Building a University Production Studio from Scratch: A Leadership Journey

A few years ago, I was tasked with something that—on paper—seemed simple: build an in-house production studio for a university. No sweat, I got this...

Except, it was a big deal, and a lot of sweat.

Universities with their Internal Comms departments aren’t production companies or media creators. Budgets are tight. Plenty of politics. And while everyone agreed that video was critical for student engagement, marketing, and online learning, the idea of investing in an internal production team was a hard sell.

Yet, in under two years, our team at Western Governors University went from outsourcing all media production (ad agencies or local production companies) to running a fully operational, cost-effective in-house studio, producing 50+ videos per month—and saving the university over $1 million.

This wasn’t just about creating media. It was about leadership, strategy, and proving ROI.

How We Did It

? Step 1: Make the Business Case. We analyzed what the university was spending on outsourced video production and showed how an in-house team could do it better, faster, and cheaper. Data speaks louder than opinions.

? Step 2: Start Small & Hire Smart. Our first three hires? A producer/project manager, a videographer/editor, and a multimedia specialist. A small, highly skilled team can handle a surprising amount of work—especially when workflows are built for efficiency.

? Step 3: Invest in the Right Equipment—Not the Most Expensive. It’s easy to overspend on gear, but our strategy was to prioritize flexibility and scalability over buying the latest and greatest tech.

? Step 4: Build Efficient Workflows. We standardized production processes, used AI tools for editing, and streamlined approvals to keep projects moving. The result? High-volume production without sacrificing quality.

? Step 5: Scale with Purpose. As demand grew, we expanded into podcasting, live streaming, interactive media, and other digital formats—keeping our focus on content that delivered real impact.

Lessons Learned

?? Universities need more than just great content—they need a scalable system for producing it.

?? Data wins arguments. If you can prove cost savings and efficiency, leadership will listen.

?? Creativity and logistics must work together. A great production studio isn’t just about storytelling—it’s about process, strategy, and execution.

?? Leadership isn’t about doing everything—it’s about building a team that can.

Why This Matters

Higher education and technology are changing fast. Universities that embrace digital media and invest in internal production teams will have a competitive edge in student engagement, marketing, and academic delivery.

If you’re in a position to be thinking about launching a university production studio (or optimizing an existing one), let’s connect. I’d love to share insights, learn from others, and discuss the future of media in higher ed.

?? What’s your experience with in-house video production at a university? Let’s start a conversation. Drop a comment below! ??

#HigherEd #VideoProduction #DigitalMedia #Leadership #UniversityMarketing #ContentStrategy