One University of Alabama computer science senior has created an innovative way to stay up-to-date with study hours. 

The information is logged weekly and separates individuals into two categories: the ones that met the study hour requirement and the ones that did not. 

Trey McMeans, a senior Phi Sigma Kappa, engineered an app called “My Greek Study” that determines the location of a member while keeping record of their time spent studying. The Bluetooth transmitter being utilized for the tracking is part of an emerging technology called iBeacon. iBeacon will notify the app when the phone is in range of the approved location of study.  

“After every member studies for however long they choose to for the week, it goes through the database and says what the sorority or the fraternity put as their required hours. Now, members can’t just say ‘I was at Gorgas for four hours, when they were actually just sitting in their rooms,’“ McMeans said.  

The app is free to download in the app store compatible with your device, however, individual chapters must connect with McMeans through a registration process and pay the $100 per semester subscription payment. McMeans created this app as a single effort to strengthen the Greek systems GPA and the professional future of members of a Greek organization by holding members accountable in their education. 

The app debuted in Tuscaloosa, and he hopes to expand to the greater state of Alabama and throughout the Southeastern Conference. In Alabama, The University of North Alabama, The University of Alabama at Birmingham and Valdosta State are on board. In the near future, McMeans wants to contact Phi Sigma Kappa chapters nationally. 

With technology advancing in leaps and bounds, McMeans’ app single-handedly puts something as minuscule as study hours into the 21st century. Each organization can relate, new members are required to reach a certain number of study hours per week, but may fail to meet the requirement. As an alternative, they scribble a number down to remain eligible for participation in the present week’s social events. McMeans’ desire is that this app betters the Greek system both academically and reputation wise. He hopes to diminish the frequent misconceptions of the Greek system by highlighting the academic achievements of each member on an individual basis and from organization to organization. 

“It’s going to help everyone’s GPA. It’s going to make the scholarship director’s life a hundred times easier. And there’s no questioning how many hours you have or if you’re not going to get to go to the swap. Anyone can log in and see where they are at for their hours. It’s going to make the Greek system look better to the school because everything is verified. So the university can say those hours are actually real, and real people actually did this,” said McMeans.