Stay connected on the go with new mobile app
Wondering where the bus is, or looking for a place to eat on campus?
Check out UIC Mobile, a free app for Apple and Android devices.
The app, which launched last week, lets students and employees stay connected with UIC while on the go, said Cynthia Herrera Lindstrom, chief information officer and executive director of the Academic Computing and Communications Center.
“Students want information at their disposal when they have those few minutes in between classes, when they are commuting,” Lindstrom said. “You can make use of it every moment.”
Version 1.0 of the app can be downloaded from the Apple store for iOS or from Google Play for Android. It features:
- searchable campus map
- real-time campus bus tracking
- campus phonebook
- emergency information
- schedules and grades
- events calendar
- library catalog information
- campus news
- athletics news and schedules
- dining options
- UIC Facebook and Twitter feeds
- campus photos
- UIC Media YouTube videos
One feature Lindstrom expects will be popular is the campus bus tracker, which tells users how many minutes it will take for the next bus to arrive at their stop.
Future plans include adding CTA bus lines that serve campus, she said. “Since students have a U-Pass, it would be nice to add those CTA buses,” she said.
A committee of students and employees will meet later this semester to discuss features to add to the next version of the app, said Edward Campbell, ACCC assistant director of creative services. Users can submit feedback and request features.
Possible improvements: an enhanced campus map so users can find the closest ATM or bathroom, he said.
“There are a lot of new features we’re talking about adding that were too complicated for Version 1, but we’re working on them,” Campbell said. “I would encourage people to download the app to make their life more simple and take advantage of aspects of campus that they’re not already aware of,” he said.
The Academic Computing and Communications Center partnered with the Office of Public and Government Affairs, Campus Auxiliary Services and the Vice Chancellor for Administrative Services to launch the app.
