Student User Journey Project

Improving the Student Web Experience at Portland State University

Portland State University is partnering with higher ed marketing agency SimpsonScarborough on a Student User Journey Project focused on improving how prospective and current students experience PSU’s web ecosystem.

The project examines how students discover, navigate, and engage with information across PSU’s web content designed for students — from initial exploration and admissions through enrollment, academics, student services, and graduation.

This work supports PSU’s ongoing commitment to creating a more student-centered, accessible, and high quality web experience.

Project Goals

The Student User Journey Project is designed to:

• Better understand the needs, expectations, and behaviors of prospective and current students as they use PSU websites
• Identify barriers, friction points, and opportunities across the university’s web presence
• Improve content organization, navigation, and pathways to key student information and services
• Support more consistent and intuitive experiences across PSU web properties
• Strengthen connections between institutional storytelling, recruitment, enrollment, and student success
• Ensure web experiences align with accessibility and usability best practices

What the Project Includes

The project includes a broad discovery and research phase involving:

• Stakeholder interviews and collaborative workshops
• Review of peer and competitor institutions
• Analysis of website analytics and user behavior patterns
• Student focus groups and feedback sessions
• Evaluation of website navigation, content structure, and user flows
• Exploration of future-state concepts and interactive web prototypes

Insights gathered during this process will help inform recommendations for future improvements to PSU’s web experience.

A Collaborative Effort

The Student User Journey Project is a collaborative initiative involving teams and stakeholders from across the university, including University Communications, OIT, Enrollment Management, the Graduate School, student support units, academic programs, and technical partners.

The project reflects PSU’s broader commitment to continuous improvement, digital accessibility, and the delivery of clear, helpful, and welcoming web experiences for all students.

Project Timeline

Project Status

The project is currently in its discovery and research phase. Findings and recommendations from the project will help guide future strategy, web content planning, and improvements to the student web experience across PSU websites.

Questions about the project may be directed to Kurt Bedell in University Communications.