Go OHIO app wins award for marketing campaign, downloads top 15,000

The Go OHIO app has been downloaded more than 15,000 times since it launched in fall 2023 and Ohio University’s effort to get the word out has been recognized as the “most creative marketing campaign” in the 2023 Appademy Awards, sponsored by Modo, the vendor of the new app.

The campaign included digital signage across the Athens campus and all five regional campuses, as well as a series of social media videos, messaging to incoming students, and a collection of swag including stickers, pens, sunglasses, and more. The campaign is the result of months of collaboration between University Communications and Marketing (UCM) and the Office of Information Technology (OIT).

"This recognition really speaks to the strength of the partnership between UCM and OIT, which is so important as we consider how to best communicate with and market to our current and future students across digital platforms," said Robin Oliver, vice president for University Communications and Marketing. "The high adoption rate we have seen from students is not only proof of the team's outstanding work marketing the Go OHIO application but also demonstrates the real student demand for best-in-class digital tools that improve their OHIO experience."

In addition to total downloads, the Go OHIO team tracks returning user rates to gauge the success of the app, which has averaged 77 percent since the beginning of fall semester.

"The strong returning user rates are compelling evidence that students find the app useful and keep using it once they've tried it," said Chris Ament, chief information officer. "We're infusing student-centered design and continuous feedback into our practice. Our goal is that the Go OHIO app becomes an integral part of every student's experience at OHIO, helping them stay connected and engaged with resources that help them succeed."

Upcoming improvements

The Go OHIO team is currently running a communication pilot program with push notifications and banners to remind Go OHIO users about upcoming financial aid deadlines. Depending on the outcome of that pilot initiative, students may receive additional notifications or be able to opt into communication channels of their choosing.

Plans for spring semester include unique app experiences designed for online and regional campus students, as well as exploration of search features and integrations with Canvas, the new learning management system that will replace Blackboard by 2026.

Students have offered positive feedback so far along with their suggestions for continued improvement.

“It's relatively easy to access most things, and the interface design is very simple and straight to the point,” said Daniel Neal, a first-year student on the Athens campus. He added that he would like to see a feature to easily access upcoming events and student organizations in the future.

Nadiah Abidin, a doctoral student on the Athens campus, said she would love to be able to connect with other students through Go OHIO, and so far has found the app “awesome and user friendly.”

Students are encouraged to submit feedback at any time using the Go OHIO feedback form, or they may join the Go OHIO Student Advisory Group for regular updates and to provide additional input on the development of the app.

To see all recent updates and plans for the Go OHIO app, visit the Go OHIO Release Notes page.