A new mobile application to promote safety and provide resources to Ohio University students  is now available as a pilot for students, faculty and staff on the Athens campus to download .

Bobcat Safe, available in the Apple App Store and on Google Play, offers more than 50 features, including emergency resources, advanced location services, interactive maps, crime reporting and an unlimited number of push notifications for the University’s Athens campus. 

OUPD Chief of Police Andrew Powers explained that Student Senate approached OUPD last year with the idea for a cell phone app that would make OUPD’s services more readily available. 

In Fall 2018, students were surveyed to select an app that would best fit their needs. The selected product, AppArmor, is a customized mobile safety app branded specifically for Ohio University.

“I thought it was an excellent idea since cell phones have become ubiquitous and we do not see the standing ‘blue light’ phones getting used as they were intended,” Powers said. “The Bobcat Safe app will allow any OHIO student or employee with a cell phone on the Athens campus to have emergency resources and information at their fingertips while on campus. We are excited to make this technology available as a pilot and are thankful to Student Senate, Information Technology, Student Affairs, Emergency Management, and Communications and Marketing for their collaboration and efforts to implement this solution.”

According to Alicia Lundy-Morse, vice president of Student Senate, Bobcat Safe is going to be the central space for information regarding safety on campus. She pointed out the app has a “walk with a friend” feature for users to have a friend watch them walk home. 

“Bobcat Safe will be a great tool for students on the Athens campus to feel safer and more informed about campus resources,” she added. “Student Senate is extremely grateful for the opportunity that we had to serve on this committee and be the student voice through the process of getting the app up and running.” 

Bobcat Safe will be piloted on the Athens campus during the 2019-20 school year. The University will continue to explore expansion to the regional campuses after the pilot concludes.