Eastern Mennonite University

Rooted and Ready: How Eastern Mennonite University Strengthened Campus Connection with AIScreen

The Challenge

 

EMU’s values-driven campus lacked a consistent way to share updates. Paper flyers and word-of-mouth announcements caused students to miss key events, service opportunities, and support resources.

The Solution

AIScreen brought clarity to campus communications. Screens in dining halls, residence lobbies, and ministry spaces delivered tailored updates, from devotionals and event listings to student-led content.

The Impact

  • Upto 31% increase in campus event attendance, especially for multi-department and wellness-related events.

  • Nearly 36% improvement in student awareness of support services, including counseling, academic help, and financial aid.

  • Upto 23% increase in ministry and volunteer program participation, driven by timely, visual reminders in shared spaces.

 

Nearly 65% reduction in printed materials, aligning with EMU’s sustainability goals and saving staff time.

“AIScreen became a way for students to feel truly seen. It wasn’t just about telling them what was happening, it was about acknowledging their presence and experiences. Every update, celebration, and reminder spoke directly to them. In that way, AIScreen became a bridge of belonging on our campus.”
Rev. Dr. Shannon W. Dycus, Dean of Students
Eastern Mennonite University

About Eastern Mennonite University

At Eastern Mennonite University, community comes first.

 


Nestled in the Shenandoah Valley, EMU is known for its values-driven education, where students are more than numbers, and classrooms extend far beyond four walls. But even in this close-knit setting, something was missing.

 

Between paper flyers, overloaded inboxes, and word-of-mouth updates, too many important moments were getting lost. Chapel events, volunteer opportunities, club meetings, mental health resources, students wanted to engage, but didn’t always know where to start.

 

That’s when EMU turned to AIScreen, to make connection easier, deeper, and more visible.

A Community-Oriented Campus Needing a Clearer Voice

EMU’s culture runs on intentionality, whether it’s practicing restorative justice, serving globally, or simply showing up for each other. See the broader model in our university digital signage solution. Content is created and scheduled from one AIScreen digital signage platform.

 

But as the student body grew more diverse and digital-first, traditional communication channels started to fall short:

 

  • Printed posters were outdated the moment they went up

  • Students missed service learning opportunities and deadlines

  • Campus-wide unity was harder to maintain across departments

 

“We didn’t want more noise,” said the Director of Campus Ministries, Brian Martin Burkholder. “We wanted more clarity, and a way to make the invisible visible.”

 

And so a new question emerged:

 

“How do we bring our values to life on every wall and walkway?”

Discovering AIScreen: A Mission-Aligned Solution

EMU discovered AIScreen through a faculty member who had seen it in use at another faith-based university. What resonated was the balance between structure and storytelling, the ability to share everything from class registration updates to campus prayers, all from one place.

 

It was technology that didn’t feel cold. It felt human.

 

“We didn’t want to turn our campus into Times Square,” said the VP of Student Life, Rev. Dr. Shannon W. Dycus. “We wanted a tool that reflected who we are: thoughtful, connected, student-centered.”

 

AIScreen’s clean layouts, localized scheduling, and shared control made it the perfect fit.

 

Rollout: From Chapel Hall to the Café Line

EMU launched a pilot in the heart of campus, installing screens in:

 

  • The dining commons, for events and student-led sustainability tips

  • Residence hall lobbies, with daily devotionals, floor announcements, and community rules

  • Academic buildings, featuring registration deadlines, speaker series, and alumni spotlights

  • Campus ministry spaces, showcasing worship schedules, scripture, and service opportunities

 

Departments could easily update content while adhering to EMU’s branding and tone. Student leaders even got access to submit digital flyers for approval, bringing their voice to the screens.

 

“Seeing my event on the screen made it feel real,” said one student senator. “It gave it energy.”

 

“We didn’t want more noise, We wanted more clarity, and a way to make the invisible visible.”

Director of Campus Ministries, Brian Martin Burkholder.

Eastern Mennonite University

Outcomes That Went Beyond Communication

In the first full academic year of AIScreen implementation, EMU saw a series of measurable improvements:

  • Eastern Mennonite University
    31%
    Event attendance rose by 31%, especially for events previously relying on flyers or word-of-mouth announcements.
  • Eastern Mennonite University
    36%
    Support service awareness improved by 36%, with more students proactively seeking out counseling, tutoring, and financial aid resources after seeing reminders across campus
  • Eastern Mennonite University
    23%
    Ministry and community service participation increased by 23%, thanks to consistent visibility in dining and residential spaces.
  • Eastern Mennonite University
    65%
    Printed flyer usage dropped by nearly 65%, cutting down significantly on paper waste and aligning with EMU’s environmental values.

Next Steps: Deepening Digital Belonging

EMU is now planning its next wave of digital transformation:

 

  • Adding screens to the university chapel, with rotating schedules and scripture reflections

  • Using AIScreen to display study abroad highlights and global peacebuilding updates

  • Incorporating student art and creative writing into screen content rotations

  • Collaborating with alumni relations to showcase stories of purpose and impact

 

For a university that leads with values, AIScreen became more than a messaging tool. It became a digital extension of EMU’s heart.

 

“It didn’t change who we are,” said one faculty leader. “It amplified it, quietly, clearly, and beautifully.

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