Many students returned to live on campus for the Winter 2021 semester. As NSU experienced an influx of residential students, they sent out various emails during winter break, several of which outlined protocols for students who had to or planned on self isolating during the first two weeks of the semester.
Several emails were sent about purchasing food from the GET mobile app, a food delivery app that NSU utilized during the previous semester that allowed students to order food from campus to be delivered right to their residence hall.
Taking it a step further this semester, NSU mail couriering services were to deliver orders straight to students’ rooms for the first two weeks of the winter semester. This was an especially useful development for students who wished to self isolate. This service is available from 10 a.m. to 7 p.m., as advertised per the emails students received over winter break.
Unfortunately, the GET app has a few bugs. Not only do many of the dining locations advertised simply not show up, but others show that they are ‘closed’ all day on days when they are most certainly open.
Over the past two weeks, only four out of the eight supposedly available locations have appeared on the app and shown up as ‘open’ at all.
Not only do we have limited dining options, but we seem to have a limited window of availability to order. While GET mobile delivery is supposed to be available until 7p.m., every time I have attempted to order food past 5 p.m., I have not been able to. Whether it be that many students are all ordering at once or an error on the app’s part, an error message pops up after 5 p.m. stating that they have reached order capacity.
Starting at 6 p.m., you cannot even try to order, as locations will show up as ‘closed’ or not taking any more orders, citing that there will not be enough time to prepare and deliver the order. While the app does disclose that it can take up to an hour to make and deliver your food, during the few times I have been able to successfully order it has only taken around 30 to 40 minutes for my order to be delivered. If you were planning on ordering dinner from the GET app, you’d better be ready to eat it early, because during the last two hours of operation, the app is essentially useless.
While the GET mobile app could be a really good opportunity for students who wish to social distance or self isolate, it simply falls short of being truly useful. NSU needs to actively look into these bugs instead of just leaving the app as it is and leaving students hungry in a midst of confusion.
