By Emma Schultz
This week, I looked at some of Western New England University’s newest tech/apps available for student use. The D’Amour Library has recently launched a brand new Discord server. Counseling is supposed to be rolling out a new online self-scheduling form, and the first floor of the University Commons has an app designed to make ordering food a breeze.
Discord:
Western New England University’s D’amour Library has launched its newest piece of tech, a WNE library Discord server. According to librarian Haley Chauvin, the goal of this new server is to bring the first floor of the library all over campus. People can use the server in many ways, including working on group projects with classmates and asking a librarian for help.
This server was not easy to find, and I had to email Chauvin herself to access it. Chauvin admitted that since it’s still relatively new, not all students know that it’s there or its purpose. To access the library Discord, you must sign into the University “hub” with your school email. From there, a verification code sends to your email, and you’re in! The one that shows up is the D’Amour Virtual Library. Click “join,” and it’s as simple as that. Chauvin stated, “Truthfully, my goal is… for students to use it for on-the-fly peer homework help and to share Wordle scores or anything else that comes to mind.”
Dining:
During the 2020-2021 academic year, COVID-19 significantly impacted how students could access meals on campus. When the COVID cases were low enough to have seating open, students had to make a reservation on the OpenTable app. The app itself was relatively easy to use. However, Western New England University is no longer an option for reservations, as the second and third floors of the University Commons don’t require dining reservations anymore.
WNE dining also rolled out the app Transact Mobile Order. Students can place orders for food at the campus Starbucks, B+F, and Spirit’s Sandwiches. The app is quite simple to use, and students can preorder their morning coffees or lunch sandwiches with ease. Students have the option to pay with their cards, Bear Bucks, or even exchange a meal swipe for their meal combos. Any meal exchange combo typically includes an entree, a bag of chips, and a fountain beverage.
Counseling:
I was hoping to test out the online scheduling form for The Center for Health and Wellness Counseling appointments, as Kathleen Noone planned on opening online scheduling this semester. However, the online form is still not live, and students must call the primary Center for Health and Wellness phone number to set up an appointment.
