DPS Releases Android Mobile App

Syracuse University’s Department of Public Safety will release its new Android phone and tablet app on Monday, Dec. 2.

The app was developed in a partnership between the department and the School of Information Studies.

DPS approached the project in order to provide students with pertinent safety information where they spend more time every day—on their mobile devices. The new app serves as a central landing point for all DPS information resources together on one platform.

The app prominently displays the department’s Google Map of Public Safety Notices in the University area, and also has a constantly updated “Message” feed, which aggregates Public Safety Notices, Public Safety Updates, Public Safety Information Bulletins and Orange Alert transmissions into one place. In addition, buttons link to the department’s social media feeds, bringing all sources of information, including useful crime prevention tips posted to the social media feeds weekly, into one easy-to-access location.

Upon first download, the app will prompt users to enter the DPS phone numbers into their contact lists, and will ask to allow push notifications.

Users can download the app on the Google Play store, or find the app using the search term “SU DPS.” Once the Android rollout is complete, the development team will focus on bringing the app to the Apple App Store for use on iOS devices.

School of Information Studies Research Assistant Professor Yun Huang led a graduate student team in the development of the app. The students involved were Yu Sun, Rucha Avinash Somani and Jing Zhu.

Anyone with questions or suggestions about the app’s functionality can contact Huang at yhuang@syr.edu or DPS Public Information Officer Hannah Warren at hkwarren@syr.edu.