The Office of Innovation and Information Technology and the Office of University Relations announced the launch of the new NSU website on Feb. 28.
According to the offices, the most significant improvement is its new compatibility with mobile devices, making the website more accessible to students on the go.
The new homepage features a social media feed, a collapsible footer with popular NSU QuickLinks — such as the bookstore, the campus map and financial aid, and a prominent “NSU News and Events” section.
The offices hope that the new features will make online navigation a much faster process, including a school/college selector at the top of the page and a customizable feature — called an “audience member ribbon” — that enables future students or alumni to view information specifically relevant to their interests or needs.
Unlike the old site, NSU students’ photos and names are displayed on several pages, and there is a new calendar and a “Featured Degrees and Programs” spotlight feature.
“The new drop down menus and visuals on the site make it much easier to navigate through various areas of the university and help others find answers to pertinent questions,” said Emilio Lorenzo, career advisor. “I also believe that the new site has a lot of energy due to the use of colors and pictures all around the site, which exemplifies the empowering nature within Nova Southeastern University.”
According to Gabriela Vignolo, director of marketing relations, there was a need to use new technology to better showcase NSU’s commitment to academic excellence. About six months ago, the Office of Innovation and Information Technology and the marketing staff in the Office of University Relations began searching for ways to improve the website.
“It’s been a few years since our last redesign, and as a university, we are consistently evaluating the needs of the students, faculty and staff at NSU,” said Vignolo.
The Office of University Relations pushed for the reorganization of the website’s information, from its current state to a more aesthetically appealing view for prospective students.
James Drew and Jesse Perez, members of the Visual Information Architecture team from the Office of Innovation and Information Technology, were responsible for drafting the new design, and they, along with NSU Web Development staff, proposed several concepts to student-focus groups. These student groups were made up of current students from NSU and prospective students currently in high school.
“We took all of the feedback we got from the students and created the final design that you see today.” said Vignolo.
For users who need assistance in adjusting to the changes, a “Using Our Site” page outlines the new site’s technical requirements and improvements. Links under “Resources” in the “About NSU” have been moved to the footer at the bottom of the page. This area also contains links to other frequently used university resources.
Students like Kavan Thompson, freshman biology major, appreciates the site’s new look.
“I like that there are more photos and videos, and NSU looks more like a happening university,” said Thompson.
Shani Samedi, first year nursing student, likes the new arrangement of frequently used links, such as Blackboard .
“I like it. Everything is right in front of you, especially the new blackboard.”
Diana Grossman, second year dental student, agrees.
“I like it much better,” said Grossman. “It’s easy to find Blackboard. I hated the old one, it never worked.”
Adjustments to the mobile user experience are still being made to ensure that the website is fully operational on every browser and on every device. According to Vignolo, the general response to the new website has been positive and the team behind its creation is open to feedback, which can be emailed to webfeedback@nova.edu.
