Howard University recently launched its first online Campus Virtual Tour and though it is less than a month old, the tour is already a hit with students.
The tour was announced to the university community by President H. Patrick Swygert earlier this month and can be viewed through a link on the university's website.
Officials are hoping that allowing the university to be viewed on the web will serve the needs of those who wish to see the campus but can't make it in person. "The tour will serve as the next best visit besides physically coming here," said Mohamed Mekkawi, Director of Libraries and the Pilot for Concepts and Directions, on the project.
Also available on the web for visitors is a "virtual welcome" from President Swygert. The tour breaks down the Howard experience into three main categories, entitled points of interest, Howard life, and the Howard experience.
http://www.howard.edu/campustour/ Under the "Points of Interest" section are six maps of the campus that are divided by regions, including a map of the main campus, dormitories, the bookstore and the East and West Campuses.
"Howard Life" explores aspects of dorm life, homecoming events, sports, as well as off-campus activities in the arts. There is also a special section entitled "A Day in the Life of" in which six typical students from the university give examples of an average day's schedule.
Upon clicking the "Howard Experience" link, a slideshow presentation intended to capture the viewer's attention ends with an audio sample of the alma mater. The link then takes you through five icons that users can click to receive insight on learning, living, connecting and succeeding on the HU campus with pictures and sub-links to valuable information on the legacies of Howard.
The introduction of the Virtual Tour is already garnering positive feedback. Howard students who have recently discovered the tour find it both impressive and necessary.
" I really enjoyed the virtual tour. I am proud that Howard is displaying our high-tech capabilities," said Jeri Ogden, a freshman Legal Communications major.
The tour's target audience according to Mekkawi, are students ages 17 to 21 who may be interested in the university but are unable to physically visit the campus. It also serves to benefit alumni who want to see the progress of their alma mater, as well as for current students who may be unaware of certain opportunities or services available at Howard.
Throughout the tour visitors are treated with musical selections such as jazz ensembles, flash movies and links that offer extensive information on a wide range of topics concerning the university.
"I want the visitor's question of "What's in it for me?" to be answered", Mekkawi adds. "I want the tour to show prospective students that they are getting their money's worth at Howard".
On every section there is also the opportunity for students to apply to the university in hopes of boosting academic recruitment, Mekkawi said.
Although some of the tour is not yet finished, Mekkawi says that this is only the beginning and that many of the still pictures on the tour now, will become real-life videos.
Brittany Wince, a sophomore actuarial science major, is excited that future Howard students will now have a chance to get an in-depth view of the university over the Internet.
"When I was applying to colleges, Howard was one of the schools that I researched that did not have a virtual tour," Wince said. "I think that this tour will actually draw more prospective students and all in all just makes us look better."
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Wednesday, November 16th 2005 at 10:26AM
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