Indiana State University Newsroom
Indiana State University is releasing a free mobile application for smartphones that will keep students in touch with their campus from any location at any time of day.
With the State Mobile application, also known as ISU Mobile, students will be able to access Sycamore athletic information, faculty and staff directories, emergency phone numbers, campus news, student alerts and a buildings guide by downloading the application to a BlackBerry, iPhone or Android.
"This initiative is about bringing useful information to students in a format they like," said John Beacon, vice president for enrollment management, marketing and communications. "It's information at their fingertips at any time and in any place."
Phase two of this initiative will provide more interactive applications for users. Many of the services currently available on Sycamore Express will be accessible on mobile devices, like accessing midterm and final grades, and checking the status of financial aid awarding. The ability to register for classes and buy parking permits are also being considered.
"That will be so cool," said McCall Christopher, a freshman athletic training major from Lee's Summit, Mo. and iPhone owner. "I think it will be really beneficial to students with smartphones. I have everything on my phone, so if I have that on phone it will be so much easier. I will just always have information on the go."
After the application is launched at the end of January, students will have the opportunity to provide feedback and offer suggestions about State Mobile. In addition, two ISU students have been hired by the Office of Information Technology to work on developing future applications.
"It is always important to have student input on the things they like and can use and will enjoy," Beacon said.
The Offices of Information Technology and Communications and Marketing at ISU and Pyxis Mobile collaborated to develop the mobile application, designed to be interactive in nature.
Universities such as Stanford and Purdue have launched similar mobile phone applications, but State Mobile is expected to be more interactive and in-depth than those applications.
"This is an exciting new tool for our students to be able to use because it is cutting-edge technology and that is something students like," Beacon said. "Offering the latest technology also says we are on the move as a university and progressive in our thinking about the future. I think students want to be associated with a university where exciting new things are constantly occurring."
Have questions? Check out the FAQ: http://www.indstate.edu/oit1/userservices/ithelp/mobileapp/mobileapp.html
Contact: Tara Singer, assistant vice president for communications and marketing, Indiana State University, 812-237-8764 or tara.singer@indstate.edu.
Writer: Lana Schrock, media relations assistant, Indiana State University Communications and Marketing, 812-237-3773 or lschrock1@indstate.edu
Story Highlights
With the State Mobile application, also known as ISU Mobile, students will be able to access Sycamore athletic information, faculty and staff directories, emergency phone numbers and more.
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