“National statistics tell us that in 1999-2000, 64 percent of college students graduated with student loan debt; of that 64 percent, 39 percent of student borrowers leave school with unmanageable debt levels, meaning that their monthly payments are more than 8 percent of their monthly incomes. About 55 percent of African-American students and 58 percent of Latino students graduate with unmanageable debt burden, as compared to 39 percent of their Caucasian counterparts. At New York University, we view these numbers as real and urgent problems and seek to explore ways to find creative and effective solutions. One such solution is NYU’s "Money Matters,” financial management series. Money Matters is housed in the Office for African American, Latino and Asian Student Services, within the Vice President for Student Affairs, Diversity and Student Community Development Division. OASIS is committed to helping students develop their educational and individual goals, and certainly view financial stability as a very important individual goal. Moreover, we know that we would not be true to our mission if we do not aggressively encourage our students to become effective managers of their finances."
As noted in the above quote available on our website OASIS/CMEP, it is clear that NYU students, specifically students of color as it relates to our office, need financial assistance and support. As our office has changed to its new name, The Center for Multicultural Education and Programs (CMEP), there were also changes to the services we provide. We will no longer serve the greater community with our money managing programs and print of our scholarship guide, but we hope to produce and update the scholarship guide, along with updating our already existing online resources (see web address noted above).
Since I knew that the changes were coming, I began to think about our scholarship booklet and how great it would be if it were accessible online. This shift would give our office the opportunity to place a great resource in the hands of many, in linking it to the web, as well as hold onto something that has been part of the former OASIS Office’s history. As students increase their use of the Internet, I want our office to be at a level where we can keep up with students’ interests, and evolving skills.
Our office was created to serve students, so the main population for this specific is undergraduate and graduate students. For added clarity, this population that we will serve encompasses non-traditional, students with disabilities, and international students. Prospective students may also be applicable for this service as well due to our frequent visits from high school students.
Most of the students that will use our website will be at a level of novice or higher with navigating the Internet (i.e. – locating and use of hyper-links, downloading, email access, and web-based research). For students who are part of populations that may need special assistance, such as a vision or mobile disability, there will be a copy on file in our office available for use.
Back To TopThe website consists of six web pages total, and the user will only able to navigate five of them. This reason is due to the importance of assessment in any facet of education or services. The first page will contain a greeting, purpose of the website, and what goals I hope the student obtains, as well as a form that will give me the helpful information about the student so that I can see who is using the site (example of fields: Name, Classification, School of Study, NYU Email address, and how they found out about our site). From this form, I can also get an idea of whether or not I am reaching the audience that I targeted, and also the form will help me in following up with the student for a evaluation form or one-on-one scholarship consultation if needed.
Once the form is completed, and the “submit” button has sent me their information, the student will be directed to the resource page that has helpful information about what they need to know before they search for scholarships. This resource page contains information on the types of scholarships there are along with explanations of each (internships, fellowships, grants, leadership roles, volunteer opportunities, etc.). Questions are also answered in this section that relate to what is required of a scholarship applicant, (GPA requirements, personal statement guidelines, how to assess your financial need). In this section, the user will become more familiar with terms frequently used in scholarship searching, as well as tools that will assist them in obtaining a scholarship.
Titles of scholarships and their publishers, links to useful websites are also included in this section (federal, and scholarship searching websites). This area is also where the student can find links listed specifically by field of study or student status (international students). These links are also strategically placed at the bottom so that students will be inclined to view the bottom of the page to access pages with more scholarship links. This shows the site going from general, to specific as the student moves on. By controlling the amount of information the student is taking in, and making sure the level of information is simple at first, the student is more likely to follow through in my opinion. Scholarship information are separated into four general categories: Minority Students, Non-U.S. Citizens & Governmental, Science & Technology, and Humanities & The Arts.
Each page will have scholarships listed on them in alphabetical order (by name of the scholarship), and have direct contact information for the scholarship. Below each scholarship name, a web link to it (if available), the address, deadline, and guidelines/requirements to apply for the scholarship will be listed.
Included in the navigation bar at the top of each page (below the header), there will be links to the other pages within the sub categories, along with a link to the resource page in case any information is needed along the way. My contact information (email, phone number, and office address) will be included in the footer of each page, so that if a student is on the site and is having problems they can contact someone and gain assistance.
Students who are presented with less complex information will learn more and be willing to follow directions because their minds are not expected to know more than they really do. In my internalization of the theme of cognitive load theory, I find it important to make things as simple and clear as possible. It is true that my own preferences and user style are shown in the way I have presented the information and its layout. In my opinion, the simplest design and medium for communicating information, the better. Showing information in a predictable way can help the user feel more comfortable in using the information, as well as tell other students how easy it is to find what you need.
I expect for the learner to gain a basic knowledge of what types of scholarships are available, and what he or she will need to obtain a scholarship. The learner can also learn about ways that he or she can budget and save money from visiting the links already prepared and accessible on the OASIS/CMEP website. The color scheme for the website is beige, lilac, green, and navy blue. The green of course, was due to the overall money theme, and the lilac for NYU. The other colors were chosen by trial and error. I wanted something fun, but subtle since these are college students and not elementary children, and the mix of colors keeps your eyes happy without making them hurt.
The environment students can expect to be using this design document offering free money will be in any computer on campus or at home, and in office (PC & Mac friendly, of course). Most students go to web stations throughout NYU’s campus, and those are places where I would expect to see students using our services. I would also make a clear statement with flyers or some other form of visual media separate from a computerized version that will advertise the transition and encourage students to visit the site.
Our scholarship guide will be appealing to many users, due to us having it on the web, as well as producing our paper copy. Having both will allow students an option that is helpful in making educational opportunities available for students to choose.
There are three components to my prototype section: flowchart, storyboard, and site layout. The flowchart will serve as a navigation standpoint, or map, of what the site will contain (# of pages, which pages go where). Storyboards are used to take the flowchart to the next level, and contain more specific information about the site like what text will appear where, what the user will be doing or experiencing on each page, and what internal or external site links will be included in the web pages as well. After both of these documents are completed, you can move towards the site layout, which will show what the completed site should look like after the first two components listed above are completed. Please see the links below to view each component: