THUNDER BAY – Student Central is open for business at Lakehead University.
School officials on Thursday officially launched the new one-stop shop for enrolment services, meaning students won’t have to traipse all over campus for assistance with undergraduate recruitment and admissions, student awards, financial aid, academic advising or records and registration.
Until now, they were located in piecemeal fashion throughout the university, a nightmare for new students just gathering their bearings at Lakehead and an inconvenience for those needing multiple services.
It’s fantastic, said Lakehead University Student Union president Leah Ching.
“I remember getting lost in the tunnels quite a bit and I definitely remember not knowing where to go, having to go to more than one place,” Ching said of her first few days at the Thunder Bay university.
“I would make a day out of it and come to campus and say this is when I go to financial aid, this is when I go to enrolment.”
The centre, located adjacent to the Agora, allows students to seek assistance in a one-on-one setting, or service their own scholastic needs at one of several self-serve stations populating the new centralized office.
“I think this is a great initiative,” Ching said.
Outgoing university president Brian Stevenson said the old method just didn’t seem efficient.
“Students got to know the campus, but they also got the runaround,” Stevenson said, adding the new centre was designed to make students feel at home, whether making the transition from high school or returning to class as a mature student.
Stevenson said he brought the idea to the school when he arrived in 2010 and was thrilled to see it come to life before he departs at year’s end.
“I dreamt about something much more abstract and certainly not as grand as this,” Stevenson said.
Andrea Tarsitano, associate vice-provost enrolment and registrar, said Student Central will make things easier for students.
“They now can come to one place and talk with a Student Central professional who can help them with all of their different enrolment-related needs, rather than having to go to different buildings, different locations and different people,” Tarsitano said.
The centre also offers loan and budgeting assistance to students in need of help managing their expenses.
