It’s been almost five years since UHD introduced a virtual tour component to its online offerings for prospective students, visitors, alumni, and friends to learn about the University’s dynamic campus.

Recently, the Office of University Relations in UHD’s Division of Advancement reimagined the campus experience with new additions to the virtual tour. The updated tour now boasts 17 stops plus walks between stops as well as new stops – Food for Change Market, eSports, Bayou Trail (which runs alongside the College of Sciences & Technology Building and the new Wellness & Success Center), and UHD Northwest. The interactive experience is also available in Spanish.

“Through collaborations with campus colleagues in the Office of Admissions and by asking the right questions, we were able to gain a better understanding of what are the critical needs for our visitors, especially prospective students, regarding our Campus Community,” said Laura Waits, Executive Director of Marketing. “Our campus geography can be challenging to describe, and this virtual experience provides a perspective of the campus’ proximity to major highways and the ‘feel’ of how the campus sits in Downtown.”

Kristin Raymond, Interim Director of Admissions & Recruitment, added, “Higher education has had to evolve, particularly in recent years, to expand its reach and provide even more digital resources and virtual options to prospective students. Providing needed information to prospective students via all social media platforms, as well as enhancing existing videos, and streamlining virtual content, supplements and serves to help duplicate services that are taking place in person on campus. UHD serves all students, from traditional first-time-in college to nontraditional and returning students. The accessibility of digital content and virtual resources speaks to the added convenience of what UHD strives to offer all students.”

In 2022, UHD’s virtual tour, powered by You Visit, amassed more than 6,000 unique visitors viewing the campus virtually. And nearly 25% of these visitors went even further to learn more about the University.

Waits pointed out what a phenomenal asset the virtual tour was for prospective students during the pandemic. “It was such a great product to invite online visitors to learn about UHD when they couldn’t visit in person,” noted Waits. “When visitors come to our website, they not only learn about our University, they also get a 360-degree view of our campus footprint that sits in the heart of Downtown Houston.”