The Campus Engagement Expo (formerly U-Join) took place on Sept. 29 at the Abbotsford campus and Oct. 6 at the Chilliwack campus, showcasing over 30 clubs, associations, and services at UFV.
The Student Union Society and myCampusLife hosted an in-person event for students to discover club events, volunteer opportunities, and UFV services at the event booths. Booths included the Islamic Relief club, Kinesiology Student Association, College of Arts, UFV HOPE, Physics Student Association, and many others. Students could spin a wheel for prizes with University Christian Ministries, answer cow trivia at the Agriculture Tech table, and win ice cream with UFV Study Abroad.
Sheila McKay, Operations Coordinator in Student Engagement, explained that the initial plan was to host the Abbotsford Expo outside on the Green, but due to rainy weather, it took place in three different areas of Building B.
“It worked out for the best,” McKay said. “I think that it had a really neat feeling to it. It felt more intimate, more social, more connected.” The smaller spaces, she said, allowed shy or overwhelmed students to engage more comfortably at the event.
“I try to really think about who’s not at the door and why they’re not there,” she continued. “It’s really important to me to create events that are open to all students and that feel comfortable for all students.”
Last year, the Expo took place virtually, with each club or association hosting Zoom calls for students to join. Unfortunately, it saw little student engagement. For McKay, COVID-19 revealed that some things needed to change for campus culture. She believes they are still fighting the commuter campus attitude.
“COVID-19 awoke within me the realization that now our students are off-campus (and how do I reach them?), but yet our students have always been off-campus,” she said. “We need to be reaching students where they are, not where we think they need to be. That hybrid piece of what came out of COVID-19 is going to stay with us.”
This year rivaled past in-person Expos, with 33 booths at the Abbotsford Expo and 18 at the Chilliwack Expo. McKay found that it had an overall feeling of energy. Clubs, associations, and services were excited to personally connect with students after a year of virtual events. It signified a hopeful year for student events and opportunities.
“I would love [to talk to] people who are not at the door or who don’t feel comfortable attending events, or maybe have some thoughts about what they’d like to see,” McKay said. “My job is to try and build community here. If I can’t talk to you, how do I do that when I don’t know what you want or need?”
Students can find Sheila McKay and other myCampusLife workers at the Student Life lounge in Building S of the Abbotsford campus or Building A of the Chilliwack campus. Students can also contact McKay directly at sheila.mckay@ufv.ca. To see events hosted by clubs and associations, go to mycampuslife.ufv.ca.
Danaye studies English and procrastination at UFV and is very passionate about the Oxford comma. She spends her days walking to campus from the free parking zones, writing novels she'll never finish, and pretending to know how to pronounce abominable. Once she graduates, she plans to adopt a cat.
