Campus Map app to be replaced with Facilities-run site amid budget cuts

When opening the University’s Campus Map app, users now see the message, “This app will be taken offline on May 31 and will no longer function after that date.” To maintain services and cut costs, the current app will be replaced by a digital interactive campus map built and run by the Facilities department, according to University Spokesperson Jennifer Morrill. 

The new online map — which is expected to open in the coming weeks before officially replacing the existing app this summer break — marks a shift away from the third-party-hosted app the University currently relies on. The new map will “be available to share, embed, and print/export,” features meant to facilitate events and visitor communications, Morrill wrote to The Daily Princetonian.

The new, in-house version will improve “service delivery and long‑term sustainability, with cost savings as a secondary benefit,” according to Morrill. The emphasis on cost savings comes alongside fiscal austerity measures announced by University President Christopher Eisgruber ’83 in February. Released in 2023, the current Campus Map app was developed by Applied Information Group and offers turn-by-turn walking directions, TigerTransit tracking, and routes designed to accommodate mobility needs. 

The change to campus navigation comes at the tail end of a period of sustained construction and expansion that has significantly reshaped campus in recent years. In 2023, at least 11 construction projects were simultaneously underway. Major projects — including the development of Hobson College, the expansion of the School of Engineering and Applied Science, and renovations to the Princeton University Art Museum — have altered familiar walking routes and changed campus permanently.

Of the 34 students surveyed by the ‘Prince’ around campus, the majority were aware of the Campus Map app, but only five said that they had downloaded and used it. 

Aarnav Sheth ’28, who said he had never heard of the app, opted for a different navigation tool. “When I was a freshman looking for my classes … I would just use Google Maps,” he said.

When asked about the app’s replacement, he said, “I don’t think this is much of a loss or a gain to anyone.”

Eleven campus visitors surveyed by the ‘Prince’ said they would consider using the app or were already users.

Matthew Rusher, a parent of a student in the Class of 2027, has used the Campus Map app sporadically for the past three years without noticing any issues. When asked what he thought about the University creating a new version, he said, “I’d rather they do that than lose [it].”

Despite the app’s expiration on May 31, updates rolled out as late as March 31, including enhancements to the user interface and expanded features for navigation. Before that, the app had been updated on average every few months since its release. 

The Campus Map app was part of a broader wayfinding initiative introduced by the University in 2022 to help users navigate an expanding campus. That system included physical map kiosks at key campus entrances, standardized signage, and a unified visual design across print and digital platforms.

Morrill told the ‘Prince’ that the new map will serve as “the authoritative source for wayfinding” on campus once it fully replaces the existing app this summer.

Nika Schindler is the assistant News editor for the ‘Prince’ leading University operations coverage. She is from Atherton, Calif., and can be reached at ns1295[at]princeton.edu.

Nico David-Fox is a head News editor for the ‘Prince.’ He is from Washington, D.C., and often covers academics and the Undergraduate Student Government. He can be reached at nd0968[at]princeton.edu or news[at]dailyprincetonian.com.

Please send any corrections to corrections[at]dailyprincetonian.com.