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Finding key academic information at the ��֦��Ƶ just got easier. The Office of the Registrar (RO) has redesigned its website to feature streamlined content, a simpler structure and an improved user experience. 

With fewer web pages and more intuitive navigation, visitors to the site will notice it’s easier to find information. And, in this new age of AI summaries and searches, optimizing and clearly structuring content helps ensure users and bots can find what they’re looking for more quickly and accurately.

The new website hosts information to support every stage of a student’s academic journey and beyond, from awards and loans to course registration and convocation, and everything in between. It also has some of the university’s most-visited pages.

“With more than 12.4 million visits annually on our combined sites, from students, staff, faculty and community members, the RO websites are a key part of U��֦��Ƶ’s web resources,” says Vanessa Wood, deputy registrar. “Our goal was to create a more welcoming and connected experience that makes it easier to engage with our university; to make sure students could easily navigate the pages and understand the content. With AI now creating summaries for search, it was important to update the sites for today’s online experience.”

Designed with users in mind

To ensure the redesign addressed real user needs, the project team engaged user groups and conducted usability testing to identify areas in need of improvement. More than 1,200 students participated in testing and feedback that helped shape the navigation and key design decisions. 

Testing focused on common tasks such as paying fees, finding enrolment start times, ordering transcripts, and finding tax forms. The results demonstrated significant performance improvements, including a 188-per cent increase in overall task success rate and a 91.6- per cent increase in the overall task score. 

Highlights of the new design

Over the past year, the RO project undertook a comprehensive transformation of its website that went well beyond content edits. Key improvements include:

• A new site structure and streamlined navigation; 
• A reduction in web page count from 120 to 80;
• Rewriting all pages to improve readability and consistency and meet U��֦��Ƶ brand standards; and
• A complete redesign of 49 web pages. 

“This work was about more than redesigning web pages; it was about rethinking how our university supports students and the broader campus community offering access and connection to U��֦��Ƶ,” says Wood. “The result is an intuitive and student-focused experience and a commitment to continuous improvement. It was a truly collaborative effort and I am very proud of the team.”

U��֦��Ƶ External Relations and RO's agency partner ChangeMakers provided strategic guidance throughout the project.

“Taking a user-focused approach to digital experience is one of the main goals of One U��֦��Ƶ.ca, our web strategy,” says Jessica Snow, director of content and design with External Relations. “It was exciting to collaborate with colleagues in the RO on a project grounded in user research and shared objectives. 

"Together, we worked to improve how students navigate essential information while helping advance a more cohesive and consistent web experience across the university.”

Update your bookmarks! 

As part of the transition process, older URLs have been redirected to the new pages to minimize disruption. Users are encouraged to update their bookmarks and explore the updated site. 

Feedback can be shared with the RO Marketing and Communications team by emailing ro.comms@ucalgary.ca.