Mr. Evan Gappelberg reports

GEORGE MASON UNIVERSITY TEAM DEVELOPS SUCCESSFUL AUGMENTED REALITY CAMPUS TOUR FOR TRANSFER STUDENTS USING ARWAY.AI

ARway Corp. has provided an update on the success of its pilot with George Mason University. The initiative, aimed at launching an augmented reality app for first-generation Advance students, has achieved significant milestones and will be extended into 2025.

In a pioneering initiative, George Mason University, in collaboration with ARway, is developing a smart phone app to support first-generation Advance students through an augmented reality (AR) campus tour. Designed to ease the transition for students transferring from Northern Virginia Community College (NOVA), the app offers a virtual tour of George Mason's Fairfax Campus, addressing a significant need for clear navigation and community integration for incoming students.

The AR tour, led by project co-directors Prof. Kelly Schrum and Prof. Graziella Pagliarulo McCarron, both professors at George Mason University, leverages ARway's cutting-edge technology. The app provides interactive GPS tracking, indoor visual positioning and an intuitive geolocation feature, enabling students to navigate campus facilities, such as gender-neutral bathrooms, elevators and student support centres, with ease. This effort aims to reduce the anxiety of navigating a new campus and foster a sense of belonging for students.

"The app makes it simple for students to find the resources they need, guiding them from one location to another," said Schrum, a professor in the higher education program. "It's especially helpful for locating essential services in the Student Union Building (SUB I), which houses the Mason Student Services Center, Student Health Services and more."

Currently in development, the app will be expanded from Sub I to additional campus locations, including Fenwick Library and the Johnson Center. Funded by George Mason's Office of the Provost and the state-supported 4-VA@Mason initiative, this project aligns with the Advance program's mission: creating a seamless path for community college students to transition to four-year institutions.

Janette Muir, vice-provost for academic affairs and 4-VA@Mason director, emphasizes the transformative impact this project will have on students' campus experience. "This AR tool will empower students to navigate and connect with their new academic environment, reducing the feeling of disorientation and helping them focus on their academic journey," said Ms. Muir.

Students and staff from George Mason, including several who are first in their family to attend college, have contributed research and user feedback. Team instructional designer Mariya Khan, who recently presented on AR and gamification, noted, "As a first-generation American, I understand the importance of creating resources that help students feel engaged and part of the university community."

Veronica Visser, a master's student in higher education and leadership and first-generation international student from Paraguay, shared her enthusiasm for the project. "The app will provide access to resources and services that many students may not realize are available to support them, both academically and personally," she said.

Schrum expressed optimism about the potential of expanding the project to benefit other underrepresented groups on campus, underscoring the broader mission to foster inclusivity and student success.

About ARway Corp.

ARway is a spatial computing platform powered by artificial intelligence (AI) providing an array of augmented reality (AR) experiences for indoor spaces.

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