1. What sparked the idea for CampusWall?  

As a parent of two college students, I was not thrilled when I found out my daughters were meeting strangers from Craigslist to try and procure a bike or furniture for their dorm. I was baffled that, to find a ride-share home for holiday break, one of my girls went looking for flyer postings on campus bulletin boards. And I was shocked when I went to move them out at the end of the school year to find piles of household goods, furniture, etc., abandoned in hallways, only to be discarded. At a local company I previously worked for, they offered a marketplace only accessible by employees. I liked this sense of community sharing, selling and swapping, and I felt that offering such a service to students could fill a void on campuses.

2. What is CampusWall?

CampusWall is a website that offers self-contained sub-sites by campus. A user must have a valid .edu email address for the college/university they sign up with. It is meant to be a safe and convenient place for students to Buy, Sell, Swap and Share goods and services within their particular campus community.  

3. How many students are currently using CampusWall?

We currently have over a thousand students registered at hundreds of schools across the United States. We see this number continuing to grow as incoming freshmen and returning students get re-engaged with campus life as the new school year ramps up. 

4. CampusWall brings sustainability to light by allowing students to make some cash on or share a microwave they might otherwise have tossed at the end of the semester; how else are students utilizing CampusWall?

CampusWall definitely fosters sustainability, and our site is being utilized not only to re-use products, but also to share transportation and other services in order to conserve resources. This is such a win! Students today want to be environmentally responsible but are busy and often overwhelmed. We give them an easily accessible forum to nurture a healthier community environment which in turn promotes a stronger institution.

5. Clearly safety is a priority. What other benefits come with only allowing .edu addresses access to CampusWall? 

Safety is definitely one of the key benefits of trading within a secure community. Convenience is another, as students can stay on or near campus to acquire goods. They also have the opportunity to share services from ride-shares to tutoring, and administrators and staff can promote jobs, internships, and events.

6. How did CampusWall grow from its inception?

Initially, being based in Seattle, I reached out to campuses in the Northwest where I have contacts. From there, word of mouth, press releases and interviews helped get the word out. We’re excited about initiatives we have going on over the next few months and anticipate making a big splash as campuses gear up for another school year.

7. CampusWall is unique in that it provides a sense of campus community while allowing students to connect. Was this part of the goal?

Absolutely! The sense of community and ownership of a school’s CampusWall site empowers students to police it themselves to make sure it remains a safe and productive environment. As far as allowing students to connect, I know many believe that social media and technology have us all “super connected,” but honestly, that is not always the case. I personally know of students that found out after the fact that their peer just across the dorm hall was looking for a roommate or tossing their mini-fridge.

8. How do you see CampusWall growing in the future?

www.MyCampusWall.com