This year’s UNC Cause Conference, held from September 24–26, 2025, at the Wilmington Convention Center, marked a milestone for higher education innovation across North Carolina. With its vibrant mix of technology leaders, academic innovators, and digital transformation experts, the event offered more than just another stop on the conference circuit—it delivered a roadmap for what’s next in higher ed.
For Modo, this year’s UNC Cause wasn’t just a chance to showcase technology—it was an opportunity to connect deeply with institutions shaping the digital future of campus life. The energy was palpable, the conversations were forward-looking, and the value was undeniable. As Paul McDermott (Higher Education Executive) noted, “This was the best regional conference we’ve attended—both in terms of engagement and the meaningful conversations we had with institutions ready to enhance and simplify the student experience.”
From the inspiring UNC Chapel Hill HelloHeels case study to lively networking at the Modo Happy Hour, the week was full of insights, connection, and momentum that will carry far beyond Wilmington’s waterfront.
A Gathering of Innovators: The Spirit of UNC Cause
The UNC Cause Conference has long been known as one of the most collaborative and forward-thinking gatherings in higher education IT. Bringing together professionals from across the University of North Carolina system and beyond, it serves as a proving ground for the ideas, technologies, and partnerships that will shape the next generation of student engagement and campus connectivity.
Founded in 1970, the UNC Cause network began as a collaborative effort among the 16-campus University of North Carolina system—built on the belief that shared knowledge and innovation make us all stronger. At its core, UNC CAUSE remains committed to three things: advancing information technology, empowering campuses through collaboration, and accelerating the digital transformation that supports student success. The event felt less like a traditional conference and more like a movement—one where shared challenges become shared solutions, and collective progress becomes the standard.
This year’s event continued that legacy, but amplified. The 2025 conference, hosted September 24–26 at the Wilmington Convention Center, brought that cooperative spirit to life, uniting IT staff, digital experience leaders, and higher-ed change-makers from across the region. Over the course of three days, attendees explored how digital innovation, AI, and data-driven engagement are transforming the higher education landscape. From keynote sessions to casual hallway conversations, one sentiment echoed throughout: the future of student success depends on the ability to adapt, personalize, and connect.
For Modo, the conference represented more than participation: it was partnership. With a growing number of North Carolina institutions already using the Modo Campus platform to deliver mobile-first, integrated campus experiences, the conversations at UNC Cause reflected both pride in progress and excitement for what’s next.
Paul McDermott and Micaela Kobeissi, who represented Modo at the event, engaged with attendees on how digital platforms can serve as the connective tissue between students, faculty, and staff, bridging communication gaps and helping campuses evolve faster.
UNC Chapel Hill Takes the Spotlight: The HelloHeels Redesign
One of the most talked-about sessions at UNC Cause came from the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, which presented a powerful case study on their HelloHeels app redesign.
Originally launched in 2016 as CarolinaGo, the app began as a student government initiative built on Modo. Nearly a decade later, UNC’s team reimagined it as Hello Heels and transformed their digital campus to a modern, mobile-first platform designed to simplify campus life, unify resources, and serve as a digital companion for every student.
Hello Heels made its debut during New Student Orientation, replacing a standalone event app and saving the university more than $40,000 in printing and licensing costs. The redesign delivered a fresh interface, real-time updates, customizable checklists, and integrated tools like bus tracking, dining, and academic resources—all within one unified experience.
The results speak for themselves: since its June 2025 launch, Hello Heels has generated over 3.6 million page views, engaged 37,000+ unique users, and maintained 400+ active users at any given time. During the first six weeks, the app saw 100,000 weekly views, and an impressive 98% of users said they plan to keep using it.
Drawing a packed audience to their breakout session, the UNC Chapel Hill team shared how their redesign wasn’t just about aesthetics; it was about function, accessibility, and measurable impact. The results speak volumes:
- 2.5 million+ page views since launch
- $40,000 in cost savings through streamlined digital workflows
- A modernized experience that put student needs front and center
Behind those numbers was deep collaboration across Student Affairs, ITS, and student focus groups, ensuring the design reflected the true needs of the Carolina community. As a result, Hello Heels not only enhanced campus navigation and communication but also became a living example of how student-centered design and cross-campus teamwork can drive measurable impact.
Through their redesign, the Chapel Hill team demonstrated what’s possible when data, design, and strategy intersect. Their presentation resonated deeply with attendees because it represented the kind of transformation every institution strives for: not just modernizing for technology’s sake, but using digital tools to simplify processes, reduce costs, and deliver real value to students and staff alike.
UNC’s presentation captured the spirit of the entire conference: forward-thinking, data-driven, and human at its core. It proved that when institutions design with students, not just for them, engagement becomes effortless and lasting. When students can find what they need faster, they engage more deeply. And when institutions invest in seamless digital experiences, everyone benefits—from IT teams and faculty to prospective students exploring campus life for the first time.
Want to see the full Hello Heels story?
Explore our in-depth UNC-Chapel Hill Case Study to learn how the team behind Hello Heels transformed orientation, boosted engagement, and delivered 3.6M+ page views with a single redesign — all while saving over $40K.
From Conference Halls to Cocktails: The Modo Happy Hour
After a full day of sessions, panels, and networking, Modo extended the energy beyond the conference floor with a lively Happy Hour at Tequila’s Waterfront, just a few blocks from the convention center.
The event drew a crowd from across the state. With panoramic waterfront views, great food, and even better conversation, it was the perfect setting to unwind while continuing meaningful discussions about the future of digital campuses.
By the end of the evening, new connections were made, ideas were shared, and attendees left inspired to bring their own campus visions to life.
Trends and Takeaways: What Higher Ed Leaders Are Focusing On
Throughout UNC Cause, several recurring themes emerged—signaling where higher education is headed and how institutions can prepare.
1. The Student Experience Is the New Benchmark for Success
Students are redefining what it means to “attend” college. Flexibility, accessibility, and personalization are no longer perks—they’re expectations. As one attendee noted, “Our students don’t just compare us to other universities—they compare us to Amazon and Netflix.”
This shift underscores the need for campuses to deliver intuitive, mobile-first digital experiences that mirror the personalization and convenience students are accustomed to in every other aspect of their lives.
2. AI Is Becoming the Core of Campus Support
Conversations at the conference made it clear that AI is no longer an emerging trend—it’s an operational necessity. From automating student support to simplifying faculty workflows, AI-driven systems are making higher ed more efficient and equitable.
As Modo’s own work with institutions like UA–Pulaski Technical College has shown, intelligent automation can increase engagement, ease staff workload, and connect students to critical resources 24/7—all key components of retention and success.
3. Collaboration Is the Catalyst for Innovation
Institutions across the UNC system emphasized the importance of partnerships—both between campuses and with technology providers. Collaboration is what drives scalability, accelerates problem-solving, and prevents duplication of effort. The CAB-style exchange of insights and solutions at UNC Cause reflected this beautifully, reinforcing that shared learning is shared progress.
4. ROI and Real-World Outcomes Are Driving Decisions
In an era of constrained budgets and growing accountability, higher ed leaders are laser-focused on measurable impact. The UNC Chapel Hill case study exemplified how smart digital investments deliver both cost savings and engagement gains—metrics that resonate across leadership tiers.
As one attendee put it, “If a technology doesn’t make students’ lives easier or improve institutional efficiency, it’s not worth doing.”
AI, Analytics, and the Future of Engagement
One of the most exciting undercurrents throughout the conference was the role of AI and analytics in shaping the next era of campus engagement. Institutions are no longer content with basic dashboards; they’re looking for systems that can predict behavior, personalize outreach, and provide real-time insights.
Discussions around Modo Analyze, for example, highlighted how advanced analytics can empower institutions to understand where students are engaging (and where they’re not). By tracking activity across digital platforms, universities can identify friction points, tailor communications, and proactively intervene before disengagement becomes attrition.
Similarly, attendees were enthusiastic about the idea of AI agents: intelligent virtual assistants that respond to student queries in natural language, connecting them instantly to verified campus resources. Many referenced case studies like UA-PTC’s “MyAgent,” which saw a 253% spike in engagement following its launch.
The consensus? Institutions that start implementing AI now (or already have) will be the ones leading in student satisfaction and operational efficiency within the next two years.
Digital Connection as a Competitive Advantage
UNC Cause reinforced that digital transformation isn’t just about modernization, it’s about mission alignment. The most successful institutions are those using technology not to replace human connection, but to amplify it.
Whether it’s enabling staff to spend less time on administrative tasks, providing students instant access to answers, or giving leadership clearer visibility into engagement metrics, the right tools turn technology into empowerment.
For Modo, that means continuously innovating within the Modo Campus platform, expanding integrations, optimizing accessibility, and building bridges between systems that historically didn’t talk to each other. The conversations at UNC Cause confirmed that higher ed leaders aren’t looking for point solutions anymore; they’re looking for ecosystems.
They want one platform that does it all: communicates, connects, and converts data into insight. And as institutions across North Carolina and beyond continue evolving, Modo’s role in supporting that transformation is only deepening.
Thank You, UNC Cause
A huge thank you to the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill for their incredible session, to everyone who stopped by to chat, and to those who joined us for a fantastic evening at Tequila’s Waterfront.
From meaningful conversations to fresh ideas, UNC Cause 2025 reminded us why collaboration in higher ed matters so much. Together, we’re building the future of campus life—smarter, faster, and more connected than ever.
Here’s to the next chapter of innovation, and to seeing everyone again at UNC Cause 2026!
Key Highlights Recap:
- A full house of conference attendees joined the UNC Chapel Hill HelloHeels session (followed by a large group at the Happy Hour!)
- 2.5M+ page views and $40K hard cost savings through HelloHeels redesign.
- Strong conversations, valuable engagement, and one of the best regional conferences yet for higher ed innovation.
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