Back-to-school in style at the new Birks
Faculty, staff and students gathered in the atrium of the J.W. McConnell Building on August 29 to celebrate the official opening of the newly renovated Birks Student Service Centre and Welcome Centre.
New Concordia Provost Benoit-Antoine Bacon and Deputy-Provost Lisa Ostiguy were on hand to thank staff who contributed to realizing the project and offered some advice to students getting ready to start the new term. Apples and muffins were shared with students as they waited for the centre to open at 10 a.m.
Brad Tucker, associate vice-president of Student and Enrolment Services welcomes guests to the official opening of the new Birks and Welcome centres. | All photos by Concordia University
The provost reminds students to take advantage of all the services available to support their success, both inside and outside the classroom.
Justyne Ausareny, a second-year student specializing in computation arts, is welcomed as she becomes the first student to officially enter the new Birks.
The new waiting area is fresh and bright, featuring comfortable seating and a new ticketing system to speed up request processing and reduce wait times.
Students can save time by completing many transactional activities all in one place, such as obtaining ID cards, requesting transcripts and dropping off forms.
Staff can now offer personalized service, directing students to key university resources and booking appointments with other services as needed.
The Welcome Centre also received a makeover. It is a starting point for students and visitors to arrange a campus tour or get directions to locations, services or events on campus.
The centre is located inside the new Birks, with its own entrance on Bishop Street.