University of San Diego goes Mobile

The University of San Diego has joined an elite group of universities that are early adopters of mobile applications. With the release of “MySDMobile,” USD students have access to a diverse suite of nine programs using the Apple iPhone and other smart mobile devices such as the RIM BlackBerry: http://my.sandiego.edu/mobile/.

Members of the USD community can use their iPhones or other mobile devices to view a GPS-enabled interactive map of the university’s campus, including where particular classes are located, they can call or e-mail faculty and staff members using the directory feature of the application, and browse through the university’s course and library catalogs. In addition, students can use their mobile devices to view university content on YouTube or iTunesU, and get up-to-the-minute scores for USD Toreros athletics teams.  Current news and campus events are also accessible, along with beautiful photos of USD’s campus that can be used as phone wallpaper.

The new technology was developed by Terriblyclever Design, a company that has previously created similar mobile applications for Stanford University and Duke University, among others.

USD’s Information Technology Services unit developed custom applications for the university in partnership with Terriblyclever. “It has been our fundamental philosophy that students today are digital nomads and expect an array of practical services to be easily available through their mobile devices at all times,” said Chris Wessells, USD’s chief technology officer.

Initially, nine powerful mobile programs are being delivered within the MySDMobile application, and USD is already planning the addition of new mobile programs with features including paying tuition and fees, enrolling in classes, selecting meal plans, viewing grades, and tracking university trams through GPS map services — all available through handheld smart cellular phones.

The University of San Diego is a Catholic institution of higher learning chartered in 1949; the school enrolls approximately 7,800 undergraduate and graduate students and is known for its commitment to teaching, the liberal arts, the formation of values and community service.  The fall 2007 establishment of the Joan B. Kroc School of Peace Studies brings the university’s total number of schools and colleges to six.  Other academic divisions include the College of Arts and Sciences and the schools of Business Administration, Law, Leadership and Education Sciences, Nursing and Health Sciences and Peace. 

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About the University of San Diego

Strengthened by the Catholic intellectual tradition, we confront humanity’s challenges by fostering peace, working for justice and leading with love. With more than 8,000 students from 75 countries and 44 states, USD is the youngest independent institution on the U.S. News & World Report list of top 100 universities in the United States. USD’s eight academic divisions include the College of Arts and Sciences, the Knauss School of Business, the Shiley-Marcos School of Engineering, the School of Law, the School of Leadership and Education Sciences, the Hahn School of Nursing and Health Science, the Joan B. Kroc School of Peace Studies, and the Division of Professional and Continuing Education. In 2021, USD was named a “Laudato Si’ University” by the Vatican with a seven-year commitment to address humanity’s urgent challenges by working together to take care of our common home.