Campus 360 Launches Live Guided Campus Tours Service

A virtual tour provider has launched a new service that enables colleges, universities, boarding schools and high schools to host DIY, live, guided tours from within virtual campus tours. Campus 360 introduced the new functionality to enable its higher education customers to take students and their families on visits around campus in real time, but without the necessity of being there in person.

According to the company, the new service distinguishes itself by allowing institutions to use their own media and video crews, rather than having to hire third-party operators. Customers also maintain ownership of the photos and videos that comprise a tour. The tours are accessible via mobile browsers.

Campus 360 Virtual Tours

The company also enables schools to use an augmented reality component for visitors taking self-guided campus tours on campus, in person.

For the live virtual tours, guides can narrate and share presentations inside of the tour itself, rather than having to switch to the use of a separate video conference platform.

"Guided virtual visits allow universities to most closely mirror the experience of a guided campus tour, despite travel and health restrictions caused by the pandemic," said CEO Gavin Newton-Tanzer in a press release. "But more than that, we see tools like this as a way to democratize the campus tour experience for out-of-state and international students long into the future."

The company provides a basic, free version of its service that allows schools to share their media through the Campus 360 platform. Campus 360 is a division of Sunrise 360, a creative agency that works with schools and industries to create virtual reality experiences.

About the Author

Dian Schaffhauser is a former senior contributing editor for 1105 Media's education publications THE Journal, Campus Technology and Spaces4Learning.

Featured

  • California K–12 District Finishes Renovations on Multi-Sport Stadium

    The Alameda Unified School District (AUSD) in Alameda, Calif., recently announced the completion of a renovation project on the Encinal Jr. & Sr. High School stadium, according to a news release. The district partnered with Quattrocchi Kwok Architects (QKA) and Bothman Construction on the facility, and funding came from Bond Measure B.

  • Chartwells Launches Campus Dining Evaluation Framework

    Contract food-service management provider Chartwells Higher Education recently announced the launch of BLUEPRINT, according to a news release. The evaluation framework was designed to provide a data-driven and customizable roadmap towards optimizing campus dining services and, by extension, the student experience.

  • Deferred Maintenance Issues Growing at Universities, Gordian Reports

    U.S. colleges and universities are falling increasingly behind on facilities maintenance and repair, according to Gordian’s 13th annual State of Facilities in Higher Education report. The deferred capital renewal burden has reached $156 per gross square foot, an 8% increase over the previous year.

  • South Carolina District Starts Construction on $50M Middle School Renovation

    The Aiken County Public School District in North Augusta, S.C., recently held a groundbreaking ceremony for the $50-million renovation and expansion of North Augusta Middle School, according to a news release. The project’s funding comes from the 2024 renewal of a one-cent sales tax approved by local voters.