Effective information architecture ensures UNA's website is intuitive and user-centered by making content easy to find, logically organized, and consistently presented.
Information Architecture
- Logical hierarchy – Clear page relationships reflecting natural user navigation
- Consistent naming – Menus, links, section headers use predictable language
- Clear separation – Programs, departments, and administrative content don't overlap
- No duplication – Eliminate duplicate, conflicting, or outdated pages
- Simple pathways – Direct, linear routes to key actions with minimal steps (e.g., Find Program → Program Page → Apply)
Navigation Principles
Primary Navigation
Top-level menu visible on every page. Limited to 6-8 items representing major site sections.
Secondary Navigation
Sub-menus within sections. Maximum 3 levels deep to prevent user confusion.
Breadcrumbs
Required on all pages except homepage to show location in site hierarchy.
URL Structure Standards
Directory-Based URLs (Required)
All pages must use directory-based URLs ending with trailing slashes, never .html extensions:
- Correct:
una.edu/admissions/apply/ - Incorrect:
una.edu/admissions/apply.html
Technical Implementation: Each page lives in its own directory as
index.html. For example, the URL una.edu/admissions/apply/ serves the file at /admissions/apply/index.html. This structure provides clean URLs, better SEO, and flexibility for future expansion.
URL Formatting Rules
- Descriptive paths:
/academics/programs/nursing/clearly indicates content hierarchy - Lowercase with hyphens:
/admissions/apply-now/(never underscores or camelCase) - No special characters: Only letters, numbers, hyphens, and slashes
- No dates in URLs: Avoid
/news/2026/january/story— use/news/story-title/instead - No file extensions: Never expose .html, .php, .aspx in public URLs
- Permanent URLs: Once published, URLs should not change. If necessary, implement 301 redirects
URL Length and Depth
- Maximum depth: 4 levels recommended (
/section/subsection/topic/page/) - Maximum length: 75 characters or fewer for the full path
- Segment length: Individual segments should be 2-4 words maximum
Examples
| Good URL | Bad URL | Issue |
|---|---|---|
/admissions/undergraduate/ |
/admissions/undergraduate.html |
File extension exposed |
/academics/nursing/ |
/academics/nursing_program/ |
Underscore instead of hyphen |
/news/campus-expansion/ |
/news/2026/02/campus-expansion/ |
Date in URL path |
/student-life/housing/ |
/StudentLife/Housing/ |
Mixed case |