New YSU app a big hit on campus
Starting this school year, thousands of students at Youngstown State University have been using their mobile phones to seamlessly browse course listings, check into events, provide feedback on campus services, and access other critical resources.
Designed by former student affairs professionals to help students navigate college, the Youngstown Campus App has seen widespread adoption on Youngstown’s campus since its launch. In a recent survey, 67 percent of students strongly agreed that the app helped them get off to a good start at university.
“We use our phones in almost every aspect of our life, so it’s important to have the same easy access and responsiveness to the campus experience," said Kellie Daley, a senior at YSU and president of the Ad Club, which brings together students interested in marketing and advertising careers. “The Youngstown Campus App has given us a simple way to connect with peers and staff, troubleshoot common challenges, and easily access all the different resources and opportunities on campus.”
The Ad Club is just one example of how students have taken advantage of the app to increase engagement. Club members used the app to recruit new members, promote events, track attendance, and capture feedback on how to improve future meetings. Thus far, the club has welcomed 37 new members, compared with only seven last school year.
The app, designed by OOHLALA Mobile, provides engagement features and data dashboards that enable YSU faculty and staff to better tailor student support services to meet the needs of the student population. At the YSU Center for Student Progress, student tutors and academic coaches use the app to more effectively track participation and get immediate feedback, enabling them to adjust the content and style of tutoring sessions to meet student needs. First-year students use the app to check in to orientation meetings and lectures, helping them stay on track as they adjust to campus life.
“The Youngstown Campus App has transformed the way our office interacts with students, streamlining the process and giving us deeper insight into the needs of the YSU population,” said Becky Varian, director, Center for Student Progress. “Student engagement is a huge factor in academic success – and the app helps us understand not only how engaged our students are, but also how we can help each student succeed in their educational journey.”