using the GPS on the phone. Units on campus have also used the more focus on the mobile website. “We know from our web analytics mobile framework to build student event calendars and schedules for that many more folks were coming into our site with mobile phones. campus events. They have tied these in to social media to cultivate If people are using their cell phones for viewing on the web, the webengagement.” UCSD students have provided positive feedback about site should be able to adjust to their sized screen.” the student portal now being optimized for mobile devices, which Both mobile apps and websites have their own unique advantages has helped students arrive on-time during the first day of classes and disadvantages. Apps that are not tied back to a mobile website each quarter. The registrar has also seen a tremendous reduction in can be harder to create and update because those apps require the foot traffic during this time as the students are now relying on their synchronization of many campus departments. On the upside, devices to direct them to their classes versus asking for help. mobile apps can be more user friendly than websites and allow Thanks to the mobile website, some veterans now have access students to interact more, uploading comments and photos in an to higher education resources through their mobile devices. The easy-to-use fashion. “Apps will always be around because they are University of Wisconsin System, University of Wisconsin-Extension, more engaging, but are limited by the platform they are built on,” and the Wisconsin Technical College System (WTCS) released a explained Sheppard. smartphone-friendly version of the Veterans Education “The advantage to apps is that people still Portal (www.veterans.wisconsin.edu). Veterans who want go to the app stores to find information on their to take the first step toward completing their education mobile devices and with our approach of having will find information about Wisconsin’s veteran educathe apps point back to the mobile site, there is tion benefits, academic programs and support—all in one little overhead or downside to this approach,” place, tailored for display on a small screen. The new verPollak said. “A native app utilizing the vendor’s sion also automatically detects what kind of smartphone is explicit technologies to this point will be more being used and customizes the display for the best view. “It responsive for the end-user. You just have to helps veterans make the transition from military service weigh the cost of supporting multiple platforms to college life,” explained Morna Foy, spokesperson for utilizing multiple technologies with a more the Wisconsin Technical College System. “The site guides ubiquitous approach. We feel we have struck a Wisconsin veterans toward finding the right fit among good balance.” Janice Sheppard Wisconsin’s public colleges and universities.” McGough from IU noted, “The mobile app With a Wisconsin GI Bill that offers generous education benefits, advantages are primarily marketing and perception related. Due to veterans are increasingly looking to complete their education. For the wonderful marketing that Apple did with their ‘There’s an app for some veterans though, knowing where to start can be a challenge. that’ campaign, it became the expectation of consumers that instituThe new portal helps by providing a single point of entry to the tions would write an app that would work natively on their device.” resources, services and benefits available at all of the UW system Many schools still opt to focus on the mobile website, for a varicampuses and the Wisconsin technical colleges. In addition, veterans ety of reasons. First, the mobile site is often more cost effective. Also, can call a dedicated, toll-free UW phone line and speak directly with according to Pollak, “With the maturation of HTML5 and CSS3, the an adviser. mobile web is where things are going. You can now create a very Air Force reservist Joe Ahlers, a UW-Madison law student, served native-app-like experience on the mobile web browser. In addition, on the committee to design the new portal. “The hardest step is the mobile devices have some of the most sophisticated browsers that first step, and a lot of veterans don’t know how to take that first step,” support these newer technologies.” Ahlers said. “Before this portal existed, we had to look at 10 different There is an added ease of mobile websites, according to McGough. pamphlets and make dozens of calls to find the right resource. Now, “Mobile website technology is great because we already have plenty vets can take advantage of all the information in one place.” of web programmers who are proficient and so there is not a need to As more and more students acquire and depend on their mobile learn a new programming language for each platform that you would devices, schools can expect to place even more significance upon write an app for. In addition, you get the value by the virtue that their mobile platform offerings. “They are increasingly important because it is HTML-based and that is a standard, you can write the for students, visitors, parents, faculty and staff,” McGough acknowlcode once and it will work on all kinds of different devices. It comes edged. “Smartphones and apps have fundamentally changed the down to money and skillsets.” expectations about how information systems should be delivered, Whether a school is using the mobile app, mobile website or a and forced IT to ensure that they take mobile device delivery into hybrid approach, there are significant benefits for students. Indiana account for things they do going forward.” At Indiana University, PolUniversity’s mobile app provides some class information, events lak noted, “We are seeing about a half percent increase per month in calendars, news, classifieds, dining menus, bus schedules, library traffic to the home page from mobile devices. We have entered a new services, campus 411, maps, athletics information, computer lab era of computing and if we are not making sure our web properties availability, person lookup, technology notices, a knowledge base, an are optimized for the devices people are using, we are missing the ask IU service, emergency contact info and campus feedback. Talk boat.” O about information right at your fingertips! The same goes for UCSD. “Based on the analytics for our mobile site, the student apps are by far the most used,” said Pollak. “Our student portal is now optimized for mobile. Students can now log in and get their complete course list. The locations of the courses are For more information, contact Editor-in-Chief Jeff McKaughan at jeffm@kmimediagroup.com or search our online archives linked to our mobile campus map. So on the first day of classes, stufor related stories at www.mae-kmi.com. dents can get personalized walking directions to each of their classes 22 | MAE 7.7
www.MAE-kmi.com