New V-State Mobile App Facilitates On-The-Go Communication

VALDOSTA - Valdosta State University's newly released V-State Mobile app streamlines the way students, faculty and staff access campus services and places safety and emergency services in the palms of their hands. Available in the iTunes and Google Play stores, V-State Mobile facilitates communication, collaboration, and information sharing on-the-go.

"For the past decade mobile technology has redefined how we interact and access online resources," said Brian Haugabrook, interim chief information officer at VSU. "From shopping, games, email, Facebook, and more we can find an app for almost everything. The V-State Mobile app is a step towards providing our resources on mobile devices and extending the VSU experience to online students."

With campus safety in mind, the app features a button that allows users to call campus police as well as an emergency guide that provides instruction for various crisis situations.

"It is very important that everyone on campus has knowledge of what to do in an emergency situation," said Robert DeLong, emergency preparedness coordinator and director of Environment and Occupational Safety at VSU. "This emergency guide gives them a place to look for a quick response."

The emergency guide includes evacuation plans and appropriate responses to bomb threats, fires, active shooters, lockdowns, and severe weather. It also tells users where to locate emergency phones on campus and how to respond to the media during an emergency situation.

The app also allows students to place housing work orders and view campus media and videos, as well as access BlazeVIEW, Banner, VSU Email, directories, and maps.

"Since its release, the V-State Mobile app has had more than 400 downloads and has at least 50 new users after each new student orientation," said Amelia Reams, programmer analyst specialist at VSU. "Reviews have been very positive. Many users say that the app has everything. Banner seems to be the most popular feature, with more than 1,000 hits. BlazeVIEW and VSU Email are also very popular features."

Future updates to the app will include a tailored user experience similar to that of the MyVSU portal as well as a university news feature and the shuttle bus transit in real time.

V-State Mobile can be found at http://www.valdosta.edu/applications/vsu-mobile-app-support.php .