2024 Registrarial Conference Continues to Foster Connections, Conversations, and Community

Dwayne Benjamin, Vice-Provost, Strategic Enrolment Management, introducing the UAO team.
Dwayne Benjamin, Vice-Provost, Strategic Enrolment Management, delivering the opening remarks at the 2024 Registrarial Conference.
Ryan Hargraves started the Enrichment Academy panel with a fun take on late night talk shows with the first ever “early morning late night show.”

On February 21, 2024, VPSEM and SGS co-sponsored the ninth annual Registrarial Conference. Registrarial staff from all three U of T campuses gathered at the Myhal Centre, with 420 registrants eager to learn from and connect with each other over the course of this full-day event. 38 engaging presenters delivered 17 sessions covering a broad range of topics from inclusive recruitment and admissions initiatives to best practices for student data collection and use, accessibility, and more.

The conference started with a welcome address from Dwayne Benjamin, Vice-Provost, Strategic Enrolment Management. He encouraged everyone in attendance to connect with each other and underscored that the day’s sessions reflected the university’s key values of sustainability, innovation, client-focus, equity, and knowledge-driven excellence. He also emphasized that the students who staff support every day are at the core of these crucial values.

Following the kick-off address, the opening presentation on the highly successful Enrichment Academy initiative was delivered. Members of the University Admissions and Outreach team — Ryan Hargraves, Ken Withers, Lydia Gill Blackett and Leah Robertson — discussed the process of connecting with Rutgers University for insights into how they could model the Enrichment Academy after the extremely impactful Rutgers Future Scholars program. The goal of both initiatives is to encourage the increased enrolment and matriculation of bright students who are historically underrepresented in post-secondary education. Lydia shared that due to the dedicated work of tri-campus recruitment teams, there was a 24 % increase in undergraduate applications from their Equity & Outreach Priority School Visit Program, supporting equity-deserving high school students in their post-secondary journey. The positive results from the E&O Priority School Visit Program demonstrate the need for and impact of programs like the Enrichment Academy that support historically underrepresented students.

After the opening presentation, participants attended a variety of sessions covering a broad range of topics including the new Need Navigator for UTAPS and financial aid applications, English language requirements for admission to undergraduate programs, supports for international students, and best practices for mentoring and supporting graduate students. These sessions were filled with essential information and insights for encouraging prospective students to attend U of T, and beyond that, strategies to ensure their continued success once they arrive on campus as new students. The conference closed with a lively mix & mingle session that featured draw prizes and closing remarks from Angelique Saweczko, University Registrar, and Brian Desrosiers-Tam, Assistant Dean, School of Graduate Studies. 

Participants were highly engaged, and one had glowing feedback to share with conference organizers:

“It was an incredible day, with amazing sessions and lots of chances to network with colleagues. I had to miss this conference the year before, so it was really impactful to attend this year, it was a splendid event. I am grateful, thank you!”

Overall, the 2024 Registrarial Conference was an important event for strengthening tri-campus connections, sharing knowledge, and re-connecting with colleagues. Events like this are integral for the collaboration and community-building that aids the work done by registrarial staff to remove barriers for students and enrich the campus community.

Registrarial Conference volunteers are all smiles. From left to right: Shelby Devlin, Lynda Oronati, Beth Lebans, and Natalie Wallace.
Mari Motich and Ida Colalillo welcoming attendees at the registration desk.
Volunteers are all smiles and ready to welcome attendees. From left to right: Steffen Reinhart, Sid Naraine, Jeff Scholl, and Samantha Marsh Smith.
Registrarial Conference volunteers welcoming attendees. From left to right: Jiffin Arboleda, Kubra Mir, Jeff Scholl, and Jason Ewer.

A Special Thanks

On behalf of VPSEM, SGS and the Registrarial Conference Planning Team, we want to thank our mighty group of volunteers who made the conference run seamlessly. We heard from colleagues throughout the day and the day after how much they appreciated and enjoyed being at the conference.  

Thank you so much for your time and support. 

VPSEM All Star Volunteer Team:

  • Andy Allen 
  • Barbara Muniz 
  • Beth Lebans 
  • Ida Colalillo 
  • Jason Ewer 
  • Jeff Scholl 
  • Jiffin Arboleda 
  • Kubra Mir 
  • Lynda Onorati 
  • Mari Motrich 
  • Natalie Wallace 
  • Samantha Marsh Smith 
  • Sharon Kelly 
  • Shelby Devlin 
  • Sid Naraine 
  • Stella Ip 
  • Steven Bailey