About Oakland Community College

Oakland Community College (OCC) is one of Michigan’s largest community colleges, spanning 2.5 million square feet across five campuses: Auburn Hills, Orchard Ridge, Highland Lakes, Royal Oak, and Southfield. With over 20,000 students and 420+ classrooms, OCC offers a wide range of academic programs, student services, and community events.

The Challenge

1. Navigating Large Campuses: Students unfamiliar with a particular campus often struggled to find the right building, let alone their specific classroom.
2. Orientation & Start-of-Semester Confusion: The days leading up to a new semester were particularly stressful, with students and families visiting in advance to map out their routes.
3. High Demand for Staff Assistance: To help lost students, OCC assigned night administrators at each campus for two weeks at the beginning of every semester.
4. Difficulties for Visitors & Community Members: OCC regularly hosts theater performances, community events, and culinary experiences at various campuses. However, many visitors found it difficult to navigate to the correct venue, leading to frustration and late arrivals.
5. Accessibility Gaps: OCC wanted to ensure that accessible pathways, crosswalks, and essential safety locations - such as AEDs (Automated External Defibrillators), first aid kits, and fire extinguishers - were easily identifiable. However, without a unified system, it was difficult to provide clear guidance.

The Solution

To address these challenges, OCC implemented a digital navigation system by MazeMap that would transform the campus experience for students, visitors, and staff.

1. Interactive Campus Maps: OCC introduced mobile-friendly, interactive maps that allowed students to instantly search for classrooms, administrative offices, and event spaces. These maps provided step-by-step directions, making it easier to navigate the college’s five campuses.
2. QR Code-Based Navigation at Campus Entrances: To make navigation even more accessible, OCC installed digital signage with QR codes at major campus entrances. Each QR code featured a link to a fully interactive map, allowing students and visitors to scan and navigate directly from their phones - no app required.
3. Student Course Classroom Wayfinding Integration with Ellucian: OCC integrated MazeMap into the student’s class schedule with Ellucian’s Experience platform, enabling students to receive personalized routes to their next class directly from their student portal.

The Results

Enhanced Student Experience

Before MazeMap, students and parents roamed campus for directions, especially before the start of a semester. Now, they find their classrooms instantly via QR codes.

Cost Savings & Operational Efficiency

• OCC discontinued the costly practice of hiring staff to assist lost students.
• Estimated cost savings: thousands of dollars per semester.

Increased Campus Safety & Accessibility

Emergency preparedness
AEDs, fire extinguishers, and first aid kits are now mapped for quick access.

Inclusive navigation
Campus routes accommodate students with disabilities, ensuring equitable access for all.

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“MazeMap has completely transformed how students, staff, and visitors navigate our campuses. With five locations and over 2.5 million square feet of space, getting around used to be a challenge, especially at the start of each semester. Now, students can instantly find their classrooms through Ellucian Experience or by scanning a QR code on our digital signs. We’ve significantly reduced lost students, eliminated the need for additional staff to provide directions, and improved overall accessibility. MazeMap has been a game-changer for OCC.”

- Chuck Flagg, Executive Director, Technology Infrastructure, Oakland Community College

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