USC Aiken reveals convenient smart phone app

Students, faculty, staff and the community at large now have a new tool to keep them informed about the USC Aiken – a free smartphone app that was recently unveiled and features everything from news, events, a campus tour, polls and even emergency alerts.

The app, which is available for a free download on both the Android and iPhone markets, was officially launched during USC Aiken’s homecoming basketball games this past weekend. The app was designed by outside vendor Straxis Technology and was a combined effort of several departments on campus, to include marketing, student life, admissions, athletics and the library.

“We’re very excited about this new, comprehensive app that can be used in so many ways,” USCA marketing director Preston Sparks said. “The app helps us reach out not only to our campus but also those many miles away through a medium that is only going to continue to grow. And it couldn’t come at a better time as we celebrate our 50th anniversary at USC Aiken.”

Already, there have been more than 450 downloads of the app, including four from China. A quick access to the app via the iPhone or Android markets can be found at http://web.usca.edu/app/.

As for the app’s features, anyone needing to find a contact for a USCA professor or staff member can do so easily through the app’s directory search function. Those wanting to keep up to date on USC Aiken news and upcoming events also can do so through the new app. For those on campus after hours or on the weekend or unable to make it to the USC Aiken campus, the app has a campus tour function that provides pictures and video about each of the campus’ major buildings. If the app’s user is on campus, the campus tour function also pinpoints the person’s position through Global Positioning System technology and displays which building the person is at, notifying them of available information about that building.

In addition to that, the new app has an athletics tab, offering all of the latest in Pacer sports, to include schedules, news, and even a link fans can access to view live basketball games from their phone. The admissions department also has its own offerings, with staff contacts, a helpful checklist for new students and a counselor search function based on a person’s zip code. The app has a weather function, poll questions, USCA social media feeds, and a library button that offers library hours, an “ask a librarian” feature, and a research guides link.

Another key aspect of the app is its ability to send out “push notifications” in times of emergency alerts. This feature allows USC Aiken to send out a message to those who have downloaded the app and accepted a “push notification” request. It could be used should the University need to quickly send an emergency alert to students, faculty or staff, thereby pushing the alert through and causing the user’s phone to either vibrate or activate a ringtone, notifying of an urgent message. The push notification function is currently active through the iPhone market, being successfully tested last week, and a similar function for Android users is in development and should be available for University use in the coming weeks.

Also in the coming weeks, there will be a new emergency button added to the app, offering several key emergent and non-emergent numbers that can be easily dialed through the app, connecting users to campus police, 911, or even the student health center.