Assessment of University Websites | Diversity Initiatives
University of Colorado Denver
By Chris Ferguson
December 5, 2012
I began my assessment by conducting Google searches for particular institutions.
Some institutions offered enhanced Google searches (example seen below). This
functionality allows users the ability to search a particular university’s website on
Google’s search page, greatly improving search results. While this functionality may have
more to do with Google, it greatly improved search results.
When this feature was unavailable, searching became more problematic. Many
institutions’ search results were convoluted, providing hundreds of results, which was
often a hindrance. Some site searches provided dozens or even hundreds of results,
leaving users to hunt for the information for which they are seeking.
In searching these institutions’ websites, I envisioned myself as a prospective
undergraduate or prospective graduate (or Ph.D.) student. I was also mindful that
current students might be searching for services or offices of diversity and inclusion. I
began all initial searches with the term “diversity.” In hindsight (and in future searches) I
would consider entering other search terms to see what results came back, given that
students might not use such a formal term, choosing to use terms like “disability,”
“veteran,”
Another focus was whether university websites laid breadcrumbs to any disability
initiatives or accessibility resources, including maps of campuses and restroom facilities.
I also looked to see whether the institution promoted gender-neutral and so-called
“family” bathrooms.
I assessed each university on whether it offered the aforementioned criteria in
basic web pages, dedicated sites, or interactive or cutting-edge websites. My intention in
doing so was grounded in Dr. Allen’s mission to provide a fully functional, user-centered,
interactive/cutting-edge website for the constituencies of the University of Colorado
Denver and Anschutz Medical campuses.
Rubric:

Institution Name

URL

Page Name

Type of Page/Site: Whether the institution provides basic pages or
complete websites.

(Basic – Interactive)

User-centered: Did the institution proved a welcoming, intuitive, and
thought-out page or site?

Types of Disability Initiatives or Accessibility Resources

Maps of Campuses and Restroom Facilities? Did the institution provide
maps for gender-neutral restrooms?

Type of Contact Information

Current News

Calendar of Diversity Events

Departments

Scholarships: Did the institution highlight opportunities for prospective
or current students?

Accomplishments: Did the institution highlight its achievements with
inclusion?

Welcome Page: Did the site welcome visitors with prose, images, or
multimedia?

List of Student Groups

Student Life Information: Did the school provide students and staff with a
picture of campus life and its offerings?

Faculty and Staff: Whether the institution highlighted its diversity and
inclusion employees

Mission, Vision, Values

Committees, Data, and Statistics

Policies

Research: Whether the institution highlight their own diversity and
inclusion research

Multi-lingual tools: whether the site offered language translation

My Assessment
My assessment shows there are some exceptional websites, offering vast
resources. Nevertheless, none can be classified as “perfect” when judged against this
rubric. While my endeavor was not to find a “perfect” exemplar, it is nevertheless a
fruitful assessment showing that there are best (and worst) practices. Some universities
are clearly leading the way in the services they offer their students and staff. Yet, while
others may have diverse student and faculty populations, they fail to communicate that
spirit.
Institution Name
URL
University of Colorado Boulder
http://www.colorado.edu/diversity/
Page Name
Type of Page/Site
(Basic – Interactive)
User-centered
Types of Disability Initiatives
or Accessibility Resources
“Diversity”
Basic page with links and small photo
Maps of Campuses and
Restroom Facilities?
Type of Contact Information
Current News
Calendar of Diversity Events
Departments
Scholarships
Accomplishments
Welcome Page
List of Student Groups
Student Life Information
Faculty and Staff
Mission, Vision, Values
Committees, Data, and
None found
No
Links to the following:
 The Office of Diversity, Equity, and Community Engagement
 Center for Multicultural Affairs
 CU-LEAD Alliance and Scholarship Program
 Department of Equal Opportunity
 Disability Services
 Gay, Lesbian, Bisexual and Transgendered (GLBT) Resource Center
 Office of Discrimination and Harassment
 Precollegiate Development Program
 Diversity Statistics
 Women’s Resource Center
College and School Diversity Resources
 Leeds School of Business
 School of Education
 College of Engineering and Applied Science
 School of Journalism and Mass Communication
 School of Law
 College of Architecture & Planning
 College of Arts & Sciences
 College of Music
 University Libraries
Basic
Link to a list
Link to a list
Link to a list
None found
None found
Yes; Basic
Link to a list
None found
None found
Overall University Mission; Poor
Link to a list
Statistics
Policies
Research
Multi-lingual tools
My Assessment
Link to a list
None found
None found
Severely lacking; at least one broken link
Institution Name
URL
Indiana University
http://diversity.iupui.edu/
Page Name
Type of Page/Site
(Basic – Interactive)
User-centered
Types of Disability Initiatives
or Accessibility Resources
Office of Diversity, Equity & Inclusion
Advanced, but not quite interactive, YouTube video produced by the office
Maps of Campuses and
Restroom Facilities?
Type of Contact Information
Current News
Calendar of Diversity Events
Departments
Scholarships
Accomplishments
Welcome Page
List of Student Groups
Student Life Information
Faculty and Staff
Mission, Vision, Values
Committees, Data, and
Statistics
Policies
Research
Multi-lingual tools
My Assessment
None found
Institution Name
URL
Harvard Medical School
http://www.hms.harvard.edu/dcp/
Page Name
Type of Page/Site
(Basic – Interactive)
Office for Diversity Inclusion and Community Partnership
Interactive; Full site with current audio and video
Yes
• Diversity’s Importance
• Student Groups
• Opportunities
• Support Services
• Culture & Diversity
• Student Life @ IUPUI
• Purdue School of Science Women in Science House
• SPECTRUM Diverse Student Artists Organization
• University Library Diversity Undergraduate Scholar program
• IUPUI Admissions: Diversity Guide
• IUPUI diversity/minority scholarships for prospective freshmen
• IUPUI diversity/minority scholarships for transfer students
• Research Program
Full contact information with images of key staff and a full directory
Yes; including congratulations pages
Yes; Appears on the front page
Yes
Yes
Yes; Listed PDF files
Yes
Yes
Yes
Full profiles
Yes; Vision, Mission and Goals of the University;
Yes
Yes
No
None found
Exemplary; This website is among the standard bearers; Gorgeous layout
User-centered
Types of Disability Initiatives
or Accessibility Resources
Yes
Resources are broken down for the following:
Pre-College
College Student
Medical & Graduate
Post Doctorate & Fellowship
Junior Faculty
Research and Evaluation
Our Community
Maps of Campuses and
Restroom Facilities?
Type of Contact Information
Current News
Calendar of Diversity Events
Departments
Scholarships
Accomplishments
Welcome Page
List of Student Groups
None found
Student Life Information
Faculty and Staff
Mission, Vision, Values
Committees, Data, and
Statistics
Policies
Research
Multi-lingual tools
My Assessment
None found
Yes, page dedicated to faculty
None found
None found
Institution Name
URL
Princeton University
http://www.princeton.edu/diversity/
Page Name
Type of Page/Site
(Basic – Interactive)
Institutional Equity & Diversity at Princeton
Full website with linked pages and small photos; nice graphics
Full directory
Yes, with PDFs
Yes, on front page, including PDF with full-year calendar; Current and past events
Yes, broken down by education level
None found
Yes
Yes with narrative
Yes, Affinity Groups
o Harvard University Association of Asian and Asian American Faculty and
Administrators
o Harvard University Association of Harvard Latino Faculty and Staff
o Harvard Foundation for Intercultural and Race Relations
o Harvard University Association of Black Faculty, Administrators, and Fellows
o HMS/HSDM Joint Committee on the Status of Women
o HMS Kinsey Two-Sixers
o Harvard University LGBT Faculty and Staff Committee
o Harvard University Native American Program
o The Longwood Medical Area Romanian Biomedical Scientists Group
None found
Unsure, looks to be none
A strong website with numerous resources; some shortcomings.
Provides a page for visitors to give;
Site provides a list of diversity publications, including Office for Diversity Inclusion and
Community Partnership (DCP), Minority Faculty Development Program (MFDP), MFDP
Educational Outreach Programs, Harvard Catalyst | The Harvard Clinical and
Translational Science Center Program for Faculty Development and Diversity,
Biomedical Sciences Careers Program (BSCP), Other Publications;
Site includes jobs and fellowship page;
However, there are some shortcomings.
User-centered
Types of Disability Initiatives
or Accessibility Resources
Mostly, intuitive
 Overview
 Core Values
 Presidential Perspectives
 News & Events
 Campus Community
 Diversity Council
 Equal Opportunity
 Policies & Regulations
 Resolving Issues
 Reporting Concerns
 Resources & Training
 Contact Us
Maps of Campuses and
Restroom Facilities?
Type of Contact Information
Current News
Calendar of Diversity Events
Departments
Scholarships
Accomplishments
Welcome Page
List of Student Groups
Student Life Information
None found
Faculty and Staff
Mission, Vision, Values
Committees, Data, and
Statistics
Policies
Research
Multi-lingual tools
My Assessment
Small contact page
Yes, on the Events page
Yes, full calendar of events with graphics
Yes, no explicit list though
None found
None found
Yes, simple page with narrative and links
Yes
Yes, including Centers and Offices; Employee Resources; Student and Alumni
Organizations; Public Programs
Yes, small list on Contact page
Yes, a page dedicated to core values. The page includes a full statement on Diversity
and Community in “Rights, Rules, Responsibilities.”
Yes, found on the Campus Community page; Includes a Publications and reports
section.
Yes, although it is hidden on the Mission page.
None found
None found
Nice, clean site.
One page was dedicated to addressing issues and concerns related discrimination
and harassment. The page offers step-by-step options and a form to report
discrimination and harassment.
The page also includes a (somewhat redundant) “Resolving Issues” page that provided
helpful information.
Another strength is a “Resources & Training” page for faculty that provides training.
Institution Name
URL
University of California
http://diversity.universityofcalifornia.edu/
Page Name
Type of Page/Site
(Basic – Interactive)
User-centered
Types of Disability Initiatives
or Accessibility Resources
Maps of Campuses and
Restroom Facilities?
Diversity
Full website, lacking interactive features
Somewhat; Clearly organized with a plethora of information for all stakeholders
Information is broken down by/for: News; Students; Faculty; and Staff
None found
Type of Contact Information
Current News
Calendar of Diversity Events
Poorly constructed/Difficult to find
Yes, with archive broken down by institutional location
Somewhat; Headlines from UC Campuses and Locations
Departments
Scholarships
Accomplishments
Welcome Page
Somewhat; Broken down by institution, however, it is not intuitive
None found
None found
Small statement from the university president (who is Caucasian); There is a Diversity
Statement page
Somewhat; UC Systemwide Programs; not intuitive
None found
Yes, full information and resources for faculty and staff
Yes, but poorly constructed; Merely the University’s Diversity Statement
Yes, a page of links with PDFs
List of Student Groups
Student Life Information
Faculty and Staff
Mission, Vision, Values
Committees, Data, and
Statistics
Policies
Research
Multi-lingual tools
My Assessment
Yes, full listing of systemwide policies
Systemwide Diversity Publications
None found
The site is the second result in Google when searching “diversity university”;
The site links to all diversity sites/pages within the university system. The site provides
an impressive amount of information, but is not as intuitive as others examined here.
This site also provides “Other Resources,” including the following:
• Diversity in Education
• Government Agencies
• Diversity Organizations
Links can be found here: http://diversity.universityofcalifornia.edu/resources.html
Institution Name
URL
Rutgers, the State University of New Jersey--Newark
http://www.newark.rutgers.edu/diversity
Page Name
Type of Page/Site
(Basic – Interactive)
User-centered
Types of Disability Initiatives
or Accessibility Resources
Maps of Campuses and
Restroom Facilities?
Type of Contact Information
Current News
Calendar of Diversity Events
Departments
Scholarships
Accomplishments
Welcome Page
Diversity
Full site with large images of the school’s diverse student body;
List of Student Groups
Student Life Information
Yes; Dynamic, active, engaging, colorful, fun, open, welcoming;
Full linked list, which is not intuitive;
None found
None found
Yes, on the front page and includes at least one small photo
Yes, on the front page and includes at least one small photo
Yes, but not fully intuitive
None fond
None found
Yes, with a large photo of a diverse student group and a caption about “Diversity: It
really does matter”; The welcome page includes a well written and compelling
narrative to this effect;
Furthermore, the welcome page includes Photos and links for “A Tradition of
Diversity,” “A Way of Life,” “Diversity Resources,” “Why Diversity Matters,”
“Community/Campus Connections,” “LGBT Student and Allies,” and “Resources for
Student Veterans”;
Yes, by default because “Campus Life” is part of the site’s native infrastructure;
Faculty and Staff
Mission, Vision, Values
Committees, Data, and
Statistics
Policies
Research
Multi-lingual tools
My Assessment
Yes, but in a list of links, which is not intuitive
Somewhat, but no explicit resources found
Yes, on the front page, but not thorough
Institution Name
URL
Stanford University
http://www.stanford.edu/dept/uga/student/diversity/index.html
Page Name
Type of Page/Site
(Basic – Interactive)
Diversity at Stanford
I was unable to find a dedicated diversity and inclusion page/site. The site listed here
is the closest I could find. However, the university does offer several Centers of
Excellence in Diversity for particular schools. The examination here is only for site
listed above.
Basic page; Lacks audio, video, or interactive components
Somewhat; Boring but intuitive
Yes, long lists
User-centered
Types of Disability Initiatives
or Accessibility Resources
Maps of Campuses and
Restroom Facilities?
Type of Contact Information
Current News
Calendar of Diversity Events
Departments
Scholarships
Accomplishments
Welcome Page
List of Student Groups
Student Life Information
Faculty and Staff
Mission, Vision, Values
Committees, Data, and
Statistics
Policies
None found
None found
None found
This institution is listed as U.S. News & World Report’s top “Campus Ethnic Diversity”
school;
This is an exceptional site and is a standard bearer;
This site also includes resources for student veterans, which was almost absent from
the sites examined here;
This site also provides ways to connect with the diversity initiatives through social
networks, such as Facebook, Twitter, and YouTube;
The site has on the front page a list of “Quick Facts” and institutional diversity
numbers;
This site also provides “General Resources” from the Web, which might be useful for
users; o
None found
None found
None found
Yes, long lists of links
None found
None found
Yes, with narrative and statistics for prospective undergrads
Yes, but in a long, scrolling list. The page boasts “Our students drive over 650 student
groups and organizations on campus. Here is a taste of the diversity of opportunity on
our campus:”
The site also provides another list of Academic Resources. These lists are not intuitive
or welcoming.
The site provides a “Student Perspectives” page that is merely contact information for
university Diversity Recruitment Interns.
The site provides a “Faculty Perspectives” page with what looks to be continually
updated stories with small photos of faculty members.
Yes, on the welcome page
Somewhat; the front page offers FAQs with links to a longer list with answers
General information; Lacking explicit information
Research
Multi-lingual tools
My Assessment
None found
None found
This institution is listed as U.S. News & World Report’s second “Campus Ethnic
Diversity” school;
This institution’s diversity offerings are hard to find through searching the website;
The university provides a graduate school publication titled “Diversity Matters,” which
is a rich and colorful resource for all constituencies.
Institution Name
URL
University of Houston
http://www.hrm.uh.edu/STUDENT-LIFE/Diversity/
Page Name
Type of Page/Site
(Basic – Interactive)
User-centered
Types of Disability Initiatives
or Accessibility Resources
Maps of Campuses and
Restroom Facilities?
Type of Contact Information
Current News
Calendar of Diversity Events
Departments
Scholarships
Accomplishments
Welcome Page
List of Student Groups
Student Life Information
Faculty and Staff
Mission, Vision, Values
Committees, Data, and
Statistics
Policies
Research
Multi-lingual tools
My Assessment
Diversity
Basic page with only one link
Institution Name
URL
Johns Hopkins Medicine
http://www.hopkinsmedicine.org/diversity/
Page Name
Type of Page/Site
(Basic – Interactive)
User-centered
Types of Disability Initiatives
or Accessibility Resources
Diversity and Inclusion at Johns Hopkins
Full site with text, images, and numerous professionally produced, hosted videos
No
None found
None found
None found
None found
None found
None found
None found
None found
Yes, with a narrative
None found
Yes, by default because it is linked from the Student Life page
None found
None found
None found
None found
None found
None found
This institution is listed as U.S. News & World Report’s third “Campus Ethnic Diversity”
school;
Despite being “one of the most diverse urban research universities in the country,” this
site does a poor job of conveying its diversity.
I did find a Diversity Committee in the College of Liberal Arts and Social Sciences,
which provides marginal information.
Yes, the site provides clear navigation and resources.
The site provides information on the following:
 For Students
 For Residents & Fellows
 For Staff


Maps of Campuses and
Restroom Facilities?
Type of Contact Information
Current News
Calendar of Diversity Events
Departments
Scholarships
Accomplishments
Welcome Page
List of Student Groups
Student Life Information
Faculty and Staff
Mission, Vision, Values
Committees, Data, and
Statistics
Policies
Research
Multi-lingual tools
My Assessment
For the Community
As an Organization
None found
General contact information
None found
None found
Yes, including Offices, Committees/Councils, Statements, and Programs.
Yes, full listings
Yes, the site sets the standard for highlighting the institutions’ feats. It also offers an
“Awards and Recognition” page.
Yes, with prose and a list of videos
Yes, a full list
General information
None found
Yes, the site explicitly offers its mission and value statements. The site also provides
the institution’s strategic plan via prose and a PDF.
The site provides a full breakdown of the institutions’ demographics, including colorful
pie charts.
Yes, explicit policies and reports
None found
None found
This site does an exceptional job of demonstrating the institution’s apparent
commitment to diversity and inclusion. To be clear, this is a top site. The site offers
active language and invitation rhetoric. The sight offers numerous videos that tell the
institution’s mission, vision, and values. Throughout the site, there are pictures and
stories of people from non-dominant groups. It also provides a video for its 2020
mission. Furthermore, the site provides Diversity & Inclusion Stories. Throughout the
site, the institution uses terms such as “benefit,” “growth,” “best and brightest,” and
“talent pipeline,” highlighting its commitment to its ideals.
This site provides an “Apply for Admission” link on the front page of its diversity site.
The site offers tools to increase fonts size, which was rarity among the websites
reviewed here. The site also provides the opportunity for users to take a survey on the
site’s functionality and services. While some users may find this as distracting, this
user felt it was another indication that those who designed and maintain the site are
interested in making it better.
While it has a clean layout, the site was not the most attractive or active looking site
examined here.
One endeavor the institution highlighted was its “Hiring the homeless” program.
The site also highlights the ways in which the institution is helping its community.