Space Management in Higher Ed: A Chat About Challenges, Solutions, and a Real-World Example

Hey there! As the CEO of inspace , I've had the fantastic opportunity to work with many institutions that want to transform their space management processes. Let's talk about some of the challenges higher education institutions face while managing spaces, and how technology can help – including secure student check-ins for those large classes. I'll even share an inspiring story about the North Carolina School of Science and Mathematics (NCSSM) Morganton and how together we tackled these issues.

Challenges in Higher Education Space Management

1. Seamless Resource Booking Across Multiple Calendar Systems for Students, Faculty, and Staff

Managing students, faculty, and staff who all use separate calendar systems can be a real challenge for institutions. Just imagine the chaos that ensues when everyone is trying to book resources without a centralized, integrated system! That's where inspace comes in, providing a seamless solution for resource booking across multiple platforms.

2. Making Spaces Work for Everyone

Every institution has its share of underutilized or overbooked spaces. The challenge is to find a solution that can cater to the unique needs of students and faculty while effectively managing different space configurations on campus simultaneously.

3. Keeping Up with the Students

Students these days want flexible learning spaces that support collaboration, creativity, and technology integration. It's essential for institutions to be agile in adapting their spaces to meet these ever-changing needs without compromising the learning environment.

4. Tackling the Large Class Conundrum

Managing large classes can be quite a challenge, especially when it comes to tracking attendance and ensuring a a smooth secure check-in process. But worry not! Technology can streamline this process and boost overall efficiency.

Technology Solutions for Higher Education Space Management

1. Centralized Space Booking: A One-Stop Solution

Imagine having a centralized space booking system where users can reserve rooms, check availability, and view schedules in real-time. That's precisely what we provided for NCSSM Morganton, which greatly improved their space management efficiency on their incredible campus.

2. Find Your Way with Interactive Floor Plans

Interactive floor plans and wayfinding technologies can be a game-changer for students and faculty, making it a breeze to find and navigate campus spaces. These tools also help institutions identify underutilized spaces and make informed decisions about space allocation.

3. Seamless Integration with Your Favorite Tech

Integrating technology solutions with existing systems can create a smoother, more enjoyable user experience. Just like we did at NCSSM Morganton, where inspace's platform integrated seamlessly with their existing tech stack, making it a hit among students and faculty.

4. Secure Student Check-In for Large Classes: No More Headaches

Large classes can be a pain to manage, but with inspace's technology, secure student check-ins become a reality. Our platform can keep track of attendance, streamline the check-in process, and ensure a smooth, efficient experience for both students and faculty.

The Story of NCSSM Morganton

The North Carolina School of Science and Mathematics (NCSSM) Morganton faced unique challenges in managing its state-of-the-art campus. They needed a system that allowed faculty and students to efficiently book and share spaces while adapting to the hybrid learning model.

We collaborated with NCSSM Morganton to provide a tailor-made, centralized space booking system that allowed users to reserve rooms, check availability, and view schedules in real-time. This solution greatly improved their space management efficiency and enhanced the overall user experience.

Conclusion

So there you have it! The hybrid learning landscape has brought new challenges to higher education, particularly in the realm of space management. As we've seen with the NCSSM Morganton example, adopting innovative technologies and solutions can create more efficient, flexible, and user-friendly environments that support the diverse needs of students and faculty.

At inspace, our mission is to assist educational institutions in overcoming these hurdles by offering tailored solutions designed to meet their unique needs and foster thriving learning communities.