"Exercising flexibility" to cope with postal disruptions

Admissions and residence applications are "moving right along"

- June 17, 2011

Dalhousie is communicating with prospective students primarily by email.
Dalhousie is communicating with prospective students primarily by email.

Offers of admission and applications for residence housing are proceeding smoothly at Dalhousie, even given strikes in major cities across Canada by the Canadian Union of Postal Workers (CUPW).

“We’re ready and we’re responding,” says Asa Kachan, Assistant Vice-president (Enrolment Management) and Registrar.  “We will exercise flexibility.”

Dalhousie is using email to communicate with prospective students and documents are put in the mail only as a follow up step. Canadian universities have agreed to share transcripts required for admission via secure fax line.

Students who are wondering about their place in residence can be assured that the application process is continuing.

“We’re adapting to the circumstances and applications to residence are moving right along,” says Heather Sutherland, Assistant Vice-president (Ancillary Services).

The university has been using e-letters to communicate with international students about their residence applications for four years. This year, it was decided to extend the use of e-letters to incorporate all students.

“We’ve just expanded this practice,” says Ms. Sutherland. “It’s useful and we can even track who has received the letter.”

And a personal touch is generally appreciated. In addition to up-to-date phone messages, staff are speaking with applicants one-on-one.

“We’re working those phones,” she adds.

The CUPW strike began on June 3.


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