AU Mobile App Wins Award for Innovation
Assumption University was recognized for its innovative AU Mobile App by Modo in its 2021 Appademy Awards honoring colleges and universities for exemplary mobile apps. Assumption received second place for Most Innovative App for Communication for its Worcester Red Sox ticket module.
According to Modo, the fourth annual Appademy Awards emphasized the ways in which institutions of higher education “evolved to address the role mobile and the campus app plays in the Covid-era and highlights how schools are shifting to virtual events, empowering students to stay well and fostering community while many are off-campus.”
“The Appademy Awards not only recognizes the dedicated and creative efforts of colleges using the Modo platform but it also is a glimpse into the priorities and needs of institutions of higher education,” said Matt Willmore, senior director of product marketing at Modo. “In this year’s entries, we saw excellent examples of the ways that college apps made tasks easier, such as registering for classes and paying fees, and also substituted for many in-person college experiences like orientation and graduation.”
The AU Mobile App was a key element in welcoming Assumption students back to campus last fall for in-person learning and a residential experience. First used to provide students a means to make reservations for the recreation center, chapel, library, and Taylor Dining Hall to comply with the Commonwealth of Massachusetts’s de-densification measures, the app has since been extensively developed to serve a broader purpose.
“Developed out of necessity in response to the pandemic, the AU Mobile App has become a valuable resource for the Assumption community,” said Assumption President Francesco C. Cesareo, Ph.D. “It serves as a centralized location for students, faculty, staff, parents, families, and alumni to obtain vital information including updated safety protocols and the University’s COVID dashboard; class schedules and academic resources; campus events and clubs and organizations on campus; study abroad opportunities; services the University provides to students to support their academic journey; as well as personas for alumni and parents and families, who have access to relevant and updated information on what is happening at Assumption.”
In May, Assumption developed in-house and launched the winning WooSox module, in which faculty and staff can conveniently request access to the University’s tickets to the Worcester Red Sox. As a benefit of being a founding partner of the WooSox, Assumption is allotted four tickets for each home game, which are offered to faculty and staff on a first-come, first-served basis through the AU Mobile App.
Modo added in a press release announcing the winners that while many app features were created out of urgency due to the pandemic, features “such as ticket requests for games, registration, and add/drop appointments are now permanent and available even as restrictions lift.”
“It’s impressive to see the variation and creativity of the app development teams. We saw again and again in this year’s applicant pool that colleges did more than get tasks done, they created digital experiences and options for students to engage with their college in ways we’ve never seen before and in ways that kept college an engaging, immersive experience,” added Willmore.
The AU Mobile App is available for download on the Apple App Store or Google Play Store. When setting up the app, be sure to allow for push notifications to receive important University news and information.