Administrators said they wanted a remedy for students who kept saying they hadn't heard about many of the university's on-campus resources.

University leaders said a mobile app served as an essential tool in limiting the spread of COVID-19 and supported contact-tracing efforts.

The mobile app will allow low-vision and blind students to call assistants who can read signs, describe surrounding and guide them through campus.

The voice-activated mobile assistant, which won first place at a pitch competition, will be able to run background checks, scan license plates, retrieve driver details even call for backup.

Developers said they compressed their development schedule to release the app, which contains guided meditations, chat rooms and health screening tools.

The app marketplace is too vast for teachers to sort out alone, said Kristy Sailors, but her district has a few tricks to ensure its apps are safe.

With mobile technology, Marquette University keeps students informed — and accounted for — while they're overseas.

The makers of Say Something and similar digital tools say they empower students and staff to take action in making their schools more secure.

The U.S. Department of Education is about to release its Request for Proposal for a pilot involving four colleges with up to 25,000 students each.