North Central College has launched its first mobile app, North Central College Mobile. Available for Apple and Android smartphones and tablets, the app places campus news, videos, maps and other resources at the fingertips of students and community members.
“The app takes information available on the College website and social media outlets and optimizes it for mobile users,” says Christopher Jones, director of web communications in the Office of Marketing and Communications (OMC). “It’s incredibly useful for students, parents, faculty, alumni and the entire campus community.”
Jones helped develop the app, which is the result of a yearlong collaborative effort between OMC and the Information Technology Services (ITS) department. Mike Quintero, director of technology innovation, says that many of the app’s features were designed based on student suggestions.
“It was really important to get student input for the app,” says Quintero. “Over pizza and pop, we held roundtable discussions, inviting students to brainstorm. We got some great ideas and built the app based on their suggestions.”
The app gives users access to academic, athletic and fine arts news. Users can easily view the College’s Facebook and Twitter feeds, as well as Instagram and Flickr accounts. Videos, such as the 2014 Rall Symposium keynote address by Dr. Satyan Devadoss ’93, can be quickly accessed. The app allows users to easily bookmark and post events and news items to social media. Calendars are available for cultural and fine arts, athletic and alumni events.
North Central College Mobile makes it easier for users to get around campus, too. The app uses Google Maps to show the location and hours for North Central facilities, including Oesterle Library, the Residence Hall/Recreation Center and more. The app features daily schedules and menus for dining halls and even displays the number of computers available in labs across campus in real time.
While the app gives users unprecedented access to campus news, information and tools, Jones says there is plenty of room to grow.
“We’re looking for feedback,” he says. “We want this app to give the campus community a great mobile experience, so we’re looking forward to hearing from users.”
North Central College Mobile uses an HTML5 framework, which provides greater compatibility across devices and allows greater flexibility for future updates, ensuring the app will be relevant and useful for years to come. Jones hopes to see the app develop, giving users better access to North Central information and tools in the palms of their hands.
Editor’s Note: Written by Troy Kelleher, Â a junior at North Central CollegeÂ
