User Analysis

Takeaways from User Interviews

User 1 reported that they haven’t “…had experience connecting with any of the Academic Success Counselors (ASC), but the RAs have been pretty helpful.” User 1 had never called Campus police before, but when the user spoke with them, they complimented that the campus police were “very kind, caring, calm, and methodical when called over for help. Both times interacting with them were due to a friend needing first aid/twisted ankle.” This user believes the most common reasons why Wellesley students call Campus police is because of injuries and being locked out of dorms and does feel comfortable contacting them if needed. However, this user also expressed the police could have benefited from hosting more “events where [students] are introduced to the staff of Campus Police. While they seem to be kind people, we never really know who they are.” The only alternative to calling Campus police this user is aware of is calling an Resident Assistant which this user reported she knew both her phone number and email.

User 2 also found it quite easy to connect with resources and has comfortably called Campus police before for shuttle bus updates in which the user reported that campus police “…always answers quickly.” The user thought other Wellesley students called Campus police to report noise complaints, health incidents, or shuttle bus updates. User 2 is aware of House Presidents and Residential Assistants as alternative resources to Campus Police. The user knew who her RA was and how to contact them if necessary through GroupMe. They also knew who their HP and ASC were, but did not know their number but reported perhaps they would be able to find their email. This user knew who their CD was and how to contact them because their “…office was downstairs with her number.” The user does not know how to contact maintenance nor how to put in a maintenance request. They also do now know what Title IX is nor what the Title IX office can do for you.

User 3 found it easiest to find resources as a first year, especially immediately post orientation when they had just been told about all of them. They could not identify their most recent HP, CD, ASC, or RA, and did not have their contact information. User 3 felt that they could most easily find their RA’s information on their floor, and their HP, ASC, and CD’s contact information on the Wellesley website or social media if they needed to contact them. They most directly associate calling campus police with noise complaints, accessing the campus vans, and medical issues. The user feels that campus police has not historically been useful in the situations they have been called in, and their presence in certain spaces is uncomfortable for students. They specifically noted their own experience with the poor handling of a situation by campus police where a student with mental health issues was involved. They believe that campus police is most often called because Wellesley students, quote, “[don’t know] how to handle situation beyond calling campus police or pure confrontation - especially for noise complaints.”

User 4 found resources easiest to find through personal connections. They were familiar with their RAs and HPs through in-person events, including parties, all halls, and classes. If they needed resources that they did not know how to obtain, they would go through friends first for advice. User 4 identified the Stone Center and the Office of Religious and Spiritual Life as the two main mental confidential health resources. Of the Stone Center, they said that “[there are] lots of hoops to jump through. Definitely possible to [receive care] but [I] had to do a lot of self-advocation”. Self-advocation required the student to not only stand up for themselves, but know who to talk to to receive the care they needed. The user was visibly annoyed while describing the specifics of the extra work they had to take on in order to find the resources and then insist they receive them.

Based on the user responses, there is a disconnect between Wellesley students and the resources available to them. These needs suggest that a mobile app that helps Wellesley students identify the best resource for their need and provides the contact information for that resource would be beneficial. Having easy access to campus resources will help the identified population to build resilience by allowing them to directly address their issues. It will also provide them with alternatives to calling campus police for less important matters, such as noise complaints. The reduction of police presence is a goal of the current civil unrest, and quick access to alternative solutions such as residential life or mental health service intervention will help meet this goal. As there is a possibility of students returning in the fall during the era of COVID-19 and social unrest, it is essential that students know what resources are available on campus, how to access them, and that students feel confident and comfortable using such resources.

Ideation

Scenarios

Scenario 1: Wynter’s neighbor is being too loud. She uses the app to find their RA’s information to ask them to get the neighbor to quiet down, rather than calling in a noise complaint to campus police.

Scenario 2: Winona’s overhead light burns out. She uses the app to find out how to submit a maintenance request to get the light fixed.

Scenario 3: Winona is physically injured during the night, and uses the app to contact campus police to get medical aid, as Health Services is closed at night.