The Connected

Campus Has
Arrived
The Internet of Things is a
reality at higher education
institutions throughout
the country.

1
 INTRODUCTION
At colleges and universities across the country, the notion of
leveraging Internet of Things (IoT) technologies to connect IoT AND HIGHER EDUCATION STRATEGIC PLANS
campus systems and modernize services is critical to
improve the student experience. Creating these “smart
campuses” is no longer an aspirational goal. It’s a reality.

Today, more than three-quarters of colleges and universities

(77 percent) are smart campuses — or are well on their
way to becoming so, according to an October 2018
Center for Digital Education (CDE) survey of more than
130 IT and academic higher education leaders.
25% 12% 6%
IN STRATEGIC PLANS FOR IN STRATEGIC PLANS JUST ADDED TO
3+ YEARS FOR 1 TO 3 YEARS STRATEGIC PLANS
Connected systems are automating the complexities of
facilities management, helping officials keep campuses safe

18% 11% 28%

and providing real-time information to students accustomed to
getting it quickly in every other aspect of their always-online lives.

“Students want things right away; they want 24-hour

access; and they want it everywhere on campus,” says
Jim Jorstad, director of client services at the University
of Wisconsin-La Crosse and CDE senior fellow. DISCUSSING ADDING TO THERE ARE DISCUSSIONS DON’T
STRATEGIC PLANS AROUND IOT IN OUR KNOW
Some institutions have embedded technology in their stadiums
STRATEGIC PLANS
that helps spectators find their seats and measures the noise
intensity of specific sections. Others have implemented Source: CDE IoT survey, October 2018
geospatial technology that allows students to receive texts
as they walk across campus, alerting them to nearby events
that are relevant to their majors or interests. Many institutions
have even made IoT part of their curriculum, becoming had IoT initiatives in their strategic plans for more than
research hubs for technologies that will find their way three years. Only 11 percent say there are no discussions
into other industries, including autonomous vehicles and about adding IoT to strategic plans on their campuses.
analytics solutions powered by artificial intelligence (AI).
Most higher education institutions began their IoT journeys
As the number of connected devices worldwide has in their facilities departments, implementing connected
skyrocketed into the tens of billions, weaving them into sensors to monitor and control HVAC and lighting systems.
campus systems and structures in meaningful and secure To help ensure student safety, higher education leaders are
ways can be a challenge for higher education leaders, also looking to solutions like smart building access controls,
particularly when they must also manage another set of internet-connected security cameras and emergency notification
“things” — the phones, tablets, laptops, gaming consoles systems that take advantage of the connected devices students
and other devices that students bring with them to school. carry — including mobile phones, tablets and laptops.

This white paper examines the current state of IoT in While IoT solutions focused on security and facilities are
higher education, outlines the potential of the technology popular on campuses, gaps between the perceived benefits
and offers key issues that leaders must keep in mind of IoT technology and its present-day implementation
as they continue their connected campus efforts. persist in other areas. For example, improved data analytics
was cited as the top perceived benefit by more than two-
thirds (67 percent) of all CDE survey respondents, yet
THE STATE OF IOT IN HIGHER EDUCATION only 18 percent reported using data analytics solutions to
The Internet of Things isn’t just well-entrenched at most colleges manage the data collected by their connected devices.
and universities. As institutions compete for students and
work to contain costs, it’s also become a strategic priority. In similar fashion, nearly one-third of survey respondents
(29 percent) cited the value of smart signage and other
Nearly half (43 percent) of CDE survey respondents to the technologies to manage traffic flow, but fewer than 10 percent
October survey said IoT or connected campus initiatives are of campuses use smart traffic signs or lights and smart
part of their institutions’ strategic plan; another 18 percent parking meters. And notably, a host of learning-related benefits
said their institutions are discussing IoT initiatives as part were cited by more than half of all respondents, but those
of their planning process. One-quarter (25 percent) have technologies remain in their infancy on many campuses.

2
 PROCESS SENSOR DATA
TOP IoT TECHNOLOGIES IN USE TODAY
18%
EMERGENCY/MASS NOTIFICATION SYSTEMS OUTDOOR ENVIRONMENTAL SENSORS
66% 17%
BUILDING SENSORS TO CONTROL HVAC/LIGHTING GEOSPATIAL TECHNOLOGY
60% 14%
IP-BASED VIDEO SURVEILLANCE/SECURITY CAMERAS AI SOLUTIONS
51% 11%
SMART ID BADGES FOR STUDENTS/STAFF SMART PARKING METERS
44% 8%
SMART BUILDING ACCESS CONTROLS SMART TRAFFIC SIGNS OR LIGHTS
42% 6%
SMART OUTDOOR LIGHTING DRIVERLESS VEHICLES
27% 4%
AUTOMATED RETAIL/VENDING SYSTEMS NONE OF THE ABOVE
21% 2%
Source: CDE IoT survey, October 2018

“There’s been far less activity on the academic side, except front desk only need to ask for ID from people who
on the periphery of the student experience,” says Dr. the system doesn’t recognize. It’s a solution that helps
Steven Zink, former vice chancellor for the Nevada System increase security without overburdening campus staff.1
of Higher Education and current CDE senior fellow.
FACILITIES MANAGEMENT. The idea of centrally controlling
HVAC and lighting systems predates the internet, with
EVOLVING USE CASES controllers once linked via dial-up or wired connections. But
As higher education institutions continue to connect today’s data-informed IoT technologies create new possibilities
their campuses, new technologies and strategies to save money and improve the campus experience. At the
are changing how IoT is unfolding in key areas. University of British Columbia (UBC), Wi-Fi access points
across campus track when people come and go — data that
PHYSICAL SAFETY AND SECURITY. While no single is analyzed and used to automate temperature and other
technology can completely safeguard campuses, higher settings in facilities. The practice allows
education institutions have implemented a range of the campus to save energy and
IoT-focused solutions, from smart ID cards and limit greenhouse gas emissions,
access controls to emergency notification systems. which is critical because UBC
And increasingly, traditional security technologies, has some of the most ambitious
from internet-connected security cameras to in-car climate targets of any public
computers and body cameras, are connected to organization in the world.
the same smart networks as other IoT devices.

The advent of new technology is also allowing institutions

to find new approaches to age-old challenges, such
as safeguarding access to student spaces. The
University of San Francisco (USF), for example,
has connected cameras supplementing security
checks at dorm entrances. But to help ensure
only authorized people enter the buildings, the
college also uses facial recognition technology
to identify which students are residents.

Campus leaders say students’ faces work like

an “access card,” so that individuals at the

3
 To date, these systems have resulted in a 33 percent do better in their classes, Forecast analyzes students’ use
reduction in greenhouse gas emissions and hundreds of wireless access points and smart card swipes at the
of thousands of dollars of savings annually.2 gym, residence halls and dining facilities.5 At the same time,
geolocation technologies help campus leaders track student
THE CAMPUS EXPERIENCE. With each student arriving attendance and provide opportunities for faculty and staff
on campus with as many as seven connected devices, to intervene when students routinely miss classes or other
campus leaders are managing an “Internet of Things” learning opportunities that put them at risk of failing out.
whether they intend to or not. Doing so requires a
robust network with wireless access points wherever
students may want to connect. But the opportunities BUILDING A SMART CAMPUS
to improve the always-connected student experience Creating a smart campus from these discrete IoT
have expanded to include providing students with technologies requires a vision centered in the student
information when and where they need it. experience — what students expect and need to be
successful. It also requires careful consideration of a
Wayfinding stations and beacons can help students range of change management, technology and policy
navigate around campus. Particularly on campuses with issues, including:
large commuter populations, smart traffic lights and parking
solutions can reduce congestion and even allow students IMPLEMENTATION APPROACHES. Some institutions manage
to reserve parking places. Some institutions are moving IoT and smart campus initiatives centrally (often through the
information even closer to students. St. Louis University (SLU) IT department), while others allow individual departments
in Missouri placed 2,300 Amazon Echo Dot smart speakers and programs to experiment with and add smart technology
in each dorm room on campus, with a customized version as the need arises. Nearly half of CDE survey respondents
of Amazon’s Alexa smart assistant programmed to answer (46 percent) said their institutions are undertaking a more
student questions about facility operating hours, athletics unified approach to IoT adoption, while slightly fewer (40
and event schedules, as well as other aspects of student life. percent) said their institutions are more likely to allow
departments to adopt technology on an as-needed basis.
Campus leaders note that every minute they can save
students from having to search for the information Respondents cited standardization across departments
they need online is another minute students can as a way to reduce training and maintenance costs,
instead spend focused on their education.3 but many stressed the benefits of both approaches.

STUDENT SUCCESS. Always-available digital resources help

students collaborate with each other as they learn, though
providing such resources in
classroom and lab settings STRATEGIES FOR IoT IMPLEMENTATION
is sometimes a challenge.

For example, leaders at SOMEWHAT

Purdue University note that AS-NEEDED - 23%
a room with 500 students
could easily have 1,200 or SOMEWHAT
1,300 devices competing for UNIFIED - 23%
wireless traffic. Additionally,
new scientific machinery and
other systems can create
masses of data very rapidly.4
MOSTLY
AS-NEEDED - 17%
At the same time,
institutions can
apply analytics to
this data and help DON’T KNOW - 10%
MOSTLY/COMPLETELY
students learn in new
ways. For example, Purdue
UNIFIED - 23%
built an app called Forecast NOT APPLICABLE - 4%
that gives students information
about their behaviors and
performance. Based on data Source: CDE IoT survey, October 2018
showing that engaged students

4
“Unified approaches might prove efficiencies of scale
and more deliberate decision-making,” one said. “As-
needed approaches might happen more quickly.”

“I think a balance of the two is ideal,” another respondent

added. “There should be an overall plan, which assists WHAT’S NEXT: PLANNED IoT TECHNOLOGIES
in keeping costs as low as possible, but at the same time
there needs to be flexibility for special circumstances.”
SMART CLASSROOM TECHNOLOGIES
NETWORKING NEEDS. Regardless of approach, 31%
growing numbers of connected devices require a COLLABORATION TOOLS
comprehensive and planned approach ensures an
institution’s networks can accommodate them.
22%
IP-BASED BUILDING VIDEO SURVEILLANCE CAMERAS
IT officials must examine their existing networking 19%
infrastructures to determine whether their capacity can
handle a range of connected devices — sensors, cameras, SMART IDS/BADGES FOR STUDENTS/FACULTY
video, student devices and more. Location also matters: 17%
An early challenge for colleges and universities adding
SMART BUILDING ACCESS CONTROLS
sensors and smart controllers to HVAC systems was that
many were in Wi-Fi inaccessible locations. As universities 17%
begin experimenting with autonomous technologies like AI
driverless vehicles, though, it will become important to
ensure networks blanket the entire campus with enough
14%
capacity to stream large amounts of data in real time. BUILDING SENSORS
13%
It also will become critical to find ways to automate
network management. Emerging AI and machine learning DATA ANALYTICS PLATFORMS
technologies will make this job easier for IT officials 12%
and help ensure that finite bandwidth is maximized.
EMERGENCY NOTIFICATION SYSTEMS
SECURITY NEEDS. More than half — 60 percent — of 12%
campuses reported a data breach in the past year, OUTDOOR ENVIRONMENTAL SENSORS
according to a 2018 survey.6 On smart campuses, each
new connected device represents another possible point
10%
of entry that needs to be secured. Connected sensors and GEOSPATIAL TECHNOLOGY
other smart campus devices must be configured to use 8%
strong passwords — and, importantly, not their factory default
passwords. Networking solutions with security features SMART TRAFFIC SIGNS/LIGHTS
built into core technology such as routers and switches can 7%
simplify the process, and, as with network management,
SMART OUTDOOR LIGHTING
emerging AI and machine learning technologies can
help keep information secure across the network. 7%
SMART PARKING METERS
It’s also important to help students secure their own
connected devices. The University of Wisconsin-La Crosse
6%
provides incoming students with a sheet of cybersecurity DRIVERLESS VEHICLES
tips as part of the check-in process, according to Jorstad. 6%
As real-world security solutions are intertwined with smart AUTOMATED RETAIL/VENDING
campus initiatives, additional security considerations 6%
must be taken into account. For example, the sensitive
OTHER/NONE
biometric data needed for next-generation security
solutions bring with them stricter security requirements. 10%
It’s also important to check that cybersecurity insurance DON’T KNOW
and other risk-management policies extend to embedded
systems and IoT devices, according to Zink, former vice
40%
chancellor for the Nevada System of Higher Education. Source: CDE IoT survey, October 2018

5
IoT on Better Manage Your Facilities & Improve S
Inefficient or unnecessary use of facilities can add costs that quickly
escalate due to the scale of campus infrastructure.

Campus:
The University of British Columbia uses Cisco Wi-Fi access points
as a sensor network to connect to building control systems and
easily adjust lighting and heating according to demand. Implemented
campus-wide, this saves hundreds of thousands of dollars a year and

Higher Ed
dramatically decreases energy use.1

Help Your Students Succeed

Gets Smarter IoT technologies can link class attendance, participation in activities
and more to provide insights on student learning and engagement.
Some universities are getting students’ permission to track their atten-
dance with geolocation via devices. With this data, they can identify

I
signs that a student is struggling and intervene before they unenroll.
n many ways, college campuses are the ultimate
environment for the IoT to flourish. They operate much
like small cities — with buildings and other facilities,
transportation systems, waste and recycling, security
personnel and more — and their inhabitants are digital
Create a Better Campus Experience
natives who thrive on using technology to go about their Incoming students expect a digital, connected campus with ubiquitous
Wi-Fi, context-aware services and more.
daily lives or solve problems.
Many campus IT and academic leaders are Deakin University in Australia uses IoT technologies from Cisco to create
already taking advantage of this unique position. a smart campus that “knows who you are, knows where you are, and
can deliver you the right information at the right time and the right
In the October 2018 CDE survey, 77 percent of experiences at the right time.”2
respondents said their campus was already “smart”
or “connected,” or it was in progress. More than
one-third said IoT had been part of their strategic
plan for more than a year. Increase Physical Safety & Security
See how IoT can help you transform your campus. Safety and security is the No. 1 priority for campus leaders —
IoT technologies serve as a force multiplier to minimize threats.

The University of San Francisco uses Cisco video surveillance

and facial recognition technology to distinguish between campus
residents and visitors.3

1. https://www.cisco.com/c/en/us/solutions/industries/education/connected-campus.html#~-
stickynav=2?socialshare=lightbox-cs Streamline Campus Traffic
2. https://www.cisco.com/c/en/us/about/case-studies-customer-success-stories/university-british-colum-
bia.html?socialshare=vjs_video_3 Stalled traffic and the inability to find a parking spot frustrates
3. https://video.cisco.com/detail/video/4263245195001 students and campus visitors and increases greenhouse gases.
Sustainability
58% of IT and
administrative campus
leaders say IoT technologies
like smart buildings and
utility monitoring are a key
benefit for campuses.

56% say IoT

helps improve academic
administration.

55% say IoT

helps them create a better
experience for prospective
and current students.

54% say IoT

technologies like IP video
surveillance cameras and
smart lighting can help
make students, faculty and
staff safer.

29% say IoT

technologies like smart
signage help them better
manage traffic flow.
POLICY AND PRIVACY ISSUES. Greater public understanding will be developed and used regularly on college and
of the need to keep campuses secure has helped temper university campuses. In the more immediate future, CDE
heated concerns about privacy — once-contentious issues survey respondents identified one area as having the
like the presence of security cameras are becoming more greatest potential for growth — teaching and learning,
accepted, as individuals trade privacy for security. However, where smart campus solutions have lagged.
as campuses collect more personal information about
students’ whereabouts and habits, they need to develop That appears to be changing. The two most commonly
and communicate strong privacy policies that encourage cited planned technologies focus squarely on
students to share information in ways that will help them. teaching and learning, with more than half of survey
Purdue’s Forecast app, for example, includes a lengthy respondents (53 percent) planning to acquire new
discussion about how — and why — data is collected, and smart classroom technologies or collaboration tools.
gives students the option of opting out completely.
As these new technologies proliferate, tomorrow’s connected
campuses will become smarter, safer, more secure and more
LOOKING AHEAD suited to the needs of each student. To get there, institutions
The number of devices connected to IP networks should ensure their networks are capable of evolving as
will be three times as high as the global population technology evolves and have a team of experts in place who
in 2021, according to Cisco.7 Many of those devices understand how best to implement and leverage new tools.

ENDNOTES
1. https://www.cisco.com/c/dam/en/us/products/collateral/physical-security/video-surveillance-manager/c36-733333-00-usf.pdf
2. https://www.cisco.com/c/en/us/about/case-studies-customer-success-stories/university-british-columbia.html
3. https://www.slu.edu/news/2018/august/slu-alexa-project.php
4. https://video.cisco.com/detail/video/5627140182001/purdue-university
5. https://www.academicforecast.org/about
6. https://www.cdw.com/content/cdw/en/newsroom/securing-higher-education.html; https://edtechmagazine.com/higher/article/2018/03/how-get-vital-cyberse-
curity-messages-resonate-higher-ed
7. https://www.cisco.com/c/en/us/solutions/collateral/service-provider/visual-networking-index-vni/complete-white-paper-c11-481360.pdf

PRODUCED BY: SPONSORED BY:

The Center for Digital Education is a national research and advisory Cisco solutions are building digital colleges and universities
institute specializing in K-12 and higher education technology so campuses are connected, educators are empowered,
trends, policy and funding. The Center provides education and administrators are informed, and students can learn without limits.
industry leaders with decision support and actionable insight to
Learn more at cisco.com/go/education.
help effectively incorporate new technologies in the 21st century.
www.centerdigitaled.com

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