Student
input guides UC Berkeley web site revisions
UC
Berkeley has much to offer -- so much, in fact, that the campus's
offerings might be a bit overwhelming for students. The Student
Affairs section of the
campus's Gateway Site (www.berkeley.edu/students/)
was built with this in mind and attempts to help students
find the information and services they need to study, live,
and have fun at Berkeley.
After
redesigning the Gateway Site last April, the web team in Public
Affairs solicited feedback from a group of Cal students through
the Office of Undergraduate Affairs (UGA). The students were
given the opportunity to critique the Gateway Site and submit
their suggestions about how to better meet student needs.
The
resulting changes were concentrated in the section of the
Gateway Site designed specially for new and continuing students.
Previously known as "Student Life," the section
is now called "Students" (www.berkeley.edu/students/)
to more accurately reflect its breadth of content. The
section is divided into five major areas: Studying at Berkeley;
Fees, Financial Aid, & Scholarships; Living at Berkeley; Jobs,
Internships, & Career; and Activities & Recreation.
Each
area was reviewed by students, who then provided the web team
with suggestions for additional links, as well as recommendations
on page format.
One
such suggestion was to list the most commonly requested student
sites at the top of the Students index page to create
a virtual "toolbox" of links. This suggestion resulted
in a doubling of the number of links at the top of the student
section and ensures that these popular sites are as accessible
as possible.
To
keep students up-to-date on campus happenings, the Student
Affairs section continues to include "spotlights,"
which provide timely announcements and links. Campuswide events
and news headlines can also be found throughout the Student
Affairs section.
Some
additional improvements based on student feedback are already
in the works, including a new and more powerful search engine,
and sites geared toward various audiences, such as the just-launched
"New
Student News" site and a transfer student site being
developed by UGA. The web team is also developing a comprehensive
news portal that will keep the entire campus community informed
of UC Berkeley news and events.
To
find out more about what the Gateway Site has to offer, visit
the Using This
Site page. And, feel free to send any usability feedback or linking suggestions to the web team.
Links:
Student
Affairs (gateway site)
Using
the Berkeley web site
New
Student News
Office
of Undergraduate Affairs
Related
stories:
A
site is born: New campus gateway site launches
