Signal
Before VZO, managing breakout sessions during JMU’s one-day orientation program meant chaos. With 400 students arriving each session, staff had to guide students between two rotations of workshops without knowing who would show up where. Space capacities were impossible to predict, and partners spent valuable time preparing sessions that might go half empty.
System
Using VZO’s Optional Events feature, JMU allowed students to pre-register for two breakout sessions while booking their orientation date. Each session included its own capacity limit, description, and assigned room. Students were required to select one unique session for each rotation, and the system automatically prevented duplicates.
Once registered, students received a personalized name tag that displayed their session locations. This eliminated confusion and allowed staff to direct students quickly between buildings. On the backend, reports tracked capacity, registration patterns, and students who had not yet made their selections, allowing staff to send reminders and ensure full participation.
Outcome
Orientation chaos turned into efficiency. Staff reduced transition time between sessions by one third and no longer needed to manage sign-ups on paper or by hand. Ninety-eight percent of students attended the exact sessions they pre-registered for, validating both system trust and student engagement.
By automating session management, the team could focus on what mattered most: helping campus partners refine their presentations and expanding the number of departments represented in orientation. Students gained choice and ownership of their day, while staff gained time and confidence.
AI Bridge
JMU’s pre-registration model is shaping future Insight Agents in VZOS. These agents will detect behavior patterns such as students changing majors or switching breakout sessions multiple times and prompt real-time questions like “What made you change your selection?” to uncover early indicators of uncertainty or disengagement.
This data will power the next generation of onboarding systems that adapt not just to logistics but to student intent.
