Nova Southeastern University - Website Review And Analysis

Visibility of the System Status

Visibility of system status 

Evaluation 

The Website of Nova South Eastern University lacks the feature of visibility of the system status. The user has to navigate through the different options present in the home page in order to gather any new information that is published in the website. This considerably reduces the social interest level of the website. The website however, provides a rich visual interface with proper headings and subheadings that makes the navigation through the website much easier. Details of all schools and colleges that are under Nova University are present on this website. It has sorted tabs about the different processes and operations of the University that can be easily navigated. This considerably helps the website in routing about 17.5% of the internet traffic. The website however, has not experienced any major changes in the design in the recent time.

Yes, the website provides an appropriate feedback within a reasonable amount of time. When a user clicks on a particular option from the homepage, the website routes the user to the different sub options, which is a satisfying for the users to navigate through the website. However, the website is seen using different file extensions that appear at the end of the web addresses. This can be avoided wherever possible.

Evaluation 

The website is easy to surf, as the complexity level of the website is relatively low. It does not use much technical or ambiguous terms that could be difficult for the users to understand. It is a responsive website that encourages the users in sharing their content with the social media. This makes the social interest of the website high. Therefore, it can be certainly said that the website incorporates concepts, phrases and languages that are familiar with the user than the system oriented terms. This further makes the website simple and user friendly in its operation. User finds very easy to handle the website as it can very user-friendly and give access to all the details of the university. There is a library, which provides the students of NSU with all the study materials that they need for the studies.

Yes, the website is competent enough in making the information appear in a logical order that makes the navigation through the website follow a particular order. The links between the previous and the next page are correctly ordered, which makes it easier for the users in search for a particular matter. The website is suitable for optimizing the view according to the devices, the users is suing to access the web site. However, some of the images in the website do not have a defined sized that sometimes make the interface visualization quite messy. Many of the images are being stretched in the browser when accessed from a laptop. If that can be ignored, the website definitely allows a logical and natural presentation if the contents in the website.

User Feedback

Evaluation

The website definitely provides freedom to the users in terms of controlling and navigating through the website. If a user chooses a function by mistake, the website provides a clearly defined path to return back to the home page or to the page where the user was last navigating. It provides a clearly market back option in order to leave an unwanted state without going through an extended dialogue. The undo and redo option provided by the website holds true for the website as well. In case a user chooses a system by mistake, he or she can simple come out of that tab or the page by clicking the back option of the web browser. The undo and redo feature present in the website makes it navigation through the website much easier. The back option routes the users to the last page he was surfing and therefore the website is much easier to operate. This is an example of an improved usability option that many website lacks. The presence of undo redo option in this website considerably reduces the user’s memory load making the different options, objects and the options visible. Therefore, in case a user by mistake reaches a wrong page, he or she can easily retaliate back to the home page by following the same path backward. 

However, there should be an option where the admin can get a chance to edit the website as soon as there is a change in the admission process and the names of the colleges under Nova.

Evaluation

The website is consistent enough in properly guiding its users through the different columns of the website. The rich headings and page titles make it easier for the users to assume the content of the website. This makes the website more accessible to the users and provides satisfying experience as well. The website definitely follows the platform conventions. The regular update sin the website helps the users to remain up to date with the latest information about the university and the announcements related to the courses offered in the website. The website is competent with the consistency and standards of a regular website and is considerably easier to interpret. All the pages of the website have a description Meta tag, which is important for the website to show up in Google search.

 All the pages of the website have defined titles that eliminate ambiguity in words or situations in the website. The page title rightly appears in the search result at the top of the browser’s window that can be viewed while visiting the website. The appropriateness in the page title helps in optimization of the search engine. However, few pages have no definite headings that make it difficult for the users to know about that particular page. This is however important for summarizing the content of a particular web page in order to eliminate the chances of ambiguity in words and phrases used in the website.

Website Complexity and Technical Terms

Evaluation

No, the website does not prevent any error occurring in the first place. Error message is however shown in some pages that follow an incorrect link. The website is not that sophistically designed that would prevent the error from being occurred. The website is not competent enough to detect an error and eliminate it from occurring. However, in case any errors, it provides a proper undo option that allows the users in rectifying the error that has occurred. Furthermore, the websites handles the missing pages quite correctly by sending a 404 HTTP status code.  

The website is regularly updated, however, it would need a complete up gradation in its code in order to incorporate the option of error prevention, by stopping it happen in the first place.

Evaluation

Yes, the rich graphics of the website makes the objects, actions and the options very well visible. The appropriate use of defined headings in all the web pages considerably helps the search engines in summarizing the content of the web pages quickly. Correct usage of headings not only makes it easier for the users to know about the content of the web pages but also increases the accessibility of then web pages. Users do not have to remember the information from one dialogue to the another and every pages of the website is clearly defined and summarized with the help of appropriate headings. This considerably makes the website appropriate in visitors perspective. Furthermore, the website provides proper instructions about navigation to the pages that are easily retrieval where appropriate. This considerably reduces the load in the user’s memory by making the objects and the navigation visible for the users. The user therefore does not have to remember one part of the dialogue to the another as the information are properly visible in the website that guides the users in proper navigation of the website. When users are needed to make a selection, the website properly assists them in making a choice. This is done with the help of the visual previews in the website and expandable details that are present in every web pages of this website.

Evaluation

The website is flexible enough to speed up the interaction between an user and the system. The use of cookies in the website considerably allows the users in tailoring their frequent actions. The rich graphics and the presence of proper headings and subheadings properly guide the users in reaching their destination. The presence of subheadings in the menu tab allows the users to navigate to the particular web page that the user is intending to reach. The website offers proper hyperlinks that routes the user to a particular web page. The basic search form and the advanced search form present in the website allows the users to reach or access a particular content without browsing through the entire website. The site map present in the website helps the users to easily locate the university and know about the courses offered in the website. The content of the website are strategically placed in the entire website that provides the flexibility and efficiency of use. The website is flexible to use for both experienced and the inexperienced users due to its optimal navigation.

Logical Order and Device Optimization

The hyperlinks embedded in the website are properly placed in the website. Furthermore, the site map of the website is designed in a logical manner. The website is efficient as the search results include description of the link in the page. The headings and the subheadings contain many useful categories, content areas and keywords possible.  This makes the website even more efficient to use.

For example, there are tabs showing the reason to get admission in Nova Southeastern University. There is a tab showing Graduate and Professional which shows three options: master’s, doctors and professional. There is another tab showing undergraduate which shows the academics, student life and the aid regarding admissions and finance of the university. There is an alumni tab that gives the services and benefits of NSU, shows the events that takes place in NSU and the purpose they are serving to people. There is a visit campus tab which shows the main campus of NOVA Southeastern University. There is an apply and request information tab which gives the details of the undergraduate and the aspects of the graduate and professionals students and way to apply for them.

Evaluation 

The dialogues in the website does not offer more than it is required for a user to perform a task. The advanced search feature present in the website much more user friendly for a user. Furthermore, the website does not have any unnecessary elements just to make the website look visually appealing. It consists of the right amount of data that helps the users in navigating through the website. Absence of unnecessary components in the website makes the website more aesthetic in use. A great website design generally refers to the combination of minimalist and aesthetically pleasing design and the website of Nova Southeastern University is an example of aesthetically designed website. The content is sophistically arranged in the different web pages of the website that gives it an organized appearance. The hyperlinks are rightly placed throughout the website that makes the website even more users friendly. The website does not incorporate any unwanted information or redundant web pages that give the website much organized look. This proper academic and business website is aesthetically designed.

For example, in the header section, there is seven drop down boxes that include undergraduate, graduate & professionals, academics, student life, research, community and about NSU. This guides the user in choosing a proper course for them.

Evaluation 

Yes, the error codes in the website are explained in plain language that precisely indicates the problem with the website. The error code is properly flashed on screen and users are provided with certain suggestions in order to recover from the errors. Proper error recognition and diagnose option is an important phenomenon of any website. The web pages of this website are properly linked and therefore, there is little scope of error being occurred in a normal condition. The error although precisely indicated in the website, it may not be understandable for some users. However, the suggestions from recovering from the problem are clearly defined in plain language. The steps suggested can be followed in order to recover from the error. The website of Nova South Eastern University therefore competent enough to help and guide the user in recognizing, diagnosing and recovering from the errors of that a user might experience while browsing through the website.

Evaluation 

The content in the website is easy to find with the help of the proper headings, subheadings and the hyperlinks that are used for designing the website. The website is further focused on the user’s tasks and is capable of assisting the users in their most common tasks. The website is properly organized that makes sense to the users and further helps the users in navigating through the correct content of the website. The website definitely helps in providing the required information to the users that might help them in navigating through the website. The website also allows the download and print option of the useful documents that further helps in properly navigating through the website. Therefore, it can be said that the website provides and optimal service of help and documenting to guide the users in proper navigation through the website.