NORMAL, Ill. — Illinois State University has introduced a new mobile app designed to streamline access to campus services for both students and visitors.
ISU Director of IT for the Division of Student Affairs, Rob Bailey, collaborated with a vendor to develop the app. It offers a unified platform for services typically accessed through a web browser – including dining hall menus, laundry room availability and Canvas.
“There are many things you can do through a mobile app that you can’t do through a web portal,” Bailey said.
The app includes a push notification feature that alerts students to any “To-Do” tasks within their portal. Additionally, it uses facial recognition technology, eliminating the need for two-factor authentication.
Bailey emphasized that the app’s development was driven by data, with input gathered from ISU’s student population to determine what features students most wanted.
“Our ability to send students relevant information directly to their mobile devices is a huge deal for us,” Bailey said. “We are highly focused on student success.”
Additional updates to the app are currently being worked on; students have requested a “dark mode” setting, which is expected to be added in the fall.
As ISU faces some of its largest incoming classes to date, the app will also serve as a resource for summer preview guides.
“Our goal for this preview season is to make the mobile app the primary destination for students to access their schedules and everything else they need for a successful experience,” Bailey said.
The app has already earned national recognition, winning an award for the best dining experience among collegiate mobile apps.
“We’re really proud of the work the team has done,” Bailey said. “We’re hopeful it will be a great experience for our students.”
The ISU app is available for download on the Apple App Store and Google Play.