an afternoon discussion on some of the basics.

“My session is entitled Transition to University and it helps students understand university lingo: major, minor, prerequisite, co-requisite, how to create a class schedule,” he says. “I also deal with life skills such as doing laundry, time management, etc.”

Sessions will also offer more in-depth information on some of UWindsor’s 200 academic majors, ranging from Aeronautics to Women’s and Gender Studies. Specialized tours will visit classrooms and labs in nursing, forensics, engineering, kinesiology, and social work, as well as athletics and aeronautics flight training facilities.

“We know that our wide selection of programs can make it challenging for new students to choose a path to take,” Walsh says. “That’s why we’re offering a career planning session with strategies to identify their interests and courses to help them excel.”

At an information fair in the CAW Student Centre’s Ambassador Auditorium, prospective students will be able to meet faculty, staff, and current students from each academic program.

“Our students really are our best ambassadors,” says Walsh. “They can relate to visitors and share their experiences.”

He says the outreach work is paying off, with increased interest and attendance at recruitment events.

“Two years ago we began offering a free bus from Toronto to bring prospective students and their families to open house,” he says. “Last year, we had to add a second bus. This year, we have had to add a third bus and it is now full and we have started a waiting list!”