Modo Appademy Awards Recognize Best Campus Apps of 2024

Now in its seventh year, Modo Labs Appademy Awards celebrates institutions using the Modo platform to exceed campus needs through innovative mobile apps and web portals. This year’s finalists are pushing boundaries, delivering more engaging and functional solutions for students and staff alike. This year was highly competitive, with over 100 submissions from higher education institutions from across the globe. Highlights include custom and out-of-the-box integrations with popular systems, successful promotion of campus activities and events, and reimagined digital app and portal experiences powered by Modo 4.1 Screen Builder.

The 2024 Appademy Awards included ten categories, with all category winners eligible for the Best Overall Campus App award. 2024 categories were:

Best Personalized Experience
Best Dining
Best Use of Communications
Best Integration (XModule)
Best Desktop Portal
Best Traditional Event
Best App Redesign
Best Prospective Student Experience
Best Student-Driven App
Most Creative App Marketing

Read on to meet the finalists and discover which schools earned the top recognition across our 10 categories.

Best Personalized Experience

Apps that leverage personalized content, messaging, academic systems, and more to bring value to their users (students, staff, faculty, etc) through their digital campus experience. 

Winner: Utah Tech University

In today’s fast-paced educational landscape, creating a seamless and engaging campus experience is crucial for fostering student success and staff efficiency. Utah Tech has taken a giant leap forward with its innovative campus app, offering a deeply personalized digital experience tailored to meet the unique needs of students, faculty, and staff.

• Utah Tech’s campus app integrates 16 unique data points on the home screen, offering personalized access to real-time GPA updates, advisor links, Canvas notifications, schedules, and more for students, faculty, and staff.
• Over 19,000 visits were made to the tuition payment site during the first week, driven by prominently displayed account balances.
• Students benefit from a streamlined experience that provides organization and instant updates, while faculty and staff use tailored dashboards for improved efficiency and focus.

Utah Tech’s campus app exemplifies the power of personalization in higher education. The app enhances engagement by integrating real-time data and delivering it in a user-friendly format, setting a new standard for digital campus solutions. This forward-thinking approach ensures that everyone in the Utah Tech community stays informed, connected, and empowered to succeed.

Best Dining Experience

Apps that Modo’s out of out-of-the-box modules, communications, other features and/or their own custom-built integrations to provide a top quality campus dining through their apps. 

Illinois State University

Thanks to Illinois State University’s new dining app, dining on campus just got smarter, faster, and more convenient. Designed to serve students, faculty, and staff, this comprehensive solution revolutionizes the way the ISU community plans and enjoys meals.

While the app is still in its early stages, it is expected to significantly enhance the dining experience at ISU. By integrating real-time information and user-friendly tools, the app empowers the campus community to plan meals efficiently and make healthier dining choices.

• Illinois State University ensures a seamless dining experience for all unique campus community members—whether they are on-campus students, commuters, or faculty—with a comprehensive dining app offering real-time resources and personalized features.
• The dining screen includes general operating hours, current and future menus, nutrition information, and live traffic cams for each dining location, allowing users to plan their meals efficiently and avoid long waits.
• With additional access to the Redbird Card widget to track dining dollars, the app offers an all-in-one dining solution that saves time and enhances convenience for its users.

Illinois State University’s innovative dining module sets a new standard for campus dining. Illinois State University’s dining app isn’t just about convenience; it’s about creating a holistic and informed dining journey. Whether users are seeking quick updates on dining hours or tracking their Redbird Card balance, the app ensures a seamless experience that saves time and reduces hassle.

Best Use of Communications

Apps that offer personalized, timely, and/or localized push notifications and in-app communications to support student success. 

Winner: University of North Dakota

The University of North Dakota is redefining how students stay informed and connected with its innovative enhancements to the MyUND app. Through a data-driven initiative, UND has expanded communication channels, offering students a more personalized and effective way to engage with campus life.

• The University of North Dakota has enhanced the MyUND app to offer students a more personalized and effective way to engage with campus life through 23 opt-in communication channels.
• Students can tailor their experience by selecting topics that matter most, from academic deadlines to free campus events, ensuring every message is relevant, timely, and impactful.
• The 2023-2024 school year highlighted the app’s success, with 28% of usage in the message center, 14% engagement in the menu module, 2,000 new users, and top channels like “Academic Dates & Deadlines: Undergraduate” attracting over 1,000 subscribers.

The University of North Dakota’s approach goes beyond simply delivering information—it’s about creating meaningful connections. By empowering students to customize their communication preferences, UND has streamlined the flow of information, reduced overload, and ensured that students stay engaged with what matters most to them.

Best Desktop Portal

Apps that offer their students and campus community an intuitive, personalized and valuable campus portal experience on their desktop. 

Winner: Palm Beach State College

Palm Beach State College has reimagined its student portal, creating a seamless, user-friendly experience that meets the needs of today’s students. By addressing key concerns around usability and flexibility, the college has delivered a modernized platform that centralizes academic and campus-related resources into one intuitive hub.

• Palm Beach State College has reimagined its student portal to create a seamless and user-friendly platform that centralizes academic and campus-related resources into one intuitive hub.
• The portal includes customizable features such as a “Favorites” section for quick access to frequently used tools, Canvas integration for streamlined course navigation, and personalized feeds tailored to individual academic and schedule updates.
• Since its launch in September 2024, the redesigned portal has achieved nearly 350,000 page views in just days, with an average of 920,000 monthly views expected to grow with further integrations.

Palm Beach State College’s redesigned portal represents a significant step forward in improving accessibility and convenience for students. By combining functionality with personalization, the platform ensures that students can efficiently manage their academic and campus-related activities, freeing up more time to focus on their success.

Best Integration (XModule)

Apps that deliver a unique or improved experience by using a custom integration with an external system or web service built by their institution. 

Winner: Penn State University

Penn State University has redefined the student experience with Penn State Go, a comprehensive platform that integrates essential academic and campus services into one seamless, user-friendly app. Designed to simplify access to critical resources, Penn State Go incorporates a suite of powerful tools using Modo’s XModule, creating an intuitive and personalized experience. 

• Penn State University’s Penn State Go app integrates essential academic and campus services into one seamless and user-friendly platform, simplifying access to critical resources for students.
• Key features include a Canvas widget for course materials and grades, a Starfish widget for connecting with advisors, and an academic calendar widget for staying informed about important dates and deadlines.
• The app eliminates the need for multiple logins, creating a centralized hub for academic success and campus engagement.
• Students have praised the app’s streamlined navigation, intuitive design, and ability to save time while reducing stress by centralizing key resources.

Penn State Go exemplifies how technology can enhance the student experience by improving access to essential services. With its cohesive design and student-centered features, the app empowers students to stay organized, informed, and connected to their academic journey with all campus resources in the palm of their hands.

Best Traditional Event

Apps that leveraged modules, communications, personas, and/or other features to successfully promote a traditional school event. 

Winner: University of North Carolina Wilmington – New Student Orientation

The University of North Carolina Wilmington (UNCW) elevated the student move-in experience for 2024 with a streamlined, mobile-first approach. Using the Modo app, UNCW created a personalized and seamless process, ensuring students and their families felt prepared and informed during this pivotal transition to campus life.

• The University of North Carolina Wilmington elevated the student move-in experience for 2024 with a mobile-first approach powered by the Modo app, creating a seamless and personalized process for students and families.
• The app provided students with personalized move-in times, dorm assignments, an interactive campus map for navigation, and real-time communication to keep everyone informed throughout the day.
• Since its release on May 31, 2024, the app achieved over 5,000 downloads by mid-August, becoming an essential tool for move-in day through targeted marketing during first-year orientation.

UNCW’s innovative use of the Modo app not only enhanced the move-in experience but also laid the groundwork for its use in future campus events. Plans to integrate the app for occasions like commencement are already underway, showcasing its versatility and effectiveness in supporting large-scale university events.

Best App Redesign

Redesigned apps to improve their visual design and usability using Modo 4.1 and the new Screen Builder. Open to new clients moving from a prior platform and existing clients who redesigned their Modo Campus App. 

Winner: San Francisco State University

San Francisco State University (SF State) has revolutionized its mobile app experience with a comprehensive redesign released on August 15, 2024. Focused on improving content quality, user interface, and engagement, the new app sets a high standard for how universities can leverage technology to support student success. SF State’s redesigned app reflects extensive user research, surveys, and analytics to ensure it meets the needs of its diverse student body. 

• San Francisco State University launched a redesigned mobile app on August 15, 2024, featuring a modern interface, personalized tools, and streamlined content to better meet student needs.
• Key features include a visually appealing design, tools like Upcoming Class Schedules, Gator Dollar Balance, GPA tracking, and refined content to ensure students can easily manage their academic and campus life.
• Within the first month, the app saw 2,000 additional returning users compared to the previous fall semester, highlighting increased engagement and adoption.

The redesigned SF State app goes beyond aesthetics, offering functionality that simplifies campus life and enhances the student experience. Its success reflects a deep understanding of students’ preferences and a commitment to providing tools that support their academic journey.

Best Prospective Student Experience (Non-event)

Apps with programs designed to enhance student retention and success. Nominees in this category demonstrate innovative approaches to supporting students through communications and/or other features to engage and help students succeed. 

Winner: Auburn University

Auburn University is transforming student recruitment and retention with its newly launched app, designed to provide comprehensive support for incoming students. By offering tailored personas and personalized resources, the app ensures a seamless transition into university life and fosters a sense of community from the very beginning.

• Auburn University launched a new app to enhance student recruitment and retention by providing personalized support, tailored personas, and seamless access to critical resources for incoming students.
• Key features include personalized advisor access, an interactive 3D campus map, and tools for planning campus visits, ensuring a smooth transition into university life.
• The app achieved 52,000 views for the Prospective Student Persona, 15,000 homepage views with 1,570 unique users, a 3.4% increase in overall enrollment, and a 95% one-year retention rate, demonstrating its effectiveness.

Auburn University’s app goes beyond functionality—it creates a meaningful connection between students and the university, helping them feel informed, supported, and prepared. The app’s positive impact on enrollment and retention underscores its importance as a vital tool in enhancing the student experience.

Best Student-Driven App

Apps or modules developed by students that showcase exceptional design, functionality, and impact. 

California State University, Northridge

California State University, Northridge (CSUN) has taken a bold, student-centered approach to improving campus technology through App Jam 2023, a competition that invited students to redesign the CSUN Mobile App. This initiative resulted in a fresh, dynamic app that better serves the campus community by focusing on enhanced design, functionality, and personalized content.

• California State University, Northridge, redesigned its CSUN Mobile App through App Jam 2023, a student competition that prioritized innovative ideas and collaboration to enhance campus technology.
• The redesigned app features dynamic greetings, real-time event updates, and improved functionality, creating a user-friendly and personalized experience for the campus community.
• The app achieved a 6.4% increase in unique visitors over six months, reflecting its improved design and growing engagement, with higher satisfaction levels among students and campus organizations.

CSUN’s approach to integrating student ideas into technology development has resulted in a mobile app that not only meets but exceeds expectations. The app is now more interactive, responsive, and aligned with the needs of the campus community, fostering a deeper connection among students, faculty, and staff.

Most Creative App Marketing Campaign

Apps that use multi-channel marketing and promotional activities to drive app awareness and usage. 

Winner: Syracuse University

Syracuse University set the stage for a highly connected student experience with its OrangeNow app marketing campaign, launched before the Fall 2024 semester. By using a comprehensive multi-channel approach, the campaign ensured widespread awareness, rapid adoption, and a seamless introduction of the app into campus life.

• Syracuse University launched the OrangeNow app with a multi-channel marketing campaign ahead of Fall 2024, combining digital ads, social media, print materials, and on-campus promotions to maximize student awareness and engagement.
• The campaign resulted in over 13,000 downloads in August 2024, with 1,500 downloads in the first two days, averaging 400 downloads daily and showcasing rapid adoption across campus.
• OrangeNow has become a central resource for students, offering tools to navigate academic and social aspects of campus life while transforming the student experience.

OrangeNow is now an integral part of Syracuse University’s campus life, providing students with essential tools and resources to navigate their academic and social journeys. The app’s strong adoption is a testament to the campaign’s success in fostering engagement and excitement.

Best Overall Campus App

Recognizing the campus whose app demonstrates a holistically exceptional experience, using innovative integrations, promoting events, leveraging communications, using personas to personalize the user experience, and driving engagement. All finalists were considered for this category.

Runner-Up:

• Utah Tech University 

Winner Spotlight: The Pennsylvania State University and Their Groundbreaking App, Penn State Go

Penn State Go is redefining the digital campus experience, setting a new benchmark for personalized and engaging mobile platforms across large, diverse universities.

A Tailored Experience for a Diverse Community

With 23 unique campuses and 26 distinct personas, Penn State Go ensures that every member of the Penn State community—students, faculty, staff, alumni, and even families—feels connected and supported. The app delivers personalized communication that engages over 66,000 students with academic updates, event invitations, and critical resources through highly targeted messaging based on attributes like major, campus, and graduation status.

Seamless Integration of Academic and Campus Services

Penn State Go integrates essential academic tools like Canvas and Starfish, alongside campus-specific features such as weather updates, countdown widgets, shuttle schedules, and sports updates. This strategic design ensures that users across all campuses, whether at the bustling University Park or a specialized location, receive the most relevant and impactful information.

Empowering the Penn State Community

From connecting students to local events and organizations to supporting faculty and staff with campus-specific tools, Penn State Go represents a cohesive digital platform that empowers the entire Penn State community. The app’s success lies in its ability to combine innovation with inclusivity, delivering a highly effective and personalized experience that reflects the university’s commitment to excellence.

Congratulations to Penn State University for creating Penn State Go, a powerful and inclusive digital platform that connects, empowers, and supports its entire community. By setting a new standard for digital campus experiences, Penn State has once again proven its leadership in higher education technology!

Final Thoughts

Congratulations to all the finalists and winners! We are continually inspired by the incredible innovations our higher ed customers create using the Modo platform. Your creativity and dedication to enhancing student life, guiding campus navigation, and supporting student success are truly commendable. We’re excited to see what you’ll achieve in 2025!

Want to see what a unified campus app would look like for your school? Request a Demo here.