The University of Georgia may begin testing new software that would track student-athlete attendance at classes.
SpotterEDU is software that will notify the athletic department of student-athletesā attendance using a beacon installed in the classroom that connects to an app on the studentsā phones via Bluetooth.
Spotterās website says the technology can āpinpoint students within a classroom until they leave, providing continuous, reliable and non-invasive attendance.ā
Kathleen Hurlock, a graduate instructor in the English department, told The Red & Black, that the technology is invasive.
āThe non-invasive way to track student attendance is for me to track student attendance, like I already do,ā Hurlock said, noting that she does not believe attendance is an objective way of measuring whether a student will do well in a class.
āIt's up to me and up to the studentās expectations of how they want to do in class. Itās not just about being in class X number of days,ā Hurlock said.
Hurlock would later respond via email to Cory Kopaniasz, the director of student-athlete academic counseling at the University of Georgia, that she did not consent to have the beacon technology installed in her classroom.
Hurlock has not yet received a response to email.
Claude Felton, a spokesperson for the UGA Athletic Department, said in an email to The Red & Black that the department has āonly begun exploring a number of ideas and potential services but no determination has been made on whether any, or none, would be pursued.ā