CampusHub: Streamlining Departmental Activities using MERN Stack

Abstract

CampusHub is a web-based, centralized platform that was created to remove inefficiencies in the management of departmental activity on campuses. Silos of digital tools and manual records are the standard and end up leading to inconsistent data, delayed decisions, and poor communication. CampusHub makes event management, tracking of participation, and reporting easy through an easy-to-use dashboard and role-based access by administrators and students. Developed on the secure and scalable MERN stack, the website provides high security, real-time updates, and flexibility for institutions of varying sizes. Here, we introduce the architecture and implementation, of CampusHub and how it can enhance greater transparency, efficiency, and collaboration between administrative processes in campuses.

Introduction

CampusHub is a web-based platform developed to address inefficiencies in traditional departmental activity management in academic institutions. Built using the MERN stack (MongoDB, Express.js, React.js, Node.js), it streamlines event organization, student engagement tracking, and reporting, replacing manual and fragmented processes with a centralized, secure, and real-time system.

Key Features & Contributions:

1. Problem Addressed:

Traditional systems suffer from:

• Manual data handling

• Fragmented tools (e.g., Excel sheets, isolated apps)

• Poor communication

• Lack of searchability and real-time tracking

2. CampusHub’s Solution:

• Centralized platform with modular, scalable architecture

• Role-based access control for students and administrators

• JWT authentication for security

• Responsive dashboards for real-time insights

• Event and participation tracking using structured MongoDB schemas

• Agile development principles ensure adaptability and continuous improvement

Literature Support:

Several studies inspired CampusHub’s design:

• Shukla et al. (2022): Validated MERN stack’s real-time performance in e-commerce

• Taylor & Patel (2019): Emphasized centralized dashboards in college admin systems

• Kanthi et al.: Used MERN for project management tools with task tracking

• Jain & Chande: Advocated for “Digital Campuses” integrating academic and extracurricular management

• Badru et al. (2022): Built educational management systems with a focus on data-driven planning

Methodology Overview:

A. Data Collection and Preprocessing:

• Event details and student participation were compiled from records and Excel files.

• Data was standardized to JSON format and validated for consistency.

B. System Architecture:

• Frontend (React.js + Tailwind CSS): Dynamic dashboards for admins and students

• Backend (Node.js + Express.js): RESTful APIs for CRUD operations and secure access

• Database (MongoDB): Structured collections for users, events, clubs, and participation records

C. Modules Implemented:

• Authentication & Authorization: Secure login with hashed passwords and JWTs

• Admin Tools: Event creation, student participation uploads, event filtering

• Student Dashboard: View participation records, upcoming events, and club involvement

• Deployment: Hosted on cloud platforms with plans for real-time notifications

Results and Discussion:

• CampusHub enhances efficiency, security, and transparency in departmental management.

• It supports automated event tracking, real-time updates, and easy Excel uploads, reducing manual effort.

• The Sign-in system ensures data security and role-appropriate access.

• The user-friendly design improves both administrative workflows and student engagement.

Conclusion

CampusHub effectively solves the issues of academic institutions in terms of departmental events and student involvement. By aggregating all activities related to events into a centralized, web-based system, the system dramatically increases efficiency, transparency, and decision-making capabilities. Utilizing the MERN stack provides an environment that is scalable, secure, and responsive to the changing needs of both administrators and students. Through features like automated event tracking, Excel-based participation uploads, real-time dashboards, and role-based access controls, CampusHub minimizes manual effort and improves data accessibility across departments. The modular design and Agile development approach enabled continuous feedback integration and rapid adaptability to user requirements. Overall, CampusHub stands out as a modern solution for streamlining departmental management processes in educational institutions. Its real-time capabilities, secure architecture, and user-friendly interfaces make it a valuable tool for fostering better engagement, collaboration, and organizational efficiency within campus environment.

References

[1] Santosh Kumar Shukla, Shivam Dubey, Tarun Rastogi, Nikita Srivastava, \"Application Using MERN Stack,\" International Journal for Modern Trends in Science and Technology, vol. 8, no. 6, pp. 102–105, 2022. [2] Taylor, L., & Patel, A., \"Implementing Digital Tools for Efficient College Administration: A Case Analysis,\" 2019. [3] Murali Kanthi, Darmapuri Pranay, Mohammad Shanawaz, Sode Saideep, \"Project Tracking System Using MERN Stack,\" CMR Technical Campus, Hyderabad, India. [4] Anubha Jain, Swati Chande, \"Digital Campus: Building Intelligent Solutions for Academic Management,\" Research [5] Publication, 2021. [6] Lawal Olarotimi Badru, Vani Vasudevan, Govinda Ishwar Lingam, M.G.M. Khan, \"MERN Stack Web-Based Education Management Information Systems for Pacific Island Countries,\" Published Online, 29 November 2022. [7] Dr. Ritesh Patil, Vaishali Gentyal, Vaishnavi Mudaliar, Devyani Ambi, \"College Website Using MERN Stack,\" ResearchGate Publications, 2023. [8] Ayodele A. Adebayo, Nneoma Obi, \"A Systematic Review of Academic Event Management Systems: Challenges and Opportunities,\" Journal of Education and Information Technologies, vol. 28, pp. 441–456, 2023. [9] Y. Han, J. Tang, M. Zhu, \"Design and Implementation of a Web-Based Event Management Platform for Higher Education Institutions,\" International Journal of Emerging Technologies in Learning (iJET), vol. 17, no. 9, pp. 145–159, 2022. [10] Satish Chandra, \"Streamlining Academic Administration through Digital Platforms,\" International Journal of Computer Applications, vol. 181, no. 47, 2021.

Copyright

Copyright © 2025 Lakshmi Saroja Mulupuru, Steve Benjamin Puvvada, Sarwani Srija Vemuri, Pasnur Deeplaxmi. This is an open access article distributed under the Creative Commons Attribution License, which permits unrestricted use, distribution, and reproduction in any medium, provided the original work is properly cited.