UAH launches new 3-D virtual reality campus tour

The University of Alabama in Huntsville (UAH) has partnered with YouVisit to launch a brand-new, 3-D virtual reality tour of campus that uses a combination of photos, videos, and 360° panoramic shots to create an immersive experience for prospective students. As a result, virtual visitors can now enjoy an engaging, up-close look at the colleges, residence halls, and green spaces that make up UAH's 432-acre campus – all without leaving the comfort of their own home.

"We decided to implement a virtual tour so that we could share how fantastic our campus is with students all over the country and the world," says Peggy Masters, Director of Undergraduate Admissions at UAH. "As the Office of Admissions looks to expand into other areas, it's important for us to be able to show off everything we have to offer without students having to physically step on campus. We hope that the virtual tour urges students to come and see UAH for themselves!"

The tour is narrated and features 19 sites on campus as well as a stop off at the U.S. Space & Rocket Center, a notable Huntsville landmark. Virtual visitors can control the pace and order of the stops, which include a gallery of photos and 360° panoramic shots.

"YouVisit’s platform enables prospective college students to intimately explore campuses to get a full understanding of what it’s like to attend a school,” says Gordon Meyer, Director of Marketing at YouVisit. “Not only does it save students time and money, but it also inspires them to schedule real-life campus visits, apply, and enroll. Up to 7% of incoming freshmen of schools who employ our technology will have made their decision after exploring our virtual visits."

As for those interested in visiting campus in person, UAH offers tours every weekday at 10 a.m. and 1 p.m. comprising an information session with an admissions counselor and a campus tour with a student tour guide.