Academic Facilities
Thought Leadership

Reimagining Campus Visits to Drive Yield

By Grace Johnson, Client Engagement Manager, Advent

Reimagining the Campus Visit Experience

In today’s competitive enrollment landscape, your Welcome Center plays a critical role—not just in greeting prospective students, but in converting them from curious visitors into committed future graduates.

I’ve spent years walking in your shoes—literally. From the front lines of undergraduate admissions to designing strategic campus experiences, I understand the pressure and potential that comes with every single visit. The families you host are making one of the biggest decisions of their lives—where to invest the next four years and tens of thousands of dollars. What your space shows them—and more importantly, how it makes them feel—matters deeply.

The Power of First Impressions

Long before a student hears your presentation or shakes hands with an ambassador, your Welcome Center is already speaking. The layout, branding, and interactive moments are your silent storytellers.

At the University of Oregon, we helped create an environment that immerses students in one of their core values: curiosity. Through self-guided exploration, students began to understand the Oregon experience before anyone said a word. It’s subtle. It’s strategic. And it works.

From Passive Space to Purposeful Experience

Your Welcome Center shouldn’t just meet expectations—it should exceed them. It should spark that “they want me here” moment. The kind of moment that makes a student feel seen, welcomed, and inspired. That’s how a stop on a college tour becomes a first-choice institution.

At Belmont University, a refreshed Welcome Center did more than just upgrade aesthetics—it boosted in-state applications. Oregon State took it a step further by creating a space that “toggles” between audiences, engaging prospective students and donors alike.

Designed for Every Audience

Students may be the focus, but they’re not the only ones walking through your doors. Parents. Alumni. Donors. Community partners. They all experience your space—and they all form impressions.

At the University of Wyoming, we created a multi-audience Welcome Center that delivers layered storytelling and interactive engagement for every type of guest. It’s a shared space with shared purpose—one that reflects the university’s personality and mission in every detail.

You’re Not Alone

We know how intense your job is—spring/fall break visit surges,application and decision deadlines, admitted student visits, elementary school group tours, and the constant drive to stand out. You wear many hats. You juggle tight schedules. You care deeply about the student experience.

And that’s exactly why we do what we do.

At Advent, we help turn your vision into a reality—whether that means reimagining an existing space or starting fresh. But even if a project isn’t on the horizon right now, we’d love to hear what you’re working through and brainstorm ideas together.

Either way, please hear this loud and clear: YOU GOT THIS. YOU ARE MAKING A DIFFERENCE.

Interested in more?

Check out my current “Welcome Center Wednesday” series on Linkedin!

CLICK HERE