Smarter Campus Communication: The Complete IT & AV Guide to Digital Signage in Higher Ed 

Why Higher Education Needs a Smarter Digital Communication Strategy 

Higher education is at a crossroads—student engagement is at an all-time low, and traditional communication methods are failing. According to the National Association of State Boards of Education:

• 80% of students report disengagement from campus activities 
• 25% never participate in campus events 

To revitalize engagement and streamline communication, universities are turning to digital signage solutions like Korbyt Anywhere—a centralized, AI-powered platform that delivers real-time, location-specific messaging across campus. 

This guide will explore: 

• How digital signage enhances engagement and campus communication 
• Where and how digital displays, video walls, and interactive kiosks create the most impact 
• Key benefits for students, faculty, IT, and Facilities teams 
• ROI strategies for maximizing cost savings and revenue potential 
• Why Korbyt is the most advanced digital signage solution for universities 

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What is Campus Digital Signage? 

University digital signage refers to a network of digital displays, interactive kiosks, and video walls that instantly communicate important updates to students, faculty, and visitors. These screens can display: 

• Real-time event updates & campus news 
• Emergency alerts & safety notifications 
• Wayfinding maps & campus directories 
• Class schedules & study room availability 
• Dining menus & nutritional information 

Unlike static signage, digital signage for schools is dynamic and automated, allowing institutions to: 

• Update content instantly across multiple locations 
• Integrate with existing campus systems 
• Deliver targeted messaging to specific audiences 

💡 With cloud-based content management and AI-powered automation, digital signage is a scalable, long-term solution for universities. 

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The Benefits of Digital Signage for Higher Ed 

🚀 1. Capture Attention & Boost Engagement 

Today’s students are digital natives—used to consuming content via interactive screens and social media. Static posters get ignored, but high-impact visuals and real-time messaging grab attention. 

• Highlight student achievements, campus events, and faculty research 
• Display live social media feeds and community engagement opportunities 
• Promote wellness initiatives, career fairs, and extracurricular activities 

💡With AI-driven content optimization, Korbyt ensures that the right message reaches the right students at the right time—maximizing visibility and interaction. 

🎯 2. Empower IT, AV & Facilities Teams with Control & Flexibility 

Managing campus-wide communication shouldn’t be a logistical nightmare. Korbyt’s cloud-based CMS allows institutions to: 

• Update content instantly across multiple locations 
• Schedule messaging in advance to align with academic calendars 
• Automate emergency alerts for rapid crisis communication 
• Assign role-based permissions so departments control their own content 

💡 IT teams can slash digital signage management time by over 80% each week! 

🏫 3. Enhance Campus Wayfinding & Space Booking 

Navigating a university campus can be overwhelming—especially for new students and visitors. Digital signage solves this by providing: 

• Interactive wayfinding maps (2D/3D) that guide users in real-time 
• Room booking displays showing available study and meeting spaces 
• Mobile integrations so users receive directions on their phones 

💡 Korbyt integrates with EMS, 25Live, and Google Calendar to streamline scheduling, reduce no-shows, and eliminate double bookings. 

📈 4. Data-Driven Insights for Smarter Decision-Making 

Korbyt’s digital displays provide real-time analytics to measure communication effectiveness.  IT, AV, and Facilities teams can track: 

• Which messages drive the most engagement 
• How many students interact with content 
• Real-time foot traffic data for space optimization 

💡 Schools can use this data to refine content, improve campus flow, and enhance student engagement. 

💰 5. Reduce Costs & Generate Revenue 

Digital signage isn’t just an expense—it’s an investment with measurable ROI. 

• Cut printing costs by replacing posters and flyers with digital screens 
• Monetize digital displays with paid advertising from local businesses 
• Increase event attendance and student participation through better promotion 

💡 A university that invests $20,000 in digital signage but generates $25,000 in ad revenue and saves $5,000 in printing costs achieves an ROI of 50% in the first year alone! 

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Applications for Digital Signage Across Campus 

Digital signage is more than just a replacement for bulletin boards—it’s a transformative communication tool that enhances engagement, safety, and efficiency across campus. By incorporating interactive displays, video walls, and AI-driven content, universities can create a seamless, visually dynamic experience for students, faculty, and visitors. 

🚪 Entrances & Pathways: Create a Smart First Impression 

University entrances and walkways are high-traffic areas where first impressions matter. Digital signage and interactive kiosks can: 

• Welcome new students and visitors with customized messages and campus updates 
• Provide real-time, interactive wayfinding—helping users navigate large campuses efficiently 
• Show weather and transit updates for students relying on public transportation 
• Highlight upcoming events and campus initiatives with eye-catching animations 
• Display social media feeds and live student engagement to foster community spirit 

💡 Video walls near main entrances can showcase campus achievements, donor recognition, and live university news. 

🏠 Common Areas & Residence Halls: Keep Students Connected 

In dorms, lounges, and student centers, digital signage can transform shared spaces into engaging hubs for campus life by: 

• Displaying dorm-specific announcements (maintenance alerts, community guidelines, event details) 
• Integrating with social media feeds to highlight student activities and groups 
• Encouraging student engagement with polls, surveys, and interactive message boards 
• Promoting campus resources—mental health services, tutoring centers, and job fairs 
• Providing real-time shuttle bus tracking for students commuting across campus. 

📚 Libraries & Study Rooms: Smart Space Management & Information Access 

Libraries aren’t just about books—they are collaborative learning spaces that require dynamic communication tools.  Digital signage can: 

• Show real-time study room and work desk availability  
• Highlight quiet zones, group study areas, and computer lab availability 
• Provide real-time research tips and citation guides from library staff 
• Display live data on book returns, overdue notices, and new arrivals 
• Integrate with accessibility tools, offering text-to-speech and multi-language support 

💡 Dynamic digital signage can recommend popular books, study resources, and research workshops based on student interests. 

🏫 Classrooms & Lecture Halls: Enhance Learning & Safety 

Digital signage in lecture halls and classrooms can improve both education delivery and student safety: 

• Show interactive lecture materials, turning static presentations into engaging visuals 
• Broadcast real-time alerts (emergency notifications, severe weather warnings, evacuation instructions) 
• Provide automated room schedules to reduce scheduling conflicts 
• Promote upcoming guest lectures and academic conferences 
• Display real-time exam countdowns, assignment deadlines, and faculty office hours 

🍽️ Cafeterias & Dining Halls: Optimize the Student Dining Experience 

Meals are a central part of campus life, and digital signage can make dining more efficient and enjoyable by: 

• Displaying daily menus with real-time updates on meal options and dietary restrictions 
• Integrating with mobile ordering systems, allowing students to pre-order and skip lines 
• Providing nutritional information for health-conscious students 
• Showing sustainability initiatives, such as food waste reduction stats and composting locations 
• Highlighting student meal plans, promotions, and dining hours 

💡 Interactive kiosks can help students find allergen-friendly meals, check calorie counts, and rate their dining experience in real time. 

🏟️ Administrative & Athletic Facilities: Unify Campus Operations & Events 

University administrative buildings and athletic facilities benefit from real-time communication tools that keep students and staff informed. Digital signage can: 

• Show live sports scores, athlete highlights, and upcoming game schedules 
• Promote fitness classes, intramural leagues, and wellness programs 
• Display real-time building schedules for faculty meetings, admissions events, and advising sessions 
• Integrate with emergency alert systems to keep staff informed during crises 
• Highlight school policies, financial aid deadlines, and graduation information 

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Expanding Possibilities: More Unique Digital Signage Applications on Campus 

🤖 Student Innovation Centers & Labs 

• Showcase student projects and research breakthroughs 
• Promote hackathons, startup incubators, and internship opportunities 
• Live-stream expert guest speakers and TED-style talks 

😷 Campus Health Centers 

• Provide mental health and wellness tips 
• Display real-time appointment availability for clinics and counselors 
• Broadcast important health advisories (flu season alerts, vaccine availability) 

💸 Alumni & Fundraising Events 

• Highlight major donors and fundraising goals in real time 
• Showcase alumni success stories and networking opportunities 
• Display donation leaderboards to encourage participation 

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Best Practices for Maximizing Digital Signage ROI 

1. Set Clear Objectives 

Define goals before implementation, such as: 
✔️ Increasing student participation in campus events 
✔️ Enhancing safety communication during emergencies 
✔️ Optimizing classroom and facility usage 

2. Measure Key Metrics 

Track performance using: 
✔️ Engagement rates – How many students interact with digital content? 
✔️ Conversion rates – Are students taking action based on signage? 
✔️ Room utilization data – Are study spaces being used efficiently? 

3. Automate & Personalize Content 

✔️ Schedule content to display at peak student traffic times 
✔️ Use AI-driven analytics to optimize message delivery 
✔️ Leverage multi-zone layouts to show different content simultaneously 

💡 With Korbyt, universities can automate up to 90% of their digital signage content. 

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What Makes Korbyt the Best Digital Signage Solution for Higher Education? 

1. AI-Powered Content Management & Automation 

Managing a college digital signage network should be effortless. Korbyt’s cloud-based content management system (CMS) simplifies the entire process, enabling universities to: 

• Create, schedule, and deploy content across multiple screens in seconds 
• Leverage AI-powered recommendations to optimize messaging effectiveness 
• Automate content delivery based on time, location, and audience behavior 
• Set dynamic playlists that update in real time with no manual intervention 

💡 Result: IT, AV, and communications teams spend significantly less time managing content, allowing them to focus on other strategic initiatives. 

2. The Most Robust Integrations in the Industry 

Higher education institutions utilize a variety of software systems for communication, scheduling, and analytics. Korbyt seamlessly integrates with: 

• Campus Scheduling & Room Booking Systems – EMS, 25Live, Google Calendar, Office 365 
• Emergency Notification & Safety Systems – RAVE, Everbridge, Alertus 
• Business Intelligence & Analytics – Power BI, Tableau, TIBCO 
• IT & Facilities Management – ServiceNow, Cisco Spaces 
• Collaboration & Messaging Tools – Microsoft Teams, Slack, Zoom 
• Enterprise Content Management – OneDrive, Google Drive, Dropbox, Adobe Experience Manager 

💡 Result: Korbyt eliminates the inefficiencies of managing multiple disconnected systems, providing a unified platform that enhances operations across IT, AV, facilities, and communications teams. 

3. Unmatched Multi-Zone Display Capabilities 

Unlike most digital signage for schools’ solutions that only allow full-screen content display, Korbyt supports advanced multi-zone layouts, enabling institutions to: 

• Show multiple content types simultaneously – event schedules, news, alerts, dashboards, and live TV 
• Assign different content zones to various departments while maintaining central control 
• Display real-time data feeds from campus systems and external sources 

💡 Result: Universities can maximize screen real estate and deliver more relevant, data-driven messaging in a single, unified view. 

4. Integrated Room and Desk Booking Capabilities 

Many digital signage CMS platforms focus solely on content display, but Korbyt goes a step further by incorporating room and desk booking functionalities within the same platform. This integration offers several benefits: 

• Streamlined Space Management: Students and faculty can easily reserve study rooms, meeting spaces, or desks through a unified system, reducing scheduling conflicts and enhancing collaboration. 
• Real-Time Availability: Digital displays show up-to-date information on room and desk availability, allowing users to make informed decisions on the spot. 
• Seamless Integration with Existing Tools: Korbyt Booking integrates with platforms like Microsoft 365, Outlook, and Google Calendar, enabling users to book spaces without leaving their familiar workflows. 
• Enhanced Utilization Analytics: Institutions gain insights into space usage patterns, helping optimize resource allocation and reduce operational costs. 

💡 Result: By combining digital signage with space booking capabilities, Korbyt provides a holistic solution that improves campus efficiency and user experience. 

5. Scalable for Multi-Campus Deployments 

Higher education institutions need a signage solution that grows with them. Whether managing 10 screens or 1,000+, Korbyt’s platform scales effortlessly with: 

• Centralized management for multi-campus networks 
• Support for all major hardware vendors – BrightSign, LG, Samsung, and more 
• Automated software updates ensuring systems remain cutting-edge 

💡 Result: Universities can expand their digital signage network without increasing IT workload. 

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Real Success Stories from Leading Universities 

📍 University of Kentucky – 300+ digital displays, centralized content, real-time alerts 
📍 University of Southern California – 150+ digital endpoints, increased student participation 
📍 Texas Christian University – Migrated from a legacy system in just one month 
📍 University of Notre Dame – Integrated signage with wayfinding and interactive tools 
📍 Virginia Commonwealth University – Improved compliance and safety communications 

Ready to Join the List?

See how Korbyt’s digital signage platform can help your institution boost engagement, streamline IT management, and maximize ROI. 

🚀 Request a Demo – See Korbyt in action today! 

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Final Thoughts 

When choosing a digital signage solution for universities, it’s essential to select a platform that is: 
✅ AI-powered for automation & efficiency 
✅ Secure & scalable to meet IT & Facilities needs 
✅ Fully integrated with campus systems 
✅ Designed for real-time engagement & analytics 

💡 Korbyt is the only platform that checks every box—making it the #1 choice for college digital signage.