Indiana State University's virtual campus tour

ISU is going virtual when it comes to recruiting future Sycamores.

The ceo... good evening and thanks you for joining us.

We'll have much more on regional hospital's announcement that just came down... but first college's are scrambling tonight.

They're trying to bring in new students... with campuses shut down to visitors... colleges need to find ways to attract an incoming class... that's as they shelter in place at the same time.

News 10's sarah lehman is live in our newsroom tonight.

She explains how indiana state university is going "virtual" to bridge the gap.

Future sycamores are getting a feel of campus a little different.

Right from their computer screens.

Take a look at this.

It's an entire virtual tour of the campus.

It's how i-s-u is helping students get a feel for their school even the midst of a pandemic.

At a time when campus would be crawiling with activity... right now -- it's more of a ghost town.

"typically aprils a very busy month for us."

Indiana state university officials saw this coming and started working on what they were going to do for their future.

"really sitting back and watching this crisis and pandemic unfold and what did this mean for higher education and indiana state."

Jason trainer the vice provost for enrollment management at isu says they started looking virtually.

Nats of tou} this is how indiana state university is working to recruit new students during this pandemic.

"they're really making this decision in just a different way than we've ever really historically asked of them."

Because -- for the health and safety of everyone -- prospective students can't visit campus like they normally would.

"it's just pushing us to be innovative.

We know that students and families see the disadvantage and they can't visit our campus and they see the fear and frusturation with all that is going on, but a positive is we have access to 'em."

Trainer says future students can virtually tour all parts of the campus... set up meetings and talk with advisers... and even get their financial aid questions answered.

He says it has the same aspects as a college tour -- just from your computer.

"this has never happened before and we're really in uncharted territory and we're still open and we're still very busy.

It looks a little different" trainer told me the changes don't stop there.

They are looking at launching more things to help engage current and future students at indiana state.

Reporting live in the newsroom.

Sarah lehman news 10 back to you.