Case Studies

Streamlining Campus Operations for a Small College 

A small college was struggling to manage daily operations using a mix of emails, spreadsheets, and informal communication. Meal counts were often inaccurate, leading to excess food waste in the kitchen. Maintenance requests were easy to lose track of, and important community information like documents, events, or health notifications was scattered across inboxes. Most of the coordination fell to one dedicated administrator who was overwhelmed by the constant flow of requests and updates, leaving little time to focus on what mattered most: connecting with students. 

To bring order and visibility to campus operations, PowerApps911 built a custom community app using Microsoft Power Apps and SharePoint. The new system unified multiple processes into one centralized platform: 

• Meal Count Management: Students and faculty could sign out of meals or request special options such as vegetarian or sick meals, helping the kitchen prepare only what was needed and reduce waste. 

• Maintenance Requests: Issues like plumbing or lighting problems could be reported instantly and tracked through resolution. 

• Guest Tracking: Visitors could be logged easily, improving both hospitality and campus security. 

• Document and Calendar Sharing: Shared access to documents and event calendars kept everyone informed and organized. 

• Sick Notifications: Students and staff could quickly report illness or urgent needs, alerting staff immediately. 

• Administrative Dashboard: Staff gained real-time insight into requests, meal counts, and notifications for faster and more informed decisions. 

  
  

The app quickly became an essential part of campus life, and in one case, it made a life-saving difference. A student used the sick notification feature to request urgent help after feeling unwell. Because the system instantly alerted staff, he was quickly taken to urgent care, where doctors discovered he had appendicitis. The rapid response ensured he received the care he needed in time. 

Beyond the operational improvements, the solution transformed the role of the college administrator. Tasks that once consumed entire days are now managed effortlessly through a single dashboard. Instead of juggling messages and spreadsheets, they can focus on what they love: building relationships with students and fostering a stronger sense of community on campus. 

What This Means for Your Organization 

This type of solution shows how digital transformation can deliver both operational efficiency and human impact. By centralizing communication and automating everyday workflows, organizations can: 

• Improve responsiveness to urgent or time-sensitive needs. 

• Reduce administrative burden and increase focus on high-value work. 

• Eliminate waste through better resource tracking. 

• Build stronger, more connected communities. 

When the right tools empower people to spend less time managing logistics and more time making a difference, technology truly becomes a force for good.