Central Michigan University Launches Augmented Reality Brochure to Modernize Admissions Outreach
Central Michigan University (CMU) is introducing an innovative approach to admissions outreach by launching a multi-page brochure enhanced with augmented reality (AR). This new brochure integrates digital experiences directly into traditional print materials, allowing prospective students to engage interactively using just their smartphone camera app.
The AR-powered brochure features a QR code on the front page, enabling seamless access to interactive digital content via activation images placed on each page of the physical brochure. By simply scanning the front QR code, prospective students can explore embedded videos, links to social pages, and relevant web-pages.
Interactive Features of CMU's AR Brochure
Each page of the brochure is designed to offer a different AR experience:
- Embedded short-form videos, such as campus welcome messages, student life overviews, and housing walkthroughs, give prospective students an authentic preview of campus life.
- Direct links to essential external resources, including academic program details, financial aid information, and the application portal, facilitate convenient access to deeper information.
- Social media prompts connect directly to CMU's official accounts, fostering ongoing engagement with the university community.
- Comprehensive tracking of engagement metrics, such as scans, video views, and clicks, provides valuable data to admissions teams.
This interactive format significantly lowers the barrier for student engagement, as the experiences are readily accessible.
Strategic Benefits for Admissions and Marketing Teams
The AR-enabled brochure addresses several common limitations associated with traditional print materials:
- It transforms static content into dynamic and easily updateable digital experiences. Because the AR layer is web-based, CMU can swiftly update content without needing to reprint physical materials.
- The digital format expands content depth without overcrowding pages, allowing more detailed information to be provided via links to external resources.
- Real-time analytics capabilities offer valuable insights into content performance, helping CMU identify which elements resonate most effectively with prospective students.
- The brochure leverages existing smartphone technology, eliminating the need for specialized hardware or additional software installations.
Understanding Gen Z’s Relationship with AR Technology
Central Michigan University's approach aligns closely with current research on Gen Z media consumption habits:
- Approximately 40% of Gen Z regularly uses augmented reality lenses or filters on platforms such as Snapchat, Instagram, and TikTok.
- Gen Z and Millennials demonstrate significantly higher AR usage—71% more than older generations—reflecting their familiarity and comfort with the technology.
- By 2025, an estimated 75% of the global population will frequently engage with AR via mobile devices.
This data underscores the strategic alignment of CMU’s AR brochure with the technological fluency of its target demographic, eliminating the need for onboarding and increasing immediate user interaction.
Augmented Reality's Influence on Decision-Making
The effectiveness of AR technology extends beyond entertainment to practical decision-making contexts, especially relevant to admissions processes:
- In retail contexts, 43% of Gen Z consumers already use AR to evaluate products, indicating the technology’s utility in facilitating informed decision-making.
- Approximately 92% of Gen Z express interest in AR-supported experiences while researching or shopping online.
- Research shows AR experiences foster psychological ownership, increasing user confidence and satisfaction in decisions following content interactions.
These insights suggest students engaging with AR content related to academic programs or campus life are likely to feel more informed, confident, and inclined to move forward in their college selection process.
Institutional Benefits and Measurable Outcomes
The integration of AR into CMU's admissions brochure provides several measurable institutional advantages:
- Real-time data on interactions, including page scans, digital asset engagement, and session duration, allows for continuous improvement and targeted adjustments.
- Messaging and content can be swiftly adapted between recruitment cycles, ensuring relevance without incurring additional print costs.
- AR brochures consolidate the need for numerous separate handouts, simplifying resource management at recruitment events and fairs.
By bridging printed and digital content, CMU’s augmented reality brochure enhances the utility, adaptability, and longevity of its admissions materials.
Conclusion
Central Michigan University's adoption of AR technology demonstrates an effective evolution of admissions outreach, maintaining the tangible benefits of traditional print while embracing the flexibility and analytical strengths of digital media. For prospective students, it provides a straightforward, familiar way to explore the university’s offerings deeply and interactively—right from their smartphones.