UBC’s Okanagan campus has created a new interactive website specifically for its young alumni and soon-to-graduate students.
Launched this week, Grad Street — www.ubc.ca/okanagan/alumnirelations/gradstreet — takes the place of an annual on-campus information event hosted by the university in each of the last three years.
“The prospect of life after university is so exciting, but it can be a little daunting, too,” says Brenda Tournier, manager of alumni relations at UBC’s Okanagan campus. “To help students get ready for graduation, the new Grad Street website offers most everything information-wise that students need to graduate and move forward.”
The site has information about the upcoming June 6 and 7 graduation ceremonies, applying to graduate school, starting a career, and staying involved with UBC. Visitors can access relevant services via an interactive map of “Grad Street,” or go to a YouTube-style page featuring a video guide used throughout Grad Street.
Tournier says the Grad Street website’s availability around the clock addresses the tight and varied schedules of students and new alumni.
“It’s a tremendously useful resource that meets each student’s differing needs in terms of resources — and being online, Grad Street can do that more effectively than a one-time information session hosted on campus,” she says. “And after our students graduate, they can access these resources from anywhere in the world.”
Increasing the number of alumni engaged with the Okanagan campus is one of the objectives of UBC’s Start an Evolution campaign. Tournier says the Grad Street website is one of the ways the university can maintain its connections with recent graduates and help this year’s graduates as they begin their careers or move on to further studies.
“UBC wants to do everything possible to set our grads up to pursue their passions and make their marks on the world,” says Tournier. “It’s that desire to make a difference that we believe is the common ground for connection and vibrant engagement in the UBC community.”
This positive collaboration speaks to the special nature of this campus and its ability and desire to work together to make great things happen. Contributors to Grad Street include:
- The Ceremonies and Events office
- Conferences and Accommodations
- The College of Graduate Studies
- Development and Alumni Engagement – start an evolution
- Enrolment Services
- IT, Media and Classroom Services
- UBCO.TV
- Student Financial Assistance and Awards
- Career Services
- Student Recruitment & Advising
- The UBC Bookstore
- The UBC Library
- University Relations
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