Three thousand persons attended Mount Royal University’s annual open house that it hosts every October. By inviting prospective students to explore campus life and academic programs, the university hopes to inspire students to choose MRU as their institution of choice.
The event holds significant importance for Mount Royal and was heavily advertised through various channels, including radio, video, print, digital, social media platforms, email marketing and even banners along Crowchild trail to ensure the community is well-informed about the event.
The event provides prospective students valuable insights into the university’s history, services, and support systems. However, one of the most impactful aspects of the open house is the people who bring it to life.
This year, faculty, staff, alumni, and current students from various Mount Royal programs shared their expertise with students and their families.
The event featured 15 panel discussions with presentations from each Mount Royal faculty and 22 panels highlighting the majors offered within each faculty.
Attendees learned more about the programs, admission requirements, student services and campus life.
“There were a lot more people than I was expecting,” said Emma Miller, a third-year Mount Royal student and community podcast editor who spoke at the live panel for the journalism program.
“Providing a student perspective helps, especially when it includes a mix of students from different years,” she said.
But has the event led to more students choosing MRU as their institution?
The team behind the Mount Royal open house believe the event has a significant impact.
“The open house is effective for encouraging applications, but it’s also a big conversion point,” says Julia Diment, strategic marketing lead for Marketing and Communications at Mount Royal University. “Many attendees have already applied but are still unsure whether they want to enroll.”
She adds, “That’s why it’s a great tool for encouraging applications, but even more so for converting applicants into students who register and attend.”
A post-event feedback survey showed over a hundred positive responses from the guests who attended, pointing out that the staff and the students were “friendly and helpful,” about 96 per cent said that they have already applied or are going to apply to MRU.
“The open house is effective in increasing conversion,” says Diment.
As the feedback indicates, the event is crucial in helping prospective students make informed decisions about their education. With strong attendance and positive responses, MRU is committed to building on this success, ensuring that future open houses continue to be a highly impactful part of student recruitment.