Professor and student ambassador aiding recruitmentA campus-wide effort helped the University of Windsor increase confirmations by Ontario high school students for fall 2022.

Increase in student confirmations “a team win”

Student recruitment is a team sport, says Chris Busch, associate vice-president, enrolment management, so he encourages the entire campus community to take pride in seeing confirmations by domestic high school students exceed the provincial average.

The University of Windsor has seen an increase of almost 4 per cent in Ontario high school student confirmations, well over the province-wide system increase of 1 per cent.

“Only a handful of Ontario’s universities are seeing increased acceptances this year,” says Dr. Busch. “As our largest segment of applicants, the behaviour of graduating high schoolers is a solid predictor of our fall enrolment.”

He says it is also very encouraging to see increases in acceptances by students who had listed Windsor as their second, third, or fourth choice.

“As these students typically had other institutions in their sights, we had to work extremely hard to convince them that the University of Windsor was the choice — and we did!” Busch says.

The University has also notched dramatic increases in international applications (+57%), admissions (54%), and confirmations (51%).

As with most other activities, the pandemic turned traditional recruitment practices upside down. It became challenging to have a presence in communities and schools down the 401.

“If students didn’t already know us, it became quite complicated to grab their attention,” says Beth Natale, director of student recruitment.

She notes that the entire campus community contributes to recruitment and admissions, with members participating directly in this effort through:

  • virtual and campus events;
  • engaging with families in appointments, telephone calls and emails;
  • stopping to welcome visitors taking a campus tour;
  • inviting guests to an office, classroom or lab;
  • connecting with an athletic recruit;
  • getting admissions to qualified applicants out as quickly as possible; or
  • supporting students with academic advising, course selection, or admissions insights.

Other campus members may have a less direct but equally significant impact, Natale says.

“They are keeping our campus environment safe, clean, and beautiful; supporting our current students and alumni and inspiring them to be UWin ambassadors, offering quality programming and conducting inspiring research with impact in our community and worldwide,” she says.

“We couldn’t be more proud of the effort and commitment demonstrated across the UWindsor community. Whatever you do to support UWindsor, thank you. You have made a difference in trying times.”