Revamp Your Campus Map: 10 Filters Students Will Actually Use
- team9186
- Jan 18, 2024
- 4 min read
Updated: Jan 31, 2024
Let's talk campus maps. If you're a university staff member, you know them well: those online maps that seem to do little more than point out academic buildings in a painfully unintuitive format, generally speaking.
Functional? Debatable. Inspiring? Not so much.
Here’s the thing: most campus maps are just... there. They exist, sure, but do they genuinely enhance the university experience? Are they actively used to add value for students or to advance university goals?
We think not.
So, what’s the key to turning these often overlooked digital tools into an indispensable resource for current and prospective students?
Well, filters of course. Let’s take a look…
Accessibility & Inclusivity
Consider this filter as part of your campus’s pledge to accessibility and diversity. It’s a statement that every corner of your campus is open to everyone. Guiding wheelchair users, supporting new parents, respecting cultural practices—this filter doesn’t just inform, it empowers. It's a step towards making inclusivity a visible, tangible part of your environment, reflecting a campus that values and serves all its members.
Example Filters:
Wheelchair Accessible Entrances
Accessible Parking
Lactation Rooms
Gender Inclusive Bathrooms
Baby Diaper Changing Stations
Prayer Rooms
Tailored Campus Tours
This is your opportunity to turn a standard campus visit into a personalized journey, serving as a tool for student guides or even enabling self-led tours that cater to individual needs and interests. Be it for undergrads, athletes, international students (the list goes on), you can curate the stops to showcase the aspects of campus that resonate most to each visitor. From a closer look at student athlete facilities to the quiet corners for graduate scholars, these tours give prospective students a closer look at what their future could look like at your university.
Example Filters:
Undergraduate
Graduate
Athlete
International
Non-traditional
Veteran student
Greek Life
You can give students a glimpse of your university’s vibrant Greek Life right from your map. By highlighting Greek council offices, as well as specialty houses like dry, faith-based, and culture-focused residences, this filter gives you the chance to offer a comprehensive view of Greek life’s diverse and rich contribution to your campus culture. It’s an engaging showcase, perfect for students to discover where they could forge lifelong connections and grow in a supportive community.
Example Filters:
Fraternity Houses
Sorority Houses
Greek Council Offices
Dry Greek Houses
Faith-Based Houses
Culture-Based Houses
Off-Campus Life
We’ve all seen the lists of Best College Towns, in fact your university may even be on one. And because we know that students aren’t just choosing a university, they’re choosing a city to call home, you want to give them a taste of what your city has to offer. This filter does wonders in extending the campus experience into the local community. It’s an opportunity to show students the cozy coffee shops for study sessions, the best dining spots for a night out, and more. It invites exploration and integration, bridging campus life with the local community’s charm.
Example Filters:
Shopping & Retail
Cafes
Restaurants
Nightlife
Entertainment
Cultural Landmark
Academic Resources
Help students tap into the full potential of your campus's academic assets with this filter. Think of it as a digital roadmap to success, spotlighting tutoring centers for that extra academic boost, writing centers for crafting perfect papers, and more. It’s like giving students a personal academic concierge. From the quiet nooks of campus libraries to the collaborative buzz of study lounges, this filter leads students straight to the resources they need.
Example Filters:
Campus Libraries
Dedicated Study Areas and Lounges
Tutoring Centers
Writing Centers
Computer Labs
Printing Stations
Technology Support Centers
Recreation
Bring the energetic side of your campus to life with a 'Recreation' filter. It's all about showcasing the spots where students can unwind, stay fit, and enjoy team sports. Whether it's the state-of-the-art gym, the sprawling sports fields, or the intramural clubs, this filter invites students to discover and engage in the active side of campus life. It’s a visual guide to work-life balance, highlighting places where students can recharge, build community, and stay healthy.
Example Filters:
Athletic Facilities and Stadiums
Intramural Sports Fields
Campus Gyms and Fitness Centers
Recreational Clubs and Organizations
Student Housing
Showcase the diverse living options your campus offers, from lively undergraduate halls to quiet graduate apartments. This tool is invaluable not just for prospective students scoping out future homes but also for current students seeking their next campus abode. Highlight each residence's unique atmosphere, amenities, and community vibe. It's a way to help students envision their life on campus, finding that perfect spot they can call home during their college years.
Example Filters:
Undergraduate Dormitories
Graduate Housing
Family Complexes
Off-campus Affiliated Housing
Greek Housing
Student Life & Support Services
Think of this filter as the ultimate guide to campus living. From the campus bookstore to health services, this filter covers it all. It's about giving students a comprehensive view of the support network available to them—career guidance, health care, safety services, and essential amenities. This filter is a roadmap to resources that make student life not just manageable but enjoyable and fulfilling.
Example Filters:
Campus Bookstore
Career Counseling Centers
University Health Center
Campus Safety & Security Stations
Parking Lots & Garage Facilities
Bus Stops & Shuttle Service Points
Bike Racks
Department-Specific
This filter can help your most prominent programs shine. Showcase the specialized facilities and resources of each department, from cutting-edge research labs in the Biology department to creative studios in the Arts. This tool allows prospective and current students to delve into their area of interest, exploring the specific offerings and opportunities that set your academic departments apart.
Example Filters:
Biology Department Main Office
Specialized Biology Research Laboratories
Faculty Offices for Biology Professors
Dedicated Biology Lecture Halls
Academic & Administrative Buildings
Alright, of course we couldn’t complete the list without including the foundational filter that most universities are already using. But here’s the kicker—we think, if paired with some of these other more innovative approaches to campus maps, you’ll find students engage with this resource in entirely new ways. For you, it translates into more opportunities to guide students to key resources, and a better way to keep your community connected and informed. It’s about transforming a basic utility into a dynamic, indispensable part of the university experience.
Example Filters:
Administrative Buildings
Campus Library
Student Union
Conference Rooms
Lecture Halls and Auditoriums
Bringing Your Innovative Campus Map to Life
Now you might be thinking, well that’s all well and good but how would we even do that.
Fair question, but we wouldn’t get you excited about something without showing you how you can make it a reality.
So, if you’re intrigued, we invite you to check out that software that universities are turning to both elevate the student experience and attract more prospective students.
HERE, you can check out a demo of a university map with some of these filters put to use.
It’s a live example of how the right combination of filters can transform a campus map from a basic navigational aid into a dynamic, engaging, and indispensable tool.