FARMINGTON, Maine — This fall, the University of Maine at Farmington (UMF) is introducing a new “safety app” for students to use on their smartphones, adding another layer of protection when walking alone on campus. .
The university issued a press release Wednesday saying the new app will be available to students and members of the campus community 24/7. The app is free to download on both iPhone and Android devices.
The app’s features include direct access to campus police and emergency numbers, and trackable virtual “Friend Walks.” This feature allows an individual to send a message containing a link to a friend, who can then track the individual until they reach their final destination.
If the person needs assistance for any reason, there will be a button to press that will notify a friend to call campus police, according to the release.
“The friend walk feature is great,” said third grader Anthony Boyle. “It can be used on campus or in town and provides another level of comfort and safety.”
The app was developed by Wayne Drake, a former sergeant in UMF’s Campus Police Department of Public Safety, with federal support from the Coronavirus Emergency Assistance Fund.
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“Through my work with public safety on campus, I have found that when students come to me with safety questions, they often don’t know about blue light call boxes,” Drake said. Ta.
UMF has designated blue light emergency telephones and call boxes around campus that connect directly to the campus safety office.
“We started thinking about better ways to meet students where they are from an accessibility and technology perspective,” Drake said. “Our research led us to an app developer. With their help, we were able to come up with an intuitive product that addressed a wide range of student issues.”
In addition to safety support, the app also connects students to other campus resources such as Student Life, Facilities Management, Student Health Center, Mental Health Counseling Services, and Information Technology, according to the release.
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“Farmington is a safe and welcoming campus, but it’s important not to take that for granted. Today’s students are very technology-savvy, and their cell phones have become an extension of their lives.” said Christine Wilson, vice president for student affairs and enrollment management.
“This app provides students with a powerful tool and helps increase their awareness of how they can impact their personal safety and well-being, as well as the health of the campus community. “This is our goal,” Wilson added.
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