BYUH student app

ALL IN ONE BYUH APP

Student developers create campus mobile app to make online tools more accessible

BY ELLE LARSON

Self-motivated student developers created BYUH Student, an unofficial school app that makes returning and new students’ lives easier with one-touch links and an interactive map of campus to navigate.

Alger Aranda, a BYU–Hawaii alumnus of 2020 from the Philippines, praised the BYUH Mobile App because he said it provided easier access than the school website to the most frequently used student resources.

“With the app, you don’t have to worry about memorizing the tools’ URL [because] it provides you with the most used tools with the click of a button.”

A key developer of the project and BYUH alumnus from China, Ray Xu, said, “It takes longer to navigate on the website, and when you close the browsers, you have to do it again, but with the app, you just need a few clicks.”

App Tools

Xu said he wanted to create an “all-in-one” app to help students be more successful scholars. The app includes access to the following: 1. The cafeteria menus, updated daily. 2. A detailed map with cartoon icons that uses your location, if allowed, to pinpoint where you are and help you find your way around campus. The map also has a search feature to find classrooms and buildings you need and connects to Apple Maps to provide directions and arrival times. 3. A “tool kit” containing various BYUH tools chosen for a student’s convenience, such as: Student Center, Canvas, Seasider’s online orders and Stellic Mapper. The tool kit also offers a truth table generator, a normal distribution calculator and an event pass. 4. A link to university events, such as the Malamalama ceremony, firesides and registration deadlines.

Xu said he is excited for new students to benefit from the app, especially when they might have a hard time finding classrooms and other places around campus.

The BYUH Student app was launched last year, on Sept. 28, 2020, and accumulated 152 users in the first two months.

Looking forward

Xu encouraged students to give the developers feedback or any suggestions for needed features that would be helpful for everyday use.

“We need the student’s voices,” he said. “Please let us know what are you looking for in the BYUH app.”

You can leave feedback in the email to the address included in the “About” page in the app.

As of now, the app is BYUH approved, but it is not an official school app. Feedback on the BYUH Student app will contribute to the creation of an official school app like those of other university campuses.

Laura Tevaga, the director of communications and marketing, said, “Ray and his team are off to a great start. We are excited about the feedback as it helps them to gather about what students would like to see as the University explores developing an official app.”

App developments have slowed down in the last year because of the pandemic, said Ray. He hopes BYUH will get to work developing an official app to fill student needs and facilitate student life.

How to download

The developing team said unfortunately, the app is only for iOS users and is now optimized for iOS 13. To download the app, go to the App Store and download BYUH Student.•