St. Charles Case Study | Dreamscape Learn

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CREATING SPACE FOR OPPORTUNITY AT ST. CHARLES COMMUNITY COLLEGE

St. Charles Community College serves over 35,000 students and learners annually in St. Charles County, Missouri. When the college saw an opportunity to transform underutilized campus space into a strategic asset, it created a new kind of learning environment designed to support students, faculty, and the broader community.

In August 2025, SCC became the first community college in the Midwest to implement Dreamscape Learn, opening its Center for Immersive Learning. Faculty are now expanding immersive learning across disciplines including Sociology, English, Chemistry, Biology, History, and Communications, using the Dreamscape Developer Kit to build experiences around the needs of their students and programs.

St. Charles Community College serves over 35,000 students and learners annually in St. Charles County, Missouri. When the college saw an opportunity to transform underutilized campus space into a strategic asset, it created a new kind of learning environment designed to support students, faculty, and the broader community.

In August 2025, SCC became the first community college in the Midwest to implement Dreamscape Learn, opening its Center for Immersive Learning. Faculty are now expanding immersive learning across disciplines including Sociology, English, Chemistry, Biology, History, and Communications, using the Dreamscape Developer Kit to build experiences around the needs of their students and programs.

St. Charles Community College serves over 35,000 students and learners annually in St. Charles County, Missouri. When the college saw an opportunity to transform underutilized campus space into a strategic asset, it created a new kind of learning environment designed to support students, faculty, and the broader community.

In August 2025, SCC became the first community college in the Midwest to implement Dreamscape Learn, opening its Center for Immersive Learning. Faculty are now expanding immersive learning across disciplines including Sociology, English, Chemistry, Biology, History, and Communications, using the Dreamscape Developer Kit to build experiences around the needs of their students and programs.

We wanted this to be a space people would talk about after they left. A place where students could experience learning differently, where faculty could try new approaches and where our community could see the direction SCC is moving.

Dr. Barbara Kavalier, President and CEO, St. Charles Community College.

THE CHALLENGE: MAKING EVERY SQUARE FOOT COUNT

Campus space is one of St. Charles Community College’s most valuable assets. When college leaders identified underutilized space on campus, they saw an opportunity to create something that could advance student success, strengthen teaching and help SCC stand out.

The opportunity prompted college leaders to rethink the role campus space could play in the college’s future. Rather than starting with the facility itself, leaders focused on what they wanted the space to make possible for students, faculty and the broader community.

“The smart use of space is not simply a facilities issue; it is an essential part of student success and engagement,” said Amy Koehler, Provost and Chief Academic Officer at St. Charles Community College. “Thoughtfully designed spaces bring students back to campus by creating innovative and exciting environments that encourage connection, collaboration, and learning."

Campus space is one of St. Charles Community College’s most valuable assets. When college leaders identified underutilized space on campus, they saw an opportunity to create something that could advance student success, strengthen teaching and help SCC stand out.

When we created our Center for Immersive Learning, we transformed a traditional learning environment into an innovative destination where students feel inspired, excited, and connected.

Amy Koehler, Provost and Chief Academic Officer,

St. Charles Community College

Amy Koehler, Provost and Chief Academic Officer,

St. Charles Community College

The opportunity prompted college leaders to rethink the role campus space could play in the college’s future. Rather than starting with the facility itself, leaders focused on what they wanted the space to make possible for students, faculty and the broader community.

“The smart use of space is not simply a facilities issue; it is an essential part of student success and engagement,” said Amy Koehler, Provost and Chief Academic Officer at St. Charles Community College. “Thoughtfully designed spaces bring students back to campus by creating innovative and exciting environments that encourage connection, collaboration, and learning.

SOLUTION: USING DREAMSCAPE LEARN TO CREATE A NEW KIND OF CAMPUS DESTINATION

SCC set out to transform the underused campus space into a destination that reflected the college’s commitment to innovation.

As part of that effort, college leaders visited institutions across the country to explore new approaches to campus design and instruction. A visit to Arizona State University introduced them to Dreamscape Learn and a new way to think about what campus space could become.

College leaders saw Dreamscape Learn as an opportunity to engage students in challenging subjects through immersive, story-driven experiences while giving SCC the ability to expand immersive learning across disciplines over time.

In 2024, SCC announced a partnership with Dreamscape Learn, becoming the first community college in the Midwest to bring the company’s cinematic immersive learning experiences to students.

The partnership aligned with SCC’s priorities around student success, innovation and workforce readiness while establishing the Center for Immersive Learning as a cornerstone of the college’s long-term academic strategy.