At the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill (UNC-Chapel Hill), standardizing on Nureva® audio has transformed the learning experience. Instructors can teach with confidence knowing they have a consistent and reliable audio solution, without any technology constraints, and students — both in person and remote — are fully engaged and included in the learning process. This long-term commitment to Nureva began in 2017, when the university became one of the first institutions to adopt the technology.
“We’ve been using Nureva products throughout campus in spaces ranging from medium-sized conference rooms and classrooms all the way up to larger spaces,” explained Gary Kirk, broadcast and emerging media engineer at UNC-Chapel Hill. “We were early adopters of Nureva, starting around 2017 when the product first launched. In fact, we were among the first to implement it, and I quickly became a huge advocate. I shared with my peers across campus how it was the best bang-for-your-buck USB microphone solution. The setup was incredibly simple — just plug it in and it works, capturing clear audio from everyone in the room. Plus, it comes with a built-in speaker solution for spaces that need it.”
One of the aspects of Nureva audio that initially appealed to Kirk was that our solutions are specifically designed to address the unique challenges of hybrid learning. He points out that for remote students, our systems create an immersive experience that makes them feel as though they’re sitting alongside their in-class peers. With our Microphone Mist™ technology, which fills a room with thousands of virtual microphones, every word spoken by the instructor or students is captured with exceptional clarity, regardless of their location in the room or the direction they face. This ensures remote participants can hear and actively participate in every conversation, fostering a sense of community and inclusivity.
“Adopting Nureva early meant we were well prepared before hybrid learning became a widespread necessity,” detailed Kirk. “We saw early on that videoconferencing would be the future of distance learning. The idea of teaching or attending a class from anywhere aligned with our vision. While COVID had an undeniable impact, it didn’t drastically disrupt our workflows because many of our classrooms were already equipped with videoconferencing systems. For those that weren’t, the emergency funding we received during the pandemic was immediately allocated to equipping all remaining classrooms with Nureva systems.”
Kirk added: “One of the standout benefits of Nureva is how it promotes equity in learning. Audio is the most critical participation factor, especially in hybrid environments. Whether someone is in the room or attending remotely, they need to hear everything clearly. This isn’t just for those with hearing disabilities — great audio is essential for transcription services and ensuring accessibility for all participants.”
From the instructors’ perspective, Nureva systems deliver unparalleled flexibility. Educators appreciate the freedom to move naturally throughout the classroom without being tethered to a specific location or encumbered by handheld or lavalier microphones. This enhances teaching dynamics and reduces the stress and technical complexity often associated with traditional microphone systems. Instructors can focus entirely on delivering engaging lessons, confident that their voices are heard clearly by everyone.
Leyla Santiago, the inaugural Frank A. Daniels Jr. executive-in-residence at UNC-Chapel Hill’s Hussman School of Journalism and Media, has witnessed firsthand the impact of Nureva systems in creating dynamic and inclusive learning environments. She shared how this technology has redefined her classroom interactions, enabling her to incorporate remote guest speakers and facilitate discussions. Reflecting on her experience, she highlighted a particularly compelling use case, explaining: “In my classes, I have conducted Zoom interviews or calls as some individuals preferred to speak to the class remotely based on their situation. Many guests discussed sensitive topics and were willing to share their stories but didn’t want the pressure of a live audience.”
Santiago added: “This system allows them to connect with the class without feeling exposed, as they could see and hear everyone but didn’t need to be physically present. In those cases, I would mediate the conversation. The guest would appear on Zoom in the classroom, and students could ask questions while the guest listened and responded. This setup allowed for meaningful interaction while maintaining the comfort of participants who might not want to appear in person. This approach enabled conversations that otherwise wouldn’t have been possible. It created a safe, interactive environment where everyone could engage comfortably.”
Emma Dobek, a student at UNC-Chapel Hill, shared her perspective on the impact of technology in hybrid learning environments. She highlighted how tools like Nureva audio have improved the classroom experience for both in-person and remote students, stating: “At UNC Kenan-Flagler, many classes have shifted to a hybrid model, often meeting once a week. A solution like Nureva, designed specifically for hybrid learning, ensures an equitable experience for both in-person and remote students. It captures clear audio from everyone in the room, both the professor and students, so whether I’m joining remotely or relistening to a lecture later, I can follow the full classroom discussion. In the past, we’ve had systems that only picked up the speaker, which made it hard to keep up with the conversation. With more classes moving to seminar-style discussions, tools like Nureva help create a better experience for everyone.”
In hybrid and flexible learning models, audio quality can often make or break the learning experience. Poor audio performance can lead to disengagement, confusion and inequity between in-person and remote participants. By standardizing on Nureva audio, UNC-Chapel Hill has addressed these challenges head-on, creating a seamless and effective learning environment that supports its mission of delivering high-quality education to all students.
“As a longtime fan of Nureva technology, I can confidently say it delivers awesome performance every time,” said Gary Kayye, associate professor at UNC-Chapel Hill and founder of rAVe [PUBS] and THE rAVe Agency. “The system frictionlessly captures voices from anywhere in the room with clarity, allowing me to lecture from remote locations while delivering high-quality education. The students stay engaged and I can hear them clearly, fostering meaningful interaction. Nureva’s reliability and durability have consistently exceeded my expectations. With Nureva, I can focus on teaching, not troubleshooting technology.”
For the AV/IT pros at UNC-Chapel Hill, Nureva has consistently exceeded expectations in durability and performance — unlike many technologies that require frequent maintenance or replacement within a 5-to-7-year life cycle. They point to this reliability as highlighting the exceptional engineering behind Nureva’s products, providing higher education institutions with long-term value and peace of mind. By reducing the need for ongoing technical intervention, educators can focus on enhancing the learning experience instead of managing technical issues.
Gary Kirk, reflecting on the reliability of Nureva’s products, shared: “The longevity of these systems has been incredible. The first Nureva unit we installed in 2017 is still running 24/7, nearly a decade later, without any maintenance or intervention. We continue to stay up to date as Nureva releases firmware to ensure optimal performance and seamless operation. That kind of reliability is almost unheard of in the audiovisual industry. We usually plan for a 5-to-7-year life cycle for most technology, but Nureva has exceeded all expectations.”
UNC-Chapel Hill’s decision to standardize on Nureva has proven to be an impactful investment in the campus learning environment. By addressing the challenges of hybrid and flexible learning, UNC-Chapel Hill has created inclusive and equitable spaces that benefit educators and students alike. From the initial adoption of Nureva technology in 2017 to the strategic scaling across campus, UNC-Chapel Hill has emphasized a commitment to enhancing educational experiences through innovative technologies. With features like Microphone Mist technology ensuring clear audio and the reliability of the systems, UNC-Chapel Hill is confident Nureva has provided its entire campus with a future-proof audio solution.