The Canadian Strategic Enrolment Management Summit, hosted for the first time in Windsor May 4 to 6, is really the “anti-silo” conference, says co-convenor Clayton Smith, UWindsor’s vice-provost, students and international.

“We bring together people working in our field from campuses across the country to develop both intra- and inter-institutional perspectives—all with a focus on enhancing the student experience,” Dr. Smith says. “It operates more like a seminar, facilitating conversation between individuals representing all aspects of the institution.”

Attendees ranged from student leaders to senior administrators, faculty to staff in registrarial services, student affairs, educational development, financial aid and budget offices. This year’s theme was first-generation students: those who are the first in their families to receive post-secondary schooling.

Smith says they face challenges at every stage in the student life cycle.

“We used to think that if we just got them here, everyone would be able to compete on a level playing field,” he says. “But those challenges extend beyond recruitment, and together we are asking what is it we can do within the university environment to address some of these issues.”

Hosting the event gave Windsor an opportunity to send a large delegation, maximizing the benefit to the University, says Smith.

“We will form a team across the various administrative units to share the things we have learned, as well as the things we have yet to learn,” he says.