In today’s fast-paced digital age, the use of mobile applications has become an integral part of our daily lives. Campus mobile apps, specifically designed to cater to the unique needs of students and universities, have emerged as invaluable tools that significantly enhance the overall college experience. These apps offer a wide range of features and benefits, from providing access to academic resources to expediting the checkout process when placing meal orders.
One of the most significant advantages of campus mobile apps is their role in simplifying administrative tasks. Students can use these apps to check class schedules, register for courses, and access important academic information such as grades and transcripts. This instant communication helps students stay organized and allows professors to engage with their students more effectively, making it easier to provide feedback and support when needed.
While campus apps offer a slew of benefits, there are a few issues. For years, students who lived off-campus criticized the university for not having a GPS system on campus buses. Initially, the university offered a schedule of times the Venom would be arriving to specific destinations on FAMU’s campus, but there are many obstacles that would cause a bus to be off schedule.
Former Student Government Association President, David Jackson spoke about the issues students were facing. “There was not a way for students to know if a bus would be on time or not and oftentimes it was causing students to miss class. Students didn’t know whether they should walk to class or take the bus. We worked alongside the university. Administration used discretionary funds out of the executive branch and we were able to fit it into the budget for the next year so that it could continue,” Jackson said.
After hearing students’ concerns, the Venom Tracker was introduced in fall of 2019 to provide students real-time locations of the Venom Express shuttle bus services as it was explained on the FAMU News site. As of Oct. 9, the Venom Tracker located on the FAMU app does not display an active tracker of either the on- or off-campus Venom bus.
The GrubHub app, which FAMU introduced in 2020, allowed students to pre-order a meal from on-campus restaurants before arriving to the location. Though it may seem efficient, students have to wait to arrive to the restaurant to check in. Meaning if you order a meal 20 minutes before arriving to campus, you will still have to check-in for your order to be placed in the queue.
Transfer student Taylor Cotten says the Venom is unpredictable but credits personal responsibility for making it to class on time. “I take the Venom and it is very unpredictable. I have to make sure that if I am going to take it, I have to be very early to meet the Venom.”
FAMU utilizes numerous apps for Canvas, the FAMU app, Grubhub, and most recently, implemented Rattlers+, a subscription streaming app which offers premium sports content. Students can receive notifications and updates regarding class cancellations, campus events, and deadlines in real-time.
Students can be sure to expect the addition of more campus apps in the near future that provide useful services. These apps remain relatively new and we can be sure that they will only improve from here. One thing we know for certain is that the university will hear students’ concerns.