Involve is an event check-in app that tracks attendance in student organizations. It is the software used for Bods Connect, where students can stay up to date on events happening on campus.
The app is mostly used for student organization leaders to check students into events, which involves the use of QR codes. Every student has a QR code already synced to their Washburn Single Sign-On portal. Student organizations are required to use the app to avoid being shut down.
With student engagement increasing and funds being limited, the app helps determine which programs students are participating in and which ones are worth supporting financially.
Eric Grospitch, vice president for Student Life, believes that the app has a good data tracking system that helps him come up with ways to support student organizations.
“We actually now have some data as to what students are attending and what students are taking advantage of. We didn’t have that information before and some of that was best guess response when we needed to move beyond best guess,” Grospitch said.
Despite the app’s benefits, the check-in system has received some negative feedback. Other software programs have one QR code that students can scan to check themselves into events. With Involve, leaders must scan each student’s individual QR code to check them in. George Burdick, senior WSGA president, gave his thoughts on the matter.
“I do kind of wish that instead of walking around and checking a whole bunch of QR codes, there was just one QR code people could scan. I think that would be useful,” Burdick said.
This fall, the university will be potentially switching software programs to find something more convenient and easier to use. This is important since spaces on campus will be limited as Henderson Learning Resource Center will soon become Advisors Excel Hall in the next few years. The app will help keep track of how much room space events will need depending on the number of students attending. Grospitch gave his thoughts on the app as this transition is in the works.
“Is [Involve] the best one or the right one? I don’t know. It’s what we have right now, but we [are going] through a process this fall to double-check that it’s actually what we want to do going forward,” Grospitch said.
Involve is available on iOS 14, 15 and 16, as well as Android 11, 12 and 13. It is also available on this website.
Edited by Stuti Khadka and Jeremy Ford
