The University College of the North contracted with Scion to assist them with their issues around a lack of occupancy in their campus housing and concerns about their housing processes. The UCN is a multi-campus institution in Northern Manitoba that serves a pre-dominantly rural and older than traditional population that includes a large proportion of Indigenous students and a population that is economically stressed. At UCN in both Thompson and The Pas, Manitoba, Scion’s work focused on improving the housing systems and boosting occupancy.
The campus had the wrong style of buildings at one campus without the ability for mass renovation, and lack of funds for improving the other buildings. There were issues of confusion related to leasing strategies and a lack of connections between academic admissions and housing. Scion’s work led to a better presentation of the housing system, less confusion, better services to students, and better occupancy (pre-pandemic). UCN already possessed much of the appropriate technology but needed a guide to better apply it to admissions and interactions between departments. Scion also did a full marketing program outline, including mock-ups of posters, posters in multiple formats (phone, social media, website, banner), and branding for the housing operation.