Campus Connect: A Complete Digital Workflow System for Universities Using React, Node.js & MongoDB

Source: Dev.to

Campus Connect automates university workflows using the MERN stack, replacing paper‑heavy processes with a secure, transparent, and user‑friendly digital platform.

Why We Built Campus Connect

• Paper‑based outpasses
• Physical signatures
• Manual maintenance registers
• Delayed communication
• Lack of transparency

Campus Connect digitizes and automates these tasks to make campuses more efficient, transparent, and user‑friendly.

1. Secure Authentication & Role‑Based Access

• JWT authentication for secure login and controlled access
• Role‑based dashboards (Student, Parent, Warden, Guard, Staff)
• Token validation on every request
• Protected backend routes

Provides a strong security foundation for a multi‑user system.

2. Hostel Outpass Automation System

• Complete approval chain: Student → Parent → Warden → Guard
• Parent approval via Email: Uses EmailJS; parents receive an approval link (no login required) and can approve or reject from any device.
• Warden review: Wardens see only parent‑approved requests, reducing unnecessary workload.
• Guard entry/exit logging: Guards mark EXIT and ENTRY times digitally—no manual registers.
• Audit trail: Every action is recorded, ensuring transparency and accountability.

3. Digital Maintenance Ticketing System

• Students submit maintenance requests directly from their dashboards.
• Ticket statuses: Pending → In‑Progress → Resolved
• Real‑time visibility for wardens & staff
• Clean MongoDB structure for tracking

Eliminates handwritten registers and lost complaints.

4. Classroom Booking Workflow

• Automated approval pipeline: Secretary → Availability Check → Registrar Approval
• Handles decision logging, real‑time status updates, and prevents double bookings.

Ideal for meetings, events, and academic activities.

5. Frontend Development (React.js)

• Role‑specific dashboards built with React
• Simple, responsive UI with unified layout & navigation
• Clean forms and workflows for each user type

6. Backend Architecture (Node.js + Express)

• Modular backend with separate controllers for login, outpass, bookings, maintenance, etc.
• Express routing with REST APIs
• Easily extendable for new modules, keeping the codebase maintainable and scalable.

7. MongoDB Database Layer

Well‑structured collections:

• Users
• Outpasses
• Bookings
• Maintenance tickets
• Guard logs

Each record is optimized for lookups, linking, and fast updates.

8. Notification System

Powered by EmailJS, the system sends:

• Approval links
• Status updates
• Automated notifications

No SMTP configuration required; works instantly and reliably.

Flow Chart

Key Learnings

• Full‑stack MERN development
• Secure workflow automation
• JWT authentication & protected routes
• UI/UX structuring in React
• Backend modularization
• Database schema design
• Real‑time communication workflows

Conclusion

Campus Connect demonstrates how digital automation can transform traditional university workflows into a smart, transparent, and efficient system. By modernizing outpass management, maintenance logs, classroom bookings, and notifications, it enables:

• Faster processes
• Better security
• Clear communication
• Higher accountability
• Improved user experience

A solid step toward building future‑ready digital campuses.