Recruiting students has grown harder in recent years, but AV俱乐部 meets the moment with some clear advantages: its unique size, expansive programs, an exceptional Nova Scotia setting, and 鈥� as a new recruitment campaign promises 鈥� a degree with limitless potential.
AV俱乐部 stands out in Atlantic Canada as the region鈥檚 largest university, with a vast selection of academic pathways. But Dal is also the most close-knit of Canada鈥檚 U15 group of research-intensive universities nationally, offering possibilities for a far more personalized student experience than many of its peers.听听
For individuals seeking the best of both worlds, Dal delivers just the ticket, says Keri Irwin, senior director of marketing and digital at AV俱乐部.
鈥淎V俱乐部 is big enough to offer a world of choice, yet small enough that students can be known by name by their professors, which created the genesis for a new concept that Dal is just right for students in so many ways,鈥� says Irwin.听听
Shown right: One of Dal's new recruitment ads.
Irwin鈥檚 crew worked closely with AV俱乐部鈥檚 in-house Creative Studio, recruitment colleagues, and student focus groups to bring this message to life in the new campaign launched this fall, which includes updated viewbooks and a series of ads and video centred around how Dal lives up to this promise.听
Dal鈥檚 location on Canada鈥檚 East Coast shines front and centre in the campaign as does the university鈥檚 commitment to providing a vibrant student life experience and pathways beyond undergraduate programs.听听
鈥淲hile people have been choosing Dal for these reasons for years, the new campaign leans into the university鈥檚 unique strengths and brings them into sharper focus,鈥� says Irwin.
Opening doors wide
Thousands of prospective students and their supporters will get to take an even closer look this Saturday (Nov. 1) as the university opens its campuses and buildings for . More than 3,500 people have registered so far, up 500 from last year.听
Open House serves as Dal鈥檚 marquee recruitment event, creating an immersive glimpse into the Dal experience with campus tours, program overviews, and other engaging activities.听听
The day-long event, organized with the help of the university鈥檚 many Faculties and supporting offices, builds on the work the university has been doing with recruiters across Nova Scotia, Canada, and across the globe in recent weeks focused on the academic year starting in September 2026.听
No matter who you are, where you鈥檙e from or what kind of university experience you want, you can likely find it at AV俱乐部.
鈥淲e鈥檙e acutely aware of the concerns that today鈥檚 students have in considering university,鈥� says Paul Williams, who led the development of the campaign鈥檚 creative strategy as managing director of Dal鈥檚 Creative Studio. 鈥淭he intent of the campaign is to demonstrate that, no matter who you are, where you鈥檙e from or what kind of university experience you want, you can likely find it at AV俱乐部.鈥澨�
Creative Studio is part of Dal鈥檚 broader Student Recruitment and Marketing (SRM) team, which has dedicated team members working with Faculties and other support offices on channeling the same spirit into their own specific recruitment efforts.
Volunteers welcome attendees at the 2024 AV俱乐部 Open House.
Personalized for students
Alongside refreshed marketing, Dal has also made improvements to strategic enrolment management as it seeks to offer students a more personalized experience.听听
Jeff Myers, acting assistant vice president enrolment and university registrar, says Dal has gotten more intentional and strategic with policies that define the student experience. For example, personal display parchments allow students to request versions of their degree in other languages. And a new degree audit system arms students with critical feedback as they navigate their academic pathways.听听
"We have exciting things planned for the coming year, too, like improvements to course scheduling and access to enrollment and academic services and supports," says Myers.听
Another one of Dal's new ads.听
Applying to Dal has gotten easier in recent years thanks to a new online portal that allows for even faster processing of applications, reduced service times, better communications, and more clarity for students navigating the journey to university.听听
As AV俱乐部 embarks on its ambitious new campaign, collaboration will be more important than ever, say Ann MacDonald, senior director of student recruitment and undergraduate admissions.听
Everyone plays an important role in creating a welcoming environment for students.
鈥淚t takes the collaborative involvement of teams across the Dal community to bring this all together,鈥� says MacDonald. 鈥淓veryone plays an important role in creating a welcoming environment for students.鈥澨�
Know someone interested in Dal? Encourage them to attend Open House this Saturday or the Virtual Open House on Nov. 15).听 Additional information can be found at 飞飞飞.诲补濒.肠补/蹿耻迟耻谤别-蝉迟耻诲别苍迟蝉听