SUNY Potsdam

613 participants completed this survey.

1: What features do you find most important throughout the SUNY Potsdam website?

Most Important Features:

• 79% - Events Calendar
• 76% - Main Navigation
• 72% - Search
• 72% - Quicklinks/Shortcut Navigation
• Open Ended Responses: Directory, BearPaws, BearMail  

Medium Priority Features:

• 63% - Quicklinks/Shortcut Navigation
• 42% - Photography

Least Important Features:

• 54% - Flyout Navigation
• 52% - Homepage Vlog
• 51% - Virtual Tour  

2: How satisfied are you with the following features? (Rank in order with the first being the feature with which you are most satisfied.)

Most Satisfied:

• 77% - Events Calendar
• 72% - Main/Top Navigation
• 64% - Photography

Medium Satisfaction:

• 42% - Flyout Navigation
• 36% - Virtual Tour

Least Satisfied:

• 54% - Flyout Navigation
• 44% - Virtual Tour  
• 42% - Homepage Vlog  

Comment: Users were least satisfied with the homepage Vlog, flyout navigation and virtual tour while they were most satisfied with the events calendar, photography, quick links and main navigation. These responses fall in line with what was expressed in the focus group and interviews. Focus group participants mentioned search as being one of the most important features of the site, as well as needing the most improvement. According to the survey, search did not fall into the top 4 of the most satisfied areas nor the top 4 of where users expressed medium satisfaction.

3: Do you think the current website is text heavy?

• 20% - Yes
• 80% - No

 

4: Is the font size on the current website difficult to read?

• 20% - Yes
• 80% - No 

Comment: This lines up with what was said in the focus groups. However, we must be mindful about what colors we use for links and how it displays against the backdrop.

 

5: Please rate the ease of finding information in the following areas:

Extremely Easy:

• 50% - Homepage
• 38% - About Potsdam

Easy:

• 42% - About Potsdam  
• 36% - Admissions
• 36% - Faculty and Staff

Somewhat Easy:

• 31% - Faculty and Staff
• 29% - The Community

 

Not at all Easy:

• 11% - Faculty and Staff

• 9% - Quicklinks/Shortcut Navigation

 

6: When typically browsing a college/university website, which of the following best describes your method of finding information?

• 26% - 'I use the search engine first.'
• 30% - 'I use the navigation first.'
• 50%- 'I use the search when I cannot find what I am looking for in the navigation.'

Comment: Search is a very important element for most sites. Users have less time to learn the navigation to find what they are looking for. A site that allows users to find information quickly is important; especially for prospective students that are mainly interested in getting facts and requirements.

 

7: What information do you think is important to highlight on an academic department landing page? (Please select all that apply)

Most Important/Top 5:

• 76% - Program Information
• 71% - Major/Minor requirements
• 56% - Directory
• 52% - Classes offered
• 43% - Internships and Career Opportunities

 

Least Important/Bottom 3:

• 23% - Awards and Recognition
• 16% - Resources
• 16% - Alumni Testimonials

 

8: How long should information be kept on the web (achievements/ news/ research)?

• 36% - 3-6 Months
• 31% - 6-12 Months
• 13% - 1-2 years
• 10% - Forever

 

9: What type of visitors are you trying to attract to your page? (Please select all that apply.)

• 75% - Current Students
• 75% - Prospective Students
• 51% - Parents
• 40% - Faculty / Staff
• 33% - Community

10: What are the top 4 reasons you visit Potsdam's website?
 Top items mentioned:

• Directory
• Events
• BearMail
• BearPaws

11: What type of information is most difficult to find on the SUNY Potsdam website?

• Campus forms / documents
• Administrative Offices (Registrar's Office, Student Accounts)
• Using the search to find specific information

12: What 3 changes would you make to improve the website?

• Improve / replace search
• Increased template offerings for academic departments
• More / better photo galleries with the ability to add captions

13: What 3 features would you add to the overall site?

• Search
• Mobile version of the site
• Events in calendar format