The new University of Louisville homepage design better serves online users while providing the University a better platform to promote and showcase ‘what’s happening here.’
Visit our feedback page for a list of ‘known issues.’
The new website includes several changes, features and additions that help improve the user experience, increase availability of the most used links, reduce the need for subsequent link pages and increases the speed of the page.
The redesign is based on user-experience data and market conditions that showed a University top-tier content change would improve the user experience while also meeting the goals of the University.
The redesign takes into account the homepage and the links pages that most of the homepage content use to linked to.
Major objectives in redoing the homepage:
- Improve the user experience, especially the current, future, and potential student’s parents. Also improve link/information access for faculty/staff, the public and news media.
- Address demand. Bring the most used links to the forefront.
- Target students. Over 70% of our homepage audience are students, future students and their parents.
- Promote the University. “What’s happening here?” needed to be answered in real-time (or close) and people/students need to be features in the main imagery more.
- Engage. Integrate the places people engage (social media) into the homepage.
- Entice. Make content and information more accessible but also more up-to-date through more frequent updates. Portable content is the norm on the internet, we needed to change our content consumption designs to a more standardized format.
- Innovate. New technology is faster, lighter (in file size), cleaner and provides a better user experience. Leveraging HTML5 and CSS3 we have increased the amount of content and decreased the page load time.
In addition to the core objectives of a homepage redesign there were also substantial design hurdles to tackle. We started with a handful of design objectives:
- Minimize the red while maximizing the impact when used
- Accentuate the forward-thinking, progressive nature of the school in a visual manner
- Provide more navigation but take up less space (get users to what they want with fewer clicks to new pages)
- Highlight how much is going on around campus, without being overwhelming
- Use next gen technology (HTML5, CSS3) combined with visuals that won’t date the site to 2010
Put comments in perspective
I have had a couple of people use the number of comments on this page or others as a derogatory statistic, attempting to show the “mass” dissatisfaction of the website.
REALITY, as of 3/22
- To date there have been under 35 unique individuals who have submitted comments, issues, frustrations and/or the like.
- In the same time span 123,731 unique visitors have viewed 227,971 pages.
- 35 comments/issues out of 123,731 = 0.028%.
- Even if we multiply the number of issues/comments by 10x over the next month, it still accounts for 0.029% of the visitors.
- That won’t happen, we’re fixing and updating the site frequently, for legitimate issues.
- Change hurts, we know but we are listening.
Where have the A to Z links gone?!!!! I can’t find them, and that is the most useful link!! I use it all the time. It was simple, very user friendly, and I could find things, even if unsure of the formal name.
Can this be placed back on the new home page? thanks
Angela, thank you for the feedback. We will watch to see if there are more demand for the a-z index (if you search at the top, the page is still available). The reason it was removed is because less that 0.5% of the traffic to the homepage actually used it. Have you tried the shelving system at the top? We do investigate and monitor everyone’s feedback and plan to make updates and changes based on user trends and demand. Thank you.
I used the A to Z feature all the time, too! Please bring it back for all the reasons Angela cited! I really like that feature!
Melanie,
The new site is specifically designed to improve the flow and use of the website and do a better job of answering the question, what’s happening here. Over 70% of our traffic are students, potential students and parents and an even higher percentage mainly use the homepage for the “Popular Sites” links we now highlight. Although I hear and understand Angela, Marion, Carolyn and your request, I have a hard time justifying changes that we know only 0.5% of our audience use, especially when you can get directly to it by entering “A-Z” into the search bar.
With that said…we are watching the statistics and have identified, with everyone here’s help, much higher traffic links (like Registrar and Peoplesoft) that are being added. We are monitoring and investigating other ways of making the A-Z index more accessible but haven’t finalized where makes the most since.
I will keep you posted as we find a solution that makes the most sense.
Where is the link to administration websites. It was so easy to find from the old site. Can a link be put on the front of this new version. It’s nice that it’s student and what all friendly but doesn’t seem to be employee friendly. Thanks.
Awesome job on the new school homepage! Only problem is that it does not render well in Safari, please add support for other browsers!
Also, when can we expect to see the same type of improvements to the other school websites that need some work? Such as the greek/campus life website, and the intramural website is in desperate need of some work.
Lastly, what plan are in store for the different website for each college within the University? The College of Business is in need of some work.
Ty, thank you, see our feedback page for status updates: http://uoflblog.com/uofl/new-uofl-homepage-feedback/.
RE: Roll out plan for the rest of the Univ. the plan is to get the University up to date with technology before we migrate everyone over. The reason Safari doesn’t work is because we’re using Plone (a 3+ year old version), this needs to be fixed to improve performance, functionality and the ability to leverage modern technology. The plan is to move to Plone 4 and when we move, to have skins (designs) that are more up to date, along with technology that is. Please email me and I’d be happy to go over the plan with you [email protected].
RE: College’s and departmental site updates. Some colleges, departments and institutions don’t wait for us because the university is not centralized and they don’t have to. That is an option, as long as the sites still follow the main brand standards. It does cost money and/or resources though and many groups are willing to wait, to save the time/money of doing it themselves. I’d be happy to discuss this as well, just ping me at the email address above.
Jeff,
I have sent multiple emails and have not heard back, just checking to see whether it went through.
Thanks
Ty,
I’ve spent most of the last two days on here, in meetings or taking an occasional call. The feedback and reaction to change has slowed drastically today. I will attempt to catch up on the emails today.
Thank you for checking in.
The new homepage takes a REALLY LONG time to load as do the links. I agree with Angela about the A-Z links–they were very useful.
Marion, you and Angela must have been a couple of the few users of the A-Z index from the homepage. Thank you for letting us know. In regard to the speed. We fixed an issue with one of the browsers and the fix is slowing things down a little bit…we’re working on it. Thank you.
I agree with Angela and Marion. Please return the AtoZ index. I used it very often.
Carolyn,
The new site is specifically designed to improve the flow and use of the website and do a better job of answering the question, what’s happening here. Over 70% of our traffic are students, potential students and parents and an even higher percentage mainly use the homepage for the “Popular Sites” links we now highlight. Although I hear and understand Angela, Marion, Melanie and your request, I have a hard time justifying changes that we know only 0.5% of our audience use, especially when you can get directly to it by entering “A-Z” into the search bar.
With that said…we are watching the statistics and have identified, with everyone here’s help, much higher traffic links (like Registrar and Peoplesoft) that are being added. We are monitoring and investigating other ways of making the A-Z index more accessible but haven’t finalized where makes the most since.
I will keep you posted as we find a solution that makes the most sense.
Where is the Faculty/Staff listing (People Finder) that used to be on the web-site? I work in Postal Service and that is how we look up people to determine where to send the mail when it is incorrectly addressed. Is there another way to look up Faculty/Staff/Students? We really build up a lot of incorrectly addressed mail very quickly and need to look it up every day. Postal Service uses every way possible to find the correct department to send incorrectly addressed mail and the A-Z links along with the People Finder were tools that we used every day to do this. I agree with the “few users” as you called them above. The A-Z link along with People Finder are invaluable.
Melissa,
Notice the search says “people, pages”
They have been merged. Simply enter someone’s name and see.
I use the A-Z index, within the context of my job, virtually everyday to help locate information on U of L’s website. It is extremely useful! If it was being underutilized, it may be because it was not prominently displayed on the home page; however, it was invaluable as a navigational aid.
H.L.,
Thank you for the feedback.
The A-Z page is not gone. The updated search at the top brings it right up when you search for “A-Z” another great feature is you can use the search bar for people search now.
Where is the administrative offices link? It used to bring up a list of all the department website. The only way I saw to find it was to type it in the search, but it only brings up the VP offices, president and provost not all independent offices. I used that all the time.
Stephanie,
In the top About menu, under Administration, the “Office” link will take you right to it.
The links on the PeopleFinder website don’t work. (faculty/staff, Administration, etc). typing in the search does work, but having the links make you think they should work.
Vicki and others experiencing issues with the PeopleFinder,
We did make some updates this morning that should solve some of the problems.
I would recommend using the search bar at the top (next to “Go”) for ALL of your searches, including finding people. We have also made changes to the search system, which now integrates the PeopleFinder results into your searches.
I used to go to the Faculty & Staff section to quickly access peoplesoft and then also to the institutional research link to get to istrategy. Where are these links located now?
Thanks!
Misty
Misty, we are adding the Peoplesoft link this afternoon.
The fastest way to get to the iStrategy information is to type into the search bar “Institutional research istrategy”
I am working to have “iStrategy” added as a keyword which would give you a direct link right from the search results page but that may take a day or two.
FYI, the Peoplesoft link is up, as is Registrar.
I love it! Very 2011 and useful. I love that you redesigned it based on usability stats. I’m sure it will prove a success. Nice job!
Kristen,
Thank you! Our internal audience is having a few blips but the students are all using it and the statistics are very strong. Thanks for your comments.
Is a mobile version in the future. I like what another Univ has done and it is automatic when browsed from a mobile device
for example wvu.edu
Thanks I do like the clean look of the new page. Just not from a mobile phone.
Drew,
IT is looking into some solutions and my dept. has been approached by several companies asking about it.
We are looking at options and have some that look like pretty solid solutions. It’s a matter of budget and timing but we are heading that way.
Thank you for asking and thanks for the feedback.
To Whom It May Concern: I’ve been vacating for a week and go to reference a webpage to access a form for Physical Plant…and WAM!…no department listing alphabetically. Another department wanting a webbased form from physical plant when they don’t know departmental names may have a problem finding our form. Please tweek a little more to include this problem being solved. thanks
Norma,
Thank you for bringing this up.
The fastest way to get to the Physical Plant site is to use the search bar, next to the “Go” button. If you type in Physical Plant it gives you a link right at the top of the page. You can also click “About” at the top, then “Administration” and the “Offices” link will take you to the listing you are looking for. Let me know if this helps.
I like the new clean look, but it seems to be without a soul. Where’s some of our famous landmarks like the clock tower and our Cardinal mascot? The homepage looks bland and eerily similar to the University of Phoenix website (http://www.phoenix.edu/). I know this is new and still a work in progress, but I’d like to see us be unique and speak for the spirit of UofL.
Mason,
Thank you for your opinion. The site was actually designed specifically to address some of those concerns but you are taking a snapshot of a couple of days and generalizing that over the span of our new sites’ existence. We have integrated Athletics directly into our site, that wasn’t the case before. We have changed the whole method of how information is displayed on the homepage to include current, relevant information that answers the question, what’s happening here and we are promoting our academic programs and offerings more than we ever could with the old website. The clock tower isn’t there today but if you keep coming back, I’m sure you’ll see it.
In regard to comparing us to the University of Phoenix, I don’t really see it, I think our design is cleaner, more functional and less cluttered (that is my personal opinion though). I will take it as a compliment since they have a team of developers, designers and work with an advertising agency to put their site together. We had two people and the feedback from many at the university.
Thank you for your feedback and stay tuned for more, the site today is not the end, it is a paradigm shift.
I’m sure the photos in the homepage slideshow will rotate over time, but it’s unfortunate that, as it is now, only one of the photos features anyone but a white male (and that’s Athletics). Even the cartoon character is a white male. I’m sure it wasn’t intentional, but it is noticeable. We are a much more diverse community than that and we should celebrate it!
Justin,
I won’t tell the three non-white students who went on the trip to Washington D.C., featured (second) on the homepage that they don’t count because everyone does, including our student athletes.
I think before we start judging the new website on a snapshot of one day, we should keep in mind that this will change almost daily. We include and integrate diversity on the homepage and always have, not because of lobbying, complaints or demand but because we truly do integrate, promote and encourage diversity organically. We also don’t feature things, as a general rule, on the homepage because they are diverse, they are featured because they are succeeding and making things happen at UofL.
We don’t discriminate or intentionally select icons based on a race, gender, sexual orientation or anything else, we post information based on What’s Happening Here. And yes, there will be days of strong diversity and days of lesser diversity but also keep in mind that skin color is not our only form of diversity at UofL, we have several diverse groups that are all an integral part of UofL and all of them are “What’s Happening Here.”