UWindsor representatives at the Ontario Universities’ FairYellow-shirted student ambassadors join faculty and staff to represent the University of Windsor during the Ontario Universities’ Fair in Toronto over the weekend.

Student experience key to UWindsor appeal

Student ambassadors were on the front lines this weekend during the Ontario Universities’ Fair at the Metro Toronto Convention Centre.

The opportunity to speak directly with current students is a great strength of the University’s recruitment efforts, says communication and events coordinator Zora Savic.

“Current students have a credibility that we, as staff or faculty, don’t,” she says, “because they have just gone through the process of selecting a program and a university.”

Student ambassadors understand exactly how overwhelming and stressful it can be to pick a school.

“They can reassure prospective students and give advice on how to navigate the process,” says Savic. “Our student ambassadors play a critical role in the recruitment process and did a fantastic job of sharing their UWindsor experience with our future students.”

The fair, the largest of its kind in Canada, is the only opportunity to visit all 21 Ontario universities in one place.

Savic says Windsor’s booth highlighted collaboration between students and faculty members.

“We were so proud to display the Baja vehicle and a plane built by our own students in engineering; a video produced by a group from communications, media and film; and a video game developed by computer science students that had visitors virtually racing through our campus as Lancer mascot Winston,” she says.

A hockey shootout celebrated the partnership with Maple Leaf Sports and Entertainment that offers internships to students in business, human kinetics, computer science, statistics and communications programs.

“I think people who came to our booth had a chance to see what Windsor is all about,” says Savic.

The next major part of the recruitment cycle is visiting high schools to encourage interest in campus tours and the fall open house.