June 14, 2011

Spring is the time of year when the weather gets warmer and the grass is greener. It is also the time of year when Durham College shares its ultimate campus experience with prospective students and their parents at its annual Spring Open House.

The event, which was held on March 26, is also held in the fall, welcoming thousands of guests (e.g. current and future students, parents, faculty and staff) to its Oshawa and Whitby campuses.

Attendees explore the campuses including labs and classrooms and interact with students and faculty, giving them the perfect opportunity for them to discover the Durham College experience first-hand.

Paul Bishop, Durham College’s registrar, couldn’t have been more pleased with the event’s success. “Our 2011 Spring into DC open house was a wonderful opportunity for us to showcase our amazing faculty, programs and facilities to prospective students and their families,” he said.

The event kicked off in both Oshawa and Whitby at 10 a.m. with admissions presentations followed by indoor campus tours, outdoor bus tours and on-site registration.

The Admissions and Recruitment department began preparing for the event in January, co-ordinating the schools, services, agendas and external communications. Attendance was up more than 80 per cent over last year’s event and guests had nothing but good things to say.

“The positive feedback we have received from those who attended is a clear indication of the success of this event,” added Bishop.

Jennifer Powell, admissions and recruitment officer for the college’s media, art and programs, feels the open house is integral to success of her department. “Each year the open house events are some of the biggest recruitment events for the college,” said Powell. “It’s an important conversion tool for everyone in the community to check out what we have to offer and see what’s new.”

The day also included fun activities such as passports, which gave students and other guests the opportunity to earn stickers throughout the day that were put toward draws held at the end of the day.

Prizes included an Apple iPod and iPad, and free tuition, which were awarded to Tyler Wilkinson, Computer Programmer (on-site registration), Jason Beer, Animation Digital Arts/Production (passport completion) and Kelsey Smith, Legal Administration (free tuition) respectively.

For more information about upcoming Durham College events, please visit www.durhamcollege.ca.