What would you say about McMaster?

[img_inline align=”right” src=”http://padnws01.mcmaster.ca/images/ask-me-Alumni.jpg” caption=”Some of the ‘Ask Me’ volunteers at the Mississauga ‘Mission to Mac’ alumni event last Tuesday. (L to R clockwise) Brandon Braganza, Jennifer Heakes, Janet Goddard, Navindra Baldeo, Sam Minniti, Jessica Shelley, Neville Boney, Lori Moulden, Sana Samad, Krystal Joseph, Muna Salim, Atayeh Hamedani, Pearl Mendonca. Photo credit: Gary Collins”]Do you remember your first few days at McMaster?

Did you feel overwhelmed and have a ton of questions running through your mind such as: Where can I buy my books? Where is my residence? What do BSB, JHE, TSH, KTH all mean? How do I find my classes?

Once again we're coming up to September's season of hustle and bustle as the incoming class of 2010 joins our returning students to embark on another year at McMaster. It's likely you will come across many curious and sometimes confused faces as new students try to find their way around. Usually members of the McMaster community reach out when they can to help orient the incoming cohort, however, now there is an opportunity to become more formally involved in 'giving back' by sharing your knowledge about this amazing campus environment.

Beginning this year, the Alumni Association has organized an “Ask Me” program for incoming students and their parents. McMaster staff, faculty and current upper-year students are invited to join a team of volunteers dedicated to helping make the first few weeks of University a little less stressful for the new cohort.

“Ask Me” volunteers will be highly visible on campus for Welcome Day on Friday August 11. Volunteers will wear “Ask Me” shirts identifying themselves as McMaster University experts and will be prepared to answer whatever questions they can.

Incoming students and their parents will begin Welcome Day at the registration tent outside of Burke Science Building (BSB) which will also house the “Ask Me” volunteers 'home base'. Guests will find light snacks and refreshments at the tent and be able to ask any questions they may have. Throughout the McMaster campus “Ask Me” volunteers will be armed with campus maps, bus schedules and Welcome Day schedules to help point newcomers in the right direction.

The helpful team of alumni volunteers will don their “Ask Me” shirts again in early September for the mass residence move-in days (Sept. 2 &3). Two tents located on either side of campus will provide central meeting places for parents and students to enjoy coffee and bid their “farewells” after residence rooms have been located and their bags have been moved in. Once again, “Ask Me” volunteers will also be found in various locations throughout campus to help provide information and assistance to students and their families as needed.

If you are a McMaster alumni or upper-year student who feels you would be interested in sharing your McMaster knowledge with incoming families, please contact email Lori Moulden at lmoulde@mcmaster.ca or phone extension 26648. Volunteers for the launch of this alumni program will be able to enjoy knowing they have helped new members of the McMaster community as they arrive on campus to begin their University careers.