Open AV in Higher Education: The Future of Campus AV Systems

Walk into any campus AV department today, and you’ll see a patchwork of platforms: one for monitoring, another for control, and maybe a third for scheduling. Each tool operates in its own silo, creating complexity for IT and AV teams already stretched thin. That’s why the higher ed AV community is rallying around a new concept: Open AV in higher education.

On the latest episode of EdTech, panelists explored what open AV could mean for universities and why the push for cloud-based monitoring and management is gaining traction.

“Sixty percent of people surveyed said they use some kind of cloud-based monitoring,” noted Scott Tiner of Bates College. “What are the other 40% doing? … It’s very clear that those of us who build and use these systems really want this open AV, single pane of glass.” For higher ed institutions balancing thousands of classrooms, consolidation isn’t just convenient, it’s critical to academic continuity.

Home Grown Solutions

Ernie Bailey from UAMS highlighted how open systems directly support proactive service. “We’re developing our own single pane of glass for our classrooms right now. Not only can we see what’s going on, we can touch it right there and solve problems before the instructor knows there’s an issue.” Preventative maintenance like this ensures technology never becomes the barrier to teaching and learning.

At large, decentralized universities, the challenge is even greater. “At Ohio State, we’re decentralized,” explained Andy Vogel. “What we use doesn’t necessarily mean what Arts and Sciences uses. It would be great to have an open thing that still allows us to be decentralized but also have a common tool. That allows us to have a common language and ultimately deliver white glove service all across the board.” In other words, open AV in higher education is about consistency, even across fragmented organizations.

Still, there are hurdles. “Anytime we purchase pretty much any product that has cloud in it, our networking team has an extra set of questions,” said Erin Maher-Moran of Johns Hopkins University. “I get that, because when you introduce a cloud system into campus infrastructure, it raises red flags. But the demand is there, and end users are getting more vocal about it.”

Demand for Open AV in Higher Education

That demand could be the catalyst higher ed needs. For manufacturers, the message is clear: the walled garden approach is running up against its limits. As more universities adopt cloud-first strategies, decision-makers will look for AV partners who can integrate seamlessly, respect data governance, and empower IT/AV teams to deliver reliable classroom experiences.

As Bailey summed it up: “They insist that everyone else let them touch their things, but they don’t want anyone touching theirs.” That tension may well determine whether the next decade of higher education AV is defined by silos or by open, interoperable ecosystems that truly serve students and faculty alike.

To listen to the full episode of EDTech 133 click here.