UNC Chapel Hill: Redesigning the Student App Experience
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Reimagining the Student Experience Starts With Design
UNC Chapel Hill listened to student feedback and transformed its app into Hello Heels—a modern, personalized hub for academics, services, and campus life. The redesign brought fresh design, smarter personalization, and record-setting adoption.
Inside the case study, you’ll discover:
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2.5 million+ page views in just two months: Rapid proof of student adoption and engagement.
- Eliminated a third-party software license—saving the university $40K annually.
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Thousands of new students onboarded during orientation: The app became their first stop for schedules, maps, and campus resources.
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One unified experience: Personalized quick links and Canvas LMS integration surfaced what mattered most to each student.
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Positive student buzz: From campus-wide digital signage to praise on Reddit, Hello Heels made an instant impression.
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Brand alignment + usability: New icons, navigation, and layouts gave UNC a student-first, mobile-first digital front door.
"The Modo team, and student input on the app redesign, have both been key to our success. I have really enjoyed working with Modo, and the app is an essential part of our campus culture in a way we haven’t seen before – all to enhance how we support student life at Carolina."
- Elizabeth Poindexter, Executive Director of Communications and Special Projects in Student Affairs
Why Download This Case Study?
A campus app isn’t just software—it’s the heartbeat of the student experience. With the right campus app design and data-driven personalization, it becomes a tool students want to use every day and increases student engagement.
Get the tools you need to take action with this case study. Inside, you’ll learn how UNC redesigned its app based on student feedback, eliminated costly third-party tools, and drove millions of interactions in weeks. You’ll also gain insights on how to build a business case for investing in student-centered design at your institution.
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