As you walk down the mall, students using their phones are most likely what you see. They are probably on Twitter and Facebook, but next semester, they may also be checking the lunch menu at Becker or checking the lines at Brandeis.
Thanks to DoIt, Sodexo, and Information Analytics in Lincoln, NE, a new dining app for Creighton students’ phones will be available starting in the fall of this year.
The dining app will allow students to view dining hall hours, specials, and daily menus, complete with nutritional information. It will also allow students to view their dining dollars and Jaybuck$ accounts, as well view webcams to see how long the lines are at the dining places around campus, according to Megan Carroll, the Implementation Lead for the Dining App.
The app will have several special features, such as Add Menu Item to Calendar, Social Media and Text Message Sharing, and Favorites, according to Mike Fecci, the senior director of Innovative Applications at DoIt.
“Favorites will alert [students] for when a meal is available, and they can even add to their calendar to remind them where to eat certain meals,” Fecci said. “Nutrition information is helpful on the go, especially when there are so many food options at each meal. Finally, the messages remind them of special events taking place soon.”
The new app will be available on all Droid smartphones, iPhones, iPads and iPods.
“This app will be helpful to students because it will allow them to view their on campus dining options from their mobile devices,” Carroll said. “Students will be able to see what’s for breakfast before they leave their dorms or what’s for lunch as they are stepping out of class. They can check the dinner menu without having to leave their study spaces in the library.”
The app will not only help students decide where to go, but also plan ahead.
“The student will be able to quickly see the menu for the upcoming meal and choose a dining hall, perhaps texting their friends to meet them at that location,” Fecci said. “Checking the lines before heading to a dining hall should save them time, and checking their JayBucks and/or Dining Dollars balance prevents them from having to guess or ask at the register.”
He also mentioned that all the information included in the app is downloadable, so a student or faculty member will not need to have WiFi access to use the app.
The idea for this app came from discussions with the Student Technology Advisory Council, Creighton Students Union, and the Dining Committee, according to Fecci.
Fecci also said that a few other apps, including an app for students to check their grades, download a campus map, and keep up with Jays athletics are also in the works.
Carroll and the rest of the contributors are in the middle of testing the app and are looking for volunteers. If you are interested in testing the app on your iPhone or Droid, please contact Megan Carroll at megancarroll@creighton.edu.