Case Study: Purdue University achieves seamless student orientation at scale with Guidebook

Purdue University welcomes 8,000 students with Guidebook and 600K+ app sessions

Purdue University faced the challenge of onboarding 8,000 new students through its optional Boiler Gold Rush (BGR) orientation program without overwhelming staff or budget, while still providing a personalized, high-touch experience for a digital-first generation. The university partnered with the vendor Guidebook to replace outdated printed materials and simplify the complex logistics of the multi-day event.

Using the Guidebook platform, Purdue created a branded app called Purdue Guide that served as a single source of truth for students. The app provided personalized, real-time schedules, which were promoted through QR codes on everything from students' beds to the stadium scoreboard. The solution delivered significant results for Guidebook's client, including over 600,000 app sessions in one week, a 75% participation rate for the optional program, and thousands of dollars saved by eliminating printed materials.

Purdue University