Top Ideas – Answers From Students – Mobile Group on Campus

What is your top idea or request to improve your mobile computing experience here at UIUC? This is your chance to tell us exactly what you think is missing from your mobile campus experience.

The following responses are just as each student wrote them, in their words.

Better wi-fi, i.e. IllinoisNet that won’t stop working at random times
Widgets for android apps Live updates, it’s really slow
Accurate mtd apps. Maybe not have phantom buses that are on the app but dissappear after youve been waiting for several min.
A lot of campus apps and websites are not available or very accessible from my windows phone, which makes it difficult to take advantage of whats available for other students.
More coverage of IllinoisNet
There is a need for Windows Phone apps.
An app telling you how dull each library or is, or perhaps hours to buildings that are available to study in after a certain time like 8 or 10.
Better Coverage
A single app that combines all the UIUC existing apps.
It would be great to have wifi service outside of the buildings near the quad. It would also be great to have a more integrated app for the entire college (combining ECS and Illinois affairs, etc.)
Incorporating a feedback system for ongoing classes and adapting
Better compatibility and navigation. I feel like i have a lot of issues with the connectivity (sometimes the bus app just doesn’t work and sometimes reset) and sometimes it’s hard to navigate to features on the website on the app and that just drives me crazy.
Our mobile website is poorly designed. As a student I can do nothing I need to do as far as registration, looking up classes, or other things of that nature from the homepage. I always have to go to the full desktop site in order to look at my schedule or do anything on enterprise. There is definitely a better way to organize and design the mobile site.
Please bring IllinoisNet WiFi to ALL campus buildings, including private housing. Also, boost the speed and reliability of IllinoisNet, because I frequently find myself encountering low speeds and poor service, especially when lots of people are connected to it. That is my only suggestion. There are lots of buildings on campus where IllinoisNet is not available, and that is a huge disappointment.
User friendly dinning hall menu app that takes up less memory.
Create a discussion room and class can talk together about homework.
It is sometimes hard to contact faculty outside of my major. I know that they have their own pool of students to worry about but if I need to contact someone for a project or a class or even attaining a minor, the faculty seems out of reach.
The WiFi goes out every 5 minutes it feels like. I would appreciate it if I didn’t have to re-login everytime
A campus map app or an app that tells you all of the different events happening across campus
If possible, one wireless internet connection campus-wide, including housing and outdoors.
Quick access to your schedule and connection to a map of where your classes are located on campus.
The wifi isn’t very good. Hard to connect at times.
I link app for mobile & iPad compatible General college of business portal app that has list of schedules of events, ability to book rooms (like ems), a place for organizations to put ads in, etc2
Make the wifi work more consistently. I rarely work from campus because there is only a 20% or so chance that I can actually connect (and stay connected) to the campus network from my laptop. This is not an issue anywhere else (home [802.11n network], coffee shops, etc.).
More apps for iphones and tablets
It is a great app. I don’t use it often because I susally find out emails by emails.
The wifi isn’t reliable, it needs to be resigned in when moving between buildings, and it doesn’t keep me logged in for more than 2 hours. It would be nice if I could be logged in all the time, you know?
I have never used the mobile campus experience because I never found it useful
Not sure.
An app with events going on at the University would be nice. If student organizations had access to it, it would be a great way to showcase what is going on in the student community.
I have to check my UIUC Outlook email account my logging onto the website, which is not optimized for mobile.
Illinois Compass needs to be more mobile friendly so coursework can be more easily accessible via mobile devices.
The wireless connection is so spotty on campus and in buildings that I can never fully count on having internet when I need it.
An app that tells you the hours of operation for buildings on campus
Please make wifi faster and easier to connect.
Wireless internet availability and quality should be improved. Most uiucnet connections are so poor that mobile work on them is unfeasible
UIUCnet doesn’t work with mobile apps at all. Illinois Net doesn’t work reliably depending on location. But more often than not, I have to resort to using data.
Course schedule app, which can inform next day course schedule and also let me search the course I can attend( I mean not enroll)
The MTD bus app is very inaccurate. Many RSOs have events open to any and all students, it would be nice to have all those in one place.
A library app with hours (including residence hall libraries), search capabilities for books and media, general information, and room reservations.
It would be nice to have a way to report wi-fi problems. UW-Madison also has a really great system of points for attending sporting events, campus events, etc. This would tie really well with mobile. Points used on items, tickets, etc. Also, better wi-fi infrastructure is a MUST. It is ridiculous how cumbersome it is to connect to UIUCnet or IllinoisNet. The problem is exacerbated on Mobile. Also, wi-fi and cell signals in ECEB should be a priority. Now that Compass 2G is standard, please update the URL… typing 2G is annoying.
Enterprise app for schedule, grades, GPA, etc. NRES app for opportunities, internships, talks, research, etc.
NA. It’s great.
It would be nice to improve the strength and reliance of the wifi so mobile computing would function fast and with greater ease
Making the Student Mobil app that lets you view your schedule and grades run faster. Web interface glitches a lot
Illinoisnet is terrible, I like the compass app and the bus app
More apps about the campus life, like apps can show the bus time, distance calculation. App can show the menu of the residence halls
The wifi is spotty and hard to use
Ability to access Google Docs on phone
Improve the stability of IllinoisNet wireless. I understand that bandwidth is limited, but the stability of the connection needs substantial improvement. My colleagues and I frequently have to disconnect and reconnect to the network (as often as every 5 minutes) to get internet access.
Having an app that follows up with student fees and keeps track of money would be really convenient and neat to have conveniently on an app.
iClicker type questions that we text, then each will have an individual number and people won’t give up their phones and cheat.
I’m currently studying a abroad in Singapore and they have exceptional wifi. I can be connected while walking on the streets without the connection dissapearing. They even have wifi on their buses! More reliable internet would be nice, especially as you move from building to building
ability to access all of compass online. Sometimes quizzes are not available. Putting all classes on the same website (compass, moodle, etc).
– Apps that allow us to sync our class schedules to our google calendars – Ability to schedule/view course catalog on mobile phones – i-link mobile app – better campus maps – one centralized app that has class closing updates, crime alerts, schedules, professor information directory, Illinois email access, and forum for all clubs to advertise their events.
Nothing
ipad
Simply put, getting the internet to work (maybe not so simple to do). Regardless of where I am with my phone (or laptop) the wireless internet connectivity is always very shaky. The most common problems are: randomly booting me from the server, failing repeatedly to connect to a strong signal (eg 4-5 bars connection, standing right by the transmitter), dropping of the signal once the connection is being used – viz having a strong connection but once I open a webpage the connection will start to fail. Another issue I’ve had is that I can’t connect to both of the UIUC student/faculty connections. I can (only) connect to illinoisnet with my laptop and (only) connect to the other (UIUCnet I think) with my phone. Naturally having to sign in everytime I change buildings for internet access can get a little tiresome with a phone, and since I do a significant amount of literature research on my phone can make catching up on some of the journals more challenging. The range is generally good though; I can’t consistently connnect, but I can see the network at most places I would like to use it (except my office where I simply use lan and don’t need to use the phone)
A mobile app the requires one time login and has access to useful things like a visually appealing list of classes and times, the ability to track and integrate the bus schedules and times, ability to reserve study rooms for group projects, listing of grades, integration to link to the Blackboard app (compass 2g), list of helpful student service braches, ability to add/drop classes in the app
Personally, I use the full compliment of Windows devices (phone, tablet, pc) so I would like mobile apps for that platform. Specifically, I would like a mobile app for compass the most. I would like to be able to check my grades and content on that site from my mobile devices. Second an orgsync and/or news/events app would be a nice addition.
A mobile map that you can plan out your schedule and the best paths to take to avoid bike lanes and busy intersections. The 4G has gotten much better too
Apps for Windows phones
An app that combines maps, compass, bus schedules, and moodle
better wireless connection, make it easier to log in
UIUC connect never connects on my phone.
On the UIUC Dining app for the Ikenberry Dining Hall, I think it’d be more useful to have foods grouped by the type of food (main course, sides, et cetera) and then have an icon indicating if they are vegan or vegetarian rather than what that section of the app is now (grouped by the area the course is in). Also after you select the course it can say where it is and nutrition facts.
Allow classes’ details from the student self service to be exported to Google Calendar. (Schedule of current courses is in its own calender on student self service, needs to be able to be exportable to a Google Calendar accessible at https://www.google.com/calendar)
There could be an app for all sorts of social events, from plays and performances to sports games and movie nights and even some parties on campus.
A user-friendly version of Blackboard and/or Moodle.
More apps, or more capability on current apps. An app where you can file all your classes, professors contact information and office hours, create notes for certain classes. These are all available on non affiliated apps, but an app from you all could be catered for UIUC students.
Something that could relate to the RSOs that are there. Another could be a short list of events that are happening throughout all of campus.
Put up more IllinoisNet routers across campus, especially in high traffic areas like auditoriums and dining halls.
It would be nice to receive a text when class is cancelled.
have an app for campus events (i.e. scholarly talks, guests, events at the cultural houses, entertainment, free stuff/promotional events, anything happening at the union, etc.)
School map app of campus.
make my.illinois.edu more mobile friendly. E.g. more options to register for classes, view grades, pay bills, view class schedule, etc.
I think UIUC Enterprise should have a mobile app. It would make doing things like adding/dropping classes and paying off owed money in my student account pretty simple and something I could do on the go
I think all the apps here are wonderful!
Routers that can handle more contention
I think a better compass map and a self service app to register for classes and check our schedules would be ideal.
Apps that are consistent and don’t crash. Apps connected directly to McKinley, Campus Rec & all surrounding food/beverage locations.
The wi-fi is incredibly slow in many locations. For example, UIUC Net works really well on one side of the building, but IllinoisNet works better on the other side of the building. Also, UIUC Net is very difficult to use on a smart phone, I don’t want to have to log in every hour, I want to be able to stay logged in.
More cell phone chargers. Better wifi.
Apps for compass, canvas, moodle, etc. might be a cool thing to work on.
Exact locations of buses. Not just estimates of how far away they are.
better wi-fi access on every part of campus.
Sometimes the Illinois wifi network is not able to connect (not just me, a lot of people in same area). I hope the network could be more stable
Improved integration with EWS/Cites personal space to be mounted on non-windows/OSX devices. Better authentication control, better control over available printers. Improved outdoor wifi access.
Predictability that tools will be mobile friendly/optimized. Some are, some aren’t. Never know in advance.
-Add a live map of moving bus routes on ANDROID apps for cumtd. -App to check grades and student account -App for best places to eat on and off campus, with all ranges of restaurants (maybe linked to Yelp for reviews?) -1 App that shows campus map, events/news/alerts, UIUC radio, and a scholarship calculator scholarship calculator
Outdoors Wifi Coverage for the ENTIRE CAMPUS
Make the campus wifi reliable in lecture halls. Nothing is worse than watching all of the networks fail because they can’t handle the load. This is 2015, not 2001.
Illinois Compass App for Windows Phone
Better wifi, like seriously, we go to a top engineering school, I shouldn’t have to connect to a potato. Take some notes from Starbucks or anywhere else. It’s garbage internet. Besides that, a app that notifies you of events on the quad or around campus to do in between classes would be pretty cool
A library app like Minerva, but with a live book locator to show where in the stacks a book is located for all libraries.
I think that there should be an easier way to look up the various parking lots and street parking hours and prices. There are times that I have tried to look this information up and the answer was always unclear. I could easily find what the lot number was, but I could not always figure out if it was available to park in after a certain time. This would be especially helpful for students with far night exams or night classes.
An app about cool events, like at the union or Krannert.
Better wifi–my phone struggles to connect sometimes, as does my laptop
A list of ingredients in each food item on the dining app and better instructions on how to use the bus app
I am not able to connect to Illinoisnet in my dorm as strong as I would like. The connection time is long and times out often and takes around 5 minutes to get a solid connection.
GPA/Grades/Grad Progress
I do not think anything is missing. Perhaps I wish I knew what apps (if any) are available for my phone pertaining to this campus.
Dedicated mobile wifi network. Improvements to illinois net to work better with the OSX operating system (macs)
The wifi is too difficult to connect to. Also there should be a way to rsvp for meals so that food is more readily available
The WiFi is just terrible. It needs to be improved on campus. I can rarely connect and even when I do I get slow speeds or I get dropped from the connection. It needs to be more available and stronger.
An app that includes everything together – email, compass, moodle, enterprise, the bus schedule, etc
The biggest thing I think students look for is email. The current mobile site has an email link, but it does not let you check your email, just send one. It is very confusing. I know that some people use the gmail app for UIUC emails, but I have a personal email and a school email, and would like to be able to use both.
N/A
Most PhD students are given desktops for research, but with growing trends in laptops, we should be given laptops to do our research which fosters flexibility in working too.
Access Medical School calendar in an easy to use way
It has been good.
I know campus-wide wireless service is a challenge to provide; however, I would say that among students, not being able to connect automatically to campus networks in a seamless manner across campus is still a common issue.
more and faster wifi connections
I just want to make sure that I have WIFI on campus.
I don’t know. I don’t have a smart phone (yet–maybe this summer). I was hoping you would tell me what your ideas are.
Allowing more than 2 devices to connect to IllinoisNet. Most students carry a tablet, smartphone, and a laptop. Consolidating the Enterprise and CITE or at least allow students to have one password.
Disable UIUCnet so people don’t foolishly use it.
I need a mobile app for my illinois email account.
Since we got uptodate, I’ve actually been pretty happy.
More reliable wifi. IllinoisNet is spotty and the cell service in ECEB is non-existent
An actual app for Compass.
I think that UofI should create a mobile apps for iOS/Android that allow students to access Enterprise to check grades/schedule/add and drop classes. Enterprise itself needs an update too… There really is no reason to have such an outdated front-end. In addition and auto scheduler for classes similar to what Scheedule is, except have full or restricted classes filter out. This app would really make UofI stand out. I see no technological issues to this either. Tying into existing databases should be sufficient. You could even add push notifications for grades and other updates.
Have a consistent WiFi signal throughout campus
It’s all good
Easy to follow linkS
Easily accessible weekly class schedule. I’d like to see where I’m supposed to be going for that week instead of relying on a screenshot that might include classes that are only 8(ish) weeks long (some classes are 9 weeks!).
As a student in the College of Engineering, I pay an extra fee to use the Engineering Workstations provided by EWS; however, instructors often times expect students to have a personal laptop to bring to class. I would like to have laptops issued by the university to students for school work. The laptops could be configured with all of the software that we are required to use for class. Many students cannot afford the newest or most expensive computer, and it is irritating to me that I have to pay so much money for EWS and also pay money to have a laptop for school.
App of events at various locations
An app to tell when the music room at far is open
Print from phones, better compass/moodle integration with android/iPhone
A larger WiFi coverage area would be nice.
For enterprise to be more mobile friendly, I think an app should be developed specifically for enterprise.
Improve IllinoisNet. Make sure that the cert domain is uiuc\[netid] or something consistent across the board, some routers are set up different than others at present. Also, switch to a VPN client that isn’t Cisco Anyconnect. The old system was good.
Better wifi
For a mobile app I suggest that we get easy access to our class schedules, dining hall information like meal plans and credits, and newsfeed. If we can have students login into their own accounts it would be very accessible for students to have access to many links in one application.
I’d like a class application that has all of the homework, readings, and has the capability to send push notifications on class updates and cancels. Basically, a more streamlined blackboard application for Iphone/android
Campus calendar. Knowing what’s happening on campus. Everything.
The only issue that I occasionally have with my phone or laptop is having connection/connectivity problems with IllinoisNet. Generally speaking, it’s not a huge problem, but it’s an annoyance. Otherwise things are fine. I don’t use my phone to really do anything campus-related.
The “Illini Bus” app should be more stable and may be integrated into the “Illinois” app.
I’m least pleased with the wifi. I live in the dorms and often get kicked off wifi, where my phone then starts using up data. As far as apps go, blackboard isn’t a horrible app but I have trouble getting it to load pretty often on my iPad and my phone.
I’d like to have good reception in every building. I often cannot make calls or received messages on my phone in the medical sciences building.
Better and more trustworthy official bus app.
Wifi that works
UIUC Self-Service Mobile App! Be able to check out all available classes, grades, schedule, etc. There’s a mobile site, but can do a lot more with an app.
I would love to somehow get access to the software on university computers on my laptop. I am able to get onto EWS mobile, but only because of my engineering major, and even those do not have all the software I want (the Adobe suite, for example).
apps for compass and learn.illinois
It would be nice if the wifi around campus were stronger. I’ve noticed that when I’m in a high-population area, I often can’t get a signal on either my phone or laptop.
I think a lot of the websites could be more mobile friendly and made easier to use on phones.
I don’t know what mobile computing is, so I do not have any ideas or requests.
An app for uiuc e-mail that works for the i phone
Some professors don’t have all their grades and powerpoint online. It would be nice to have just one universal website for all classes, instead of having a different class website for each one. Also the U of I app for smartphones needs to be improved.
A mobile app for the Illinois website, including Enterprise and Compass
Better wifi connection in MEL. EWS app to tell where open computers are located.
Make IllinoisNet more stable for internet connection. I find it to be quirky sometimes and it can be annoying when trying to stay connected.
The Blackboard app is sub-par – improving the mobile app for ease of use with phones and tablets would be beneficial. For mobile, streamlining it to view documents uploaded by professors (PPTs, syllabus, etc.), and for tablets, making uploading documents possible (I’ve had difficulties in the past). A better app for the CUMTD buses would also be greatly appreciated. The texting system is great, but for busy stops such as the Illini Union, the texting system only gives a person about 3 minutes warning. The website is clunky to pull up on a phone, and no standard and reliable app exists for both Android & Apple.
Lack of computer lab in the Social Work building. There is a very small amount of computers that is not adequate given the small lounge space and given the large number of undergraduate and graduate students who need access to computers. Inadequate study space overall in that building as well, which relates to access to mobile computing in my opinion.
Exposure or awareness. I’m not currently aware of many mobile apps or anything of the sort for UIUC.
The wi-fi is so difficult to sign into. Makes it not worth it most of the time
Wireless printing should become an option of EWS computers from mobile devices and laptops. Searching for printers is a big issue at newmark and grainger
campus wide wifi a student app for the mtd that is reliable
The Wi-Fi cuts out, sometimes even at the library.
More reliable IllinoisNet wireless service; often my phone sees it as too weak to connect to even if I can’t get a signal elsewhere, or once my laptop has connected it will repeatedly drop (even after using recommended configurations).
Campus wide wifi including outside on the quads
Get rid of Compass2g. It has a terrible mobile website especially compared to Moodle.
Better mobile sites
For some reason it is often hard to connect to illinoisnet. I don’t know how that can be improved, but it’s pretty much the only issue I have.
Improve the connectivity for Internet access for all devices. Of course increasing the area is important, but many times connectivity itself is an issue so ensuring that all users can utilize IllinoisNet without problems should be first priority.
It would be really nice to have real-time data on the availability of EWS workstations. The software for many of my engineering classes can only be used on those computers, and often I have to walk to different labs to get an open computer.
Dead zones for the various cellular companies need to eliminated on and around campus. Need to work with carriers to get in-building solutions when necessary. A lot of the problems I’ve had with campus WiFi seem to be just bugs between drivers on devices and access point firmware. The university can’t do anything about this except maybe switch AP vendor, but then best case you’re spending lots of money for slightly fewer problems, worse case you’re spending lots of money for more problems.
An app to connect students from the same classes to make study groups, share notes, etc.
I have Sprint and have issues getting signal on the Quad. Signal within the Music Building (with both Sprint and Verizon) is virtually nonexistent.
The mobile system seems difficult to make work on Android devices (I cannot speak for Apple)
there should be easier navigation and functionality between pages. For example, there should be a button or dialog box so that students can easily select what they indeed to search for. It is challenging to navigate to McKinley on a smart phone.
Consistent wifi
Experience is overall very good. New students have a difficult time knowing which network to connect to (IllinoisNet or UIUC). Often faculty cannot help and has the largest problem connecting their computers which they use to run class.
Stronger internet connection
More online learning and training on digital citizenship. Mobile texting advising models.
I would like to be connected for a longer time when I connect to UIUC net.
Some buildings and halls have no service such as the music building and some rooms in the psych building
There is a disparity in which devices can wirelessly hook up to internet in the College of Education. Multiple rooms are on AirPlay, making it easy for Mac users to access (though that’s not true if they have an older Mac), but any students with a Windows/Droid must purchase a special program (AirParrot was recommended, I can’t remember for Droid). Extra expenses pile up, and I believe this situation negatively affects opportunities for student participation.
UIUC net is constantly signing in and out, multiple times a day. I never had this issue at other universities or home.
It is difficult to filter through the best search options on the online library catalog
More reliable connections.
The campus map page does not work well on mobile. A way (other than text) to create a “shopping” list for the library. Google Apps for graduate students would also be helpful. Exchange email apps are clunky, harder to use, and updated less frequently than Gmail. Also, editing docs from Box on mobile is harder than Google Drive.
I would like to be able to access Moodle and Collaborate from my iPad with ease, as well as the Blackboard platform through Moodle. Currently, I have to do it through Safari because the iPad app for Blackboard doesn’t recognize our program.
Emergency announcements on all university machines. For example, if I’m teaching in a building away from my home department and an emergency arises, I would like a clear message to appear on the computer saying what the emergency is and exactly what to do in that moment.
Better mobile without having to log in to Illinoisnet all the time.
Reliable, high-bandwidth wifi. Both IllinoisNet and UIUCnet randomly disconnect users, and UIUCnet’s web interface often gives “MAC address undefined errors.” Additionally, high-traffic areas such as Grainger Library have slow wifi.
The UI – self service page. Duh. Needs a mobile version of the site. Or perhaps even an app. Something that gives us a clean view of our “week at a glance” schedule maybe?
There is terrible wifi in offices in Newmark lab. This includes graduate student offices and professors’ offices, where we frequently need wifi to access something. There is nothing more frustrating than trying to get homework help with the professor and then the wifi network kicks you off for apparently no reason.
completely get rid of UIUCnet
– University sponsored apps. Scheduling apps, apps for housing, grade apps, etc. Ideally I would like to have one app that shows all my weekly assignments.
The wireless is very spotty a lot of the time.