You now can register for classes on the go without having to wait to get to a computer. With the new Humboldt State mobile app, you can access your student center anywhere. Students can not only register for classes through this new app, but they can also check their grades and financial aid status too.
According to Bethany Rizzardi, chief information officer for ITS, the app has an annual cost of $50,000 and a one-time $25,000 initial setup and configuration fee.
The app adopted several modules including the student center, library, campus news, course catalogue, events calendar and a new interactive map. All of this and much more is just a touch away.
According to HSU Information Technology Services project coordinator, Billie Herman, ITS office did extensive research prior to implementing the mobile app. In this research, several mobile app vendors were reviewed.
“There were two vendors selected out of that research project,” Herman said. “There was Modo Labs and Greyhaller.”
The decision was then made to pick Modo Labs, a software company that creates mobile apps.
“There are nine other CSUs that have followed the same model and are using the same vendor,” Herman said.
This new HSU mobile app is free and available to anyone with a smartphone. You can download the app through the iPhone App Store or Android Google Play Store.
According to Herman, there’s around 1,000 unique visitors to the app so far.
Connor Callison is a HSU programmer who works on maintaining and developing the app. He created a new campus interactive map. The map can be found on the homepage of the app.
The app was first presented to students in both software engineering and database design classes last fall. Students in those classes tested the app and provided feedback to the programmers.
“[Computer science] students have pretty intricate knowledge of how apps works, [and] we figured they might be able to find some of the holes that we might have to deal with first,” Callison said. “They were our beta testers and we got some feedback from them that was helpful.”
“ITS likes to reach out and work with the CS students as much as possible,” Herman said. “We love to have a bridge, students brings such vitality and that new perspective.”
The launching of the app came as a part of an an initiative at ITS to make it easier for students to access campus services using their phones.
“We are trying to make the business of being a student very easy,” Herman said. “It’s hard to be a student as it is and it’s very nice to be able to easily navigate through all the process and procedures that you have to go through.”
The app is a work in progress. Programmers at ITS are still working to improve students’ mobile experience with the app. Users can send comments about the app by using the app feedback form found on the home page.
“This is our first step into this arena and we’re going to continue to evolve this as we get more feedback,” Herman said. “Give us a year and that app is going to sing.”
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