The new athlete tutoring app, GradeFirst, hasn’t been functioning as well as the athletic department had originally hoped.

The app, intended for use among student athletes, enables them to schedule tutoring sessions to help when they miss class for games or practice. However, the system has had errors when trying to schedule appointments.

“I’ve had a lot of trouble with the app,” said Baylee Travers, freshman softball player from Seagoville. “I tried setting up tutors, but it says that I haven’t, so I’ve had no-shows a lot.”

Several athletes have not heard of the app at all or haven’t found it useful. Negative reviews from teammates discourage them from trying the app.

Dorothy Swanson, sophomore volleyball player from White Oak, hasn’t tried the app but said no one she knows has been able to use it effectively.

Tori Valdivia, sophomore softball player from California, also complained about having difficulties with the app and said the system has not been successful so far.

“We first heard of the app through our coach and he told us we would be able to get tutors online,” Valdivia said. “We were excited because we had been asking for tutors for a long time. I still haven’t heard of it working for anyone.”

The app is supposed confirms appointments via email, but system errors have disrupted the process.

Alyson Bishoff, freshman softball player from Belton, said every time she’s tried to use the app, it never even showed any tutors to choose from.

“I think the idea was good, but the program wasn’t quite ready yet,” Travers said.

In the meantime, student athletes who need help with classes can check out the tutoring schedule, listed by department, on ACU’s website.