Institutional Knowledge

Meriam Library has announced the arrival of Multi-Search. This is an exciting new way to search the catalog as well as several online databases that we have access to like JSTOR and Academic Search. In the past students would have to search each journal database and our catalog separately. Now, everything is handled through a single search box. Hopefully users will find this means of search much more convenient and a faster way of researching.

We’ve been tinkering with the campus search interface. Recently, we added a list of popular search terms from the previous day. It’s like a daily Zeitgeist right on the search page! Brilliant! Would something like this be helpful? Test out the new interface and let us know what you think! Go Search!

Lets look at the Academic Calendar for fall 2006 for a moment. Would you rather have the page marked up with microformat hcal information, have the information available as XML (RSS & Atom), or in iCal format?

Me? I’d take XML first…but then I’m an edge case.

Top 5 Queries

1. Summer Orientation
2. Housing
3. Transcripts
4. Academic Calendar
5. Financial Aid

June can be characterized as a month where the main users of the CSUC website were incoming freshman. Orientation, housing, and financial aid are all terms that are currently relevant to new students.

In fact, one of the few signs of non-freshman activity was the search for transcripts that were made available mid-June as grades were posted from the spring semester.

Another interesting term which didn’t crack the Top 5 but was a solid 7th was SB 569 which is a Senate Bill that deals with privacy of information. In specific, the Alumni Association was offering alumni a way to decline special offers from insurance or credit card companies.

Top 5 Queries

1. Finals schedule
2. Campus map
3. Housing
4. Graduation
5. Transcripts

School’s out for summer and students couldn’t be more excited. Finals schedule was the top query besting the second most popular query (__summer orientation__) by a 3:1 margin.

Summer orientation was the second most popular query as freshman made their final arrangements before the fall semester. Tied to this query was likely housing that’s also an interest for incoming freshman.

As could be expected graduation came in 3rd as the spring semester ended and students and parents alike looked for details and schedules for the individual colleges.

Campus map continues to stay strong on the Top 5 as transcripts and academic calendar both dropped off.