Brock University’s Recruitment team is giving prospective students and their families a sense of the Brock experience unlike ever before.

While traditional fall recruitment events such as the Ontario Universities’ Fair and in-person campus tours have been cancelled due to COVID-19, the Recruitment team in the Office of the Registrar has revamped its activities and initiatives, such as live virtual guided tours, live chats, evening information sessions and virtual secondary school presentations.

While the inability to visit the University in person has provided challenges, it has also provided unique opportunities.

“We have been able to give students a behind the scenes look at some spaces we do not typically see on an in-person tour,” says Daniel Deschenes, Recruitment Officer, Campus Visitors and Community Outreach. “We have also been able to host students from across the country and the world, allowing us to reach more of an audience than before.”

Some behind the scenes locations include the Cool Climate Oenology and Viticulture Institute Wine Library, Nursing Lab, Leo LeBlanc Rowing Centre, Brock Sports Performance Centre and labs in the Roy and Lois Cairns Health and Bioscience Research Complex.

The live virtual tours, which were first offered in June, have been enhanced and relaunched. Prospective students may book a time with a Brock ambassador who virtually tours them around campus, in addition to bookable live chat sessions with recruitment officers.

“Our live virtual tours offer students the chance to see photos, videos and 360-degree images of classrooms, residences, recreational areas and much more, all while learning about the many student services available to them,” says Deschenes. “Tours are led by an incredible team of current students with a passion for Brock, enthusiastically sharing their love of Brock and stories of their experience.”

He says the reception has made the effort worthwhile.

“Students and their families genuinely appreciate the fact that we are offering them a chance to see campus from the comfort of their home in a small group environment,” says Deschenes. “We provide them with a plethora of information and are always available to answer questions they have as we go.”

Matt Melnyk, Director of Student Recruitment, says a focus has been preparing presentations and meetings with secondary schools that would typically take place in person.

“In a normal year, our recruitment officers would be on the road right now, attending more than 800 in-person events and presentations across Canada,” says Melnyk.

“Obviously that isn’t possible, so we’re working closely with the guidance counsellor community to ensure we’re still servicing students throughout the normal school day, as well as through our evening and weekend programming.”

Information sessions, which launch the first week of October, are open to anyone interested in studying at Brock, including high school students, mature students, transfer students and those interested in beginning their studies in January. Specialized presentations for the Goodman School of Business and Marilyn I. Walker School of Fine and Performing Arts are also available, with more offerings in development.

“With so much uncertainty in the world right now, the idea of choosing a post-secondary destination is even more daunting for these prospective students,” says Melnyk. “This as an opportunity to demonstrate how accessible, supportive and inclusive the Brock community is, and how excited we are to welcome them in 2021.”

For more information on the Recruiting initiatives or to book a tour, visit https://discover.brocku.ca