Tuesday, September 30, 2025, 2:00 PM - 2:45 PM EDT
Traditional campus tours highlight a university's scenic exteriors, but what about the interior spaces where students actually live, learn and connect?
This session explores how virtual reality and augmented reality are transforming campus exploration, providing incoming students with fully immersive, interactive experiences that build confidence and ease the transition to college life.
Through immersive 3D walkthroughs, incoming students at the University of Arkansas explore their residence halls, from living spaces to shared common areas, gaining critical insights into room dimensions, furniture layouts and features like laundry rooms and front desks.
Interactive touchpoints provide essential details — mattress sizes, bathroom setups and customization ideas from current students — fostering a sense of familiarity and ownership before they even arrive.
Beyond housing, VR and AR technology empower students to virtually navigate key campus locations, from bustling student unions to academic buildings and cultural landmarks.
They can locate professors' offices, explore historic sites and preview art galleries, ensuring they feel comfortable and prepared before stepping onto campus. By reducing uncertainty and increasing a sense of belonging, these virtual experiences contribute to student wellbeing, engagement and success.
Virtual campus exploration also plays a crucial role in accessibility. For students with disabilities or mobility challenges, detailed previews of elevators, ramps and accessible (ADA) restrooms ensure they can confidently navigate their new environment. Neurodivergent students benefit from structured, self-paced exploration, reducing anxiety associated with unfamiliar spaces.
You will learn how pre-arrival virtual exploration reduces stress, increases preparedness and enhances student wellbeing — ultimately improving retention and success rates.
This session will provide practical insights on implementation, best practices and strategies for integrating VR and AR campus tours into student engagement initiatives.
