New video series showcases flexibility, support and innovation

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Davenport University has emerged as a trailblazer in an era when education is expected to be as mobile and flexible as the students going after it. The university, which has been a national leader in online learning for more than two decades, has launched a new creative campaign that challenges outdated perceptions of virtual education and reaffirms the strength and flexibility of Davenport’s Global Campus. 

The creative video campaign spotlights Davenport’s flexible and human approach to online learning. The campaign was spearheaded by Kate Barch, director of Marketing at the university, in partnership with Benjamin Huff of Huff Creative.  Barch said the campaign centers on a powerful theme: online education that fits into students’ lives and not the other way around. 

“We wanted to break down the stereotypes and misperceptions surrounding online education,” Barch said. “Our goal was to highlight the human side of online learning and the faculty, staff and students who make the experience meaningful, supportive and successful.”

Davenport was one of the first to offer online degree programs in Michigan more than 20 years ago. The university continues its leadership in the online space, expanding its digital offerings and investing in instructional quality, accessibility and personalized support. 

“Students today are balancing a wide range of responsibilities–careers, families and other personal commitments,” Barch said. “They need options, and our model gives them the power to choose how and when they learn.” 

Davenport’s Global Campus offers flexible learning formats through its Online+ model:

• On-demand: Fully asynchronous courses that fit any schedule
• Livestream: Weekly real-time classes for more structured learning
• Flex: A hybrid option that allows students to move between formats
• Blended: Offered in seven-week courses, a combination of in-person or on-demand

Davenport partnered with Huff to bring this message of flexibility and support to students in a creative way. 

“The overall goal with the video series was to shift the general perspective of online education,” Huff said. “Davenport is different and offers education that fits into your life, not the other way around. As a director, my goal was for people from different walks of life to envision themselves succeeding with the university’s Global Campus options.”

The campaign centers around three videos. The first video, produced by Huff, showcases three unique student profiles: a busy parent, the free spirit and the business professional–all finding flexibility and support through Davenport’s Global Campus. The other two, produced internally, offer deeper insights into how Davenport prioritizes the student experience. 

• Hear from faculty.
• Hear from students. 

On a modest budget with a generous amount of creativity, Huff crafted a cinematic experience, speaking directly to today’s learner. The production team turned a Davenport conference room into both an airport terminal and a hotel suite using DIY LED wall technology inspired by Disney’s The Mandalorian. 

“Through real set design, props and a wall of 4K TVs, we built two different scenes, an airport and a hotel, in the middle of a Davenport meeting room,” Huff explained. “We knew the airport and hotel scenes were critical to telling the story that Davenport’s online education can follow you wherever life takes you.” 

Barch said the campaign reflects her first conversation with Brian Miller, the dean of Davenport’s Global Campus, who is featured in one of the videos.

“What struck me most is that Brian didn’t talk about the latest technology, he talked about people,” Barch said. “He explained the Global Campus team is dedicated to providing a fully flexible, fully supportive college experience online. That inspired our goal to break down misperceptions surrounding online education and to highlight the human aspect of online education at Davenport.”

The Global Campus offers six start dates per year and the campaign aligns with the university’s highest enrollment season in the fall. Students can expect full virtual support with advising, tutoring, tech help and career services.

Barch and Huff agree that this campaign is not just about visibility, it is about individual possibilities.

“We want people to walk away from these videos knowing that Davenport’s online education fits them and their lifestyles,” said Huff. “Viewers should feel empowered to believe they don’t have to conform to a traditional educational path to reach their goals.” 

Barch added, “Davenport prioritizes the student experience. Whether you’re earning a degree in-seat or online, from a classroom in Michigan or a beach in Mexico, you’ll receive the same personalized support, career-focused curriculum and the flexibility that define the Davenport experience.”

Here’s a behind-the-scenes look in the creation of the videos.