MySacState, the interactive website meant to aid Sacramento State students, has been undergoing some maintenance within the past few weeks and is being revamped to make navigating easier for students.

The remainder of these changes are expected to be finalized within the next month, said Lucinda Parker, project and policy manager for Information Resources and Technology.

Initial changes to the website were made because the Web Portal Advisory Committee, which is behind the changes, is always looking for ways to improve the website to work better for the students. Information Resources and Technology tries to upgrade the features on the website twice a year to get the “look and feel” to sync with the university’s home page, Parker said.

The site will also be made easier through enhanced navigation options.

“Better navigation options are provided through drop-down lists,” Parker said. “You no longer have to navigate to a tab to see what is on that tab or to go link a specific item on that page.”

Some students responded positively toward the new changes.

“I really do not think the makeover is a big deal, but I am happy to know that the website will be easier to use,” said Mayra Cordoza, sophomore English major.

Junior graphic design major Timothy Knapp said it “was about time” that Sac State updated MySacState.

“I hate the old MySacState layout. The user interface is crappy, but functional. There is way too much going on that front page. They should keep it sleek and simple,” he said. “I go on there sometimes and see so many things I want to change. I’m glad Sac State’s finally gotten around to it.”

According to the university website, an update to the My Stuff tab will include a drag-and-drop feature. Students can also add their own content, such as The Sacramento Bee, Google search and an online translation tool.

Both the Student Center and Faculty Center sections will also be moved to the MySacState homepage so that users do not have to “click a hundred different links” to get to these centers, Parker said.

The concept for the changes to MySacState was brought together through collaboration among the portal committee, Associated Students Inc. and Public Affairs. The actual physical changes were handled by the Information Resource and Technology development team, Parker said.

Parker has some suggestions for the website that she would personally like to see updated.

“Some of the changes I would like to see in the future include a MySacState version for your mobile devices.” Parker said.

She said she would also like to make student network drives more accessible. These drives are personal network storage for files that allow students to use the web portal interface to gain access to their school files from anywhere.

Parker said all of these changes to MySacState are meant to help students by providing services to them so that they are more inclined to go to the portal for information.

Cayla Gales can be reached at [email protected].