Updating UC San Diego's Enrollment System
Updating UC San Diego's Enrollment System
Optimizing our college enrollment + class planning tool to be more thoughtfully intuitive + friendly.
Optimizing our college enrollment + class planning tool to be more thoughtfully intuitive + friendly.
ROLE
ROLE
Product Marketer
Product Marketer
TEAM
TEAM
1 product manager + 1 product designer + 1 product marketer (me!)
1 product manager +
1 product designer +
1 product marketer (me!)
DURATION
DURATION
March 2023 - June 2023
March 2023 -
June 2023
ORGANIZATION
ORGANIZATION
Product Space at UC San Diego
Product Space at UC San Diego
TOOLS
TOOLS
Figma + Figjam, Notion, Asana
Figma + Figjam, Notion, Asana
The Problem
The Problem
At UCSD, course enrollment is a quarterly stressful ritual.
At UCSD, course enrollment is a quarterly stressful ritual.
As the next academic quarter approaches, a familiar wave of stress rolls over students at UCSD. It’s time to tackle a task that inspires both anxiety and frustration: course enrollment. At the heart of this chaos lies WebReg: the university’s enrollment tool, which has gained a reputation for being more of a hindrance than a help.
Enrollment is often a daunting task. Students juggle multiple sources of information, often across multiple webpages, to make informed decisions; hunting down professor reviews, digging through catalogs, and navigating major requirements takes hours. The system’s limitations force them into spreadsheets, forums, and group chats just to do something as basic as plan their quarter.
The process of planning one’s academic future should feel empowering. Instead, it feels like a logistical mess, with weeks of uncertainty around the trajectory of their degrees.
As the next academic quarter approaches, a familiar wave of stress rolls over students at UCSD. It’s time to tackle a task that inspires both anxiety and frustration: course enrollment. At the heart of this chaos lies WebReg: the university’s enrollment tool, which has gained a reputation for being more of a hindrance than a help.
Enrollment is often a daunting task. Students juggle multiple sources of information, often across multiple webpages, to make informed decisions; hunting down professor reviews, digging through catalogs, and navigating major requirements takes hours. The system’s limitations force them into spreadsheets, forums, and group chats just to do something as basic as plan their quarter.
The process of planning one’s academic future should feel empowering. Instead, it feels like a logistical mess, with weeks of uncertainty around the trajectory of their degrees.
We asked: how might we ease and optimize the enrollment process for UCSD students?
We asked: how might we ease and optimize the enrollment process for UCSD students?
The Product
The Product
Meet WebReg: UCSD’s all-in-one class planning and enrollment tool.
Meet WebReg: UCSD’s all-in-one class planning and enrollment tool.
Application features
Application features
Search, plan, and register for classes
Schedule events
Submit course requests to counselors
Access course and textbook catalogs
Search, plan, and register for classes
Schedule events
Submit course requests to counselors
Access course and textbook catalogs
WebReg usage metrics
WebReg usage metrics
33,343 undergrads • 8,542 grad students
Enrollment periods span 2 weeks each quarter
WebReg supports 1k–10k concurrent visitors
100+ majors = hundreds of classes per quarter
33,343 undergrads • 8,542 grad students
Enrollment periods span 2 weeks each quarter
WebReg supports 1k–10k concurrent visitors
100+ majors = hundreds of classes per quarter
WebReg handles everything from registration to grade viewing, but “all-in-one” is generous. Its actual functionality falls short of basic usability standards.
WebReg handles everything from registration to grade viewing, but “all-in-one” is generous. Its actual functionality falls short of basic usability standards.
User Research
User Research
We surveyed 30 students on their WebReg usage habits.
We surveyed 30 students on their WebReg usage habits.
Surveyed from the UCSD student population (undergraduates, masters, and doctoral students)
Surveyed from the UCSD student population (undergraduates, masters, and doctoral students)
100%
100%
Use WebReg to enroll in classes (yay!)
Use WebReg to enroll in classes (yay!)
86%
86%
Use WebReg for class planning
Use WebReg for class planning
63%
63%
Use WebReg to search for classes
Use WebReg to search for classes
31%
31%
Use WebReg to access course information
Use WebReg to access course information
Here’s what we learned from 15 student users we interviewed.
Here’s what we learned from 15 student users we interviewed.
Surveyed from the UCSD student population (undergraduates, masters, and doctoral students)
Surveyed from the UCSD student population (undergraduates, masters, and doctoral students)
12 out of 15 students...
12 out of 15 students...
Plan backup and alternative classes on their own, just in case
Plan backup and alternative classes on their own, just in case
14 out of 15 students...
14 out of 15 students...
Have multiple external tabs open when planning their course schedule, tab-switching for basic details like prerequisites, instructors, or lab requirements
Have multiple external tabs open when planning their course schedule, tab-switching for basic details like prerequisites, instructors, or lab requirements
13 out of 15 students...
13 out of 15 students...
Use external planning tools, like spreadsheets or public forums
Use external planning tools, like spreadsheets or public forums
““I always have a headache after using WebReg. Nothing is in one place. ”
- Nora, 21
““I always have a headache after using WebReg. Nothing is in one place. ”
- Nora, 21
Key Pain Points
Key Pain Points
Here’s where students are getting stuck.
Here’s where students are getting stuck.
Missing course info
Missing course info
“[My] biggest issue is not being able to see the course description and instead having to look on a secondary website or other UCSD forums. I have to click between multiple different sites when I’m trying to enroll.”
“[My] biggest issue is not being able to see the course description and instead having to look on a secondary website or other UCSD forums. I have to click between multiple different sites when I’m trying to enroll.”
High cognitive load
High cognitive load
“It’s not clear if a class has a particular extra lab, professor, prerequisite... [there is] a lack of just basic information because the course catalogue isn’t hyperlinked.”
“It’s not clear if a class has a particular extra lab, professor, prerequisite... [there is] a lack of just basic information because the course catalogue isn’t hyperlinked.”
Unappealing and outdated UI
Unappealing and outdated UI
“The interface feels so old and laggy. I have to be careful when I click on classes to enroll to make sure they’re the right ones, especially when I am trying to grab classes at the start of my pass time.”
“The interface feels so old and laggy. I have to be careful when I click on classes to enroll to make sure they’re the right ones, especially when I am trying to grab classes at the start of my pass time.”
User Personas
User Personas
To better empathize with our users, we created some student personas that reflected some common goals and frustrations.
To better empathize with our users, we created some student personas that reflected some common goals and frustrations.
Melody
Melody
19, she/her | B.S in Cognitive Science at UCSD
19, she/her | B.S in Cognitive Science at UCSD
Goal: Take the right classes to transfer into Mechanical Engineering while graduating on time
Pain points: Needs accurate, up-to-date class info to compete for high-demand courses
Goal: Take the right classes to transfer into Mechanical Engineering while graduating on time
Pain points: Needs accurate, up-to-date class info to compete for high-demand courses
Dominic
Dominic
23, he/him | M.S in Business Analytics at UCSD
23, he/him | M.S in Business Analytics at UCSD
Goal: Keep track of his busy TA work schedule, review course evaluations for professors, plan and take upper division courses
Pain points: Needs to reference 3+ sites to get course and professor information, is frustrated with limited search abilities
Goal: Keep track of his busy TA work schedule, review course evaluations for professors, plan and take upper division courses
Pain points: Needs to reference 3+ sites to get course and professor information, is frustrated with limited search abilities
SWOT Analysis
SWOT Analysis
However, there’s still room for growth!
However, there’s still room for growth!
Strengths
Strengths
Strengths
Straightforward
Functionally practical
Gets the job done!
Straightforward
Functionally practical
Gets the job done!
Straightforward
Functionally practical
Gets the job done!
Threats
Threats
Threats
Enrollment bugs
Alternative class planning tools (spreadsheets, notes)
Enrollment bugs
Alternative class planning tools (spreadsheets, notes)
Enrollment bugs
Alternative class planning tools (spreadsheets, notes)
Weaknesses
Weaknesses
Weaknesses
Outdated, unpleasant UI
Difficult to navigate
Limited use cases
Outdated, unpleasant UI
Difficult to navigate
Limited use cases
Outdated, unpleasant UI
Difficult to navigate
Limited use cases
Opportunities
Opportunities
Opportunities
Growing UCSD population
Course tools spread across 2+ platforms (for now)
Growing UCSD population
Course tools spread across 2+ platforms (for now)
Growing UCSD population
Course tools spread across 2+ platforms (for now)
Competitive Analysis
Competitive Analysis
What are other enrollment planning tools doing better?
What are other enrollment planning tools doing better?
Key Features
Key Features
Key Features
class planning
class planning
class planning
class enrollment
class enrollment
class enrollment
course information
course information
course information
personal scheduling
personal scheduling
personal scheduling
user-friendly UI
user-friendly UI
user-friendly UI
WebReg
WebReg
WebReg
✅
✅
✅
✅
✅
✅
❌
❌
❌
✅
✅
✅
❌
❌
❌
❌
❌
❌
❌
❌
❌
✅
✅
✅
✅
✅
✅
✅
✅
✅
✅
✅
✅
❌
❌
❌
❌
❌
❌
❌
❌
❌
✅
✅
✅
Information hubs
(Rate MyProfessors, course catalogs, CAPEs)
Information hubs
(Rate MyProfessors, course catalogs, CAPEs)
Information hubs
(Rate MyProfessors, course catalogs, CAPEs)
❌
❌
❌
❌
❌
❌
✅
✅
✅
❌
❌
❌
✅
✅
✅
[TEXT]
[TEXT]
Proposed Solutions
Proposed Solutions
What if WebReg was a comprehensive all-in-one hub for enrollment that actually supported the planning process?
What if WebReg was a comprehensive all-in-one hub for enrollment that actually supported the planning process?
With these pain points in mind, we ideated and landed on the following goals for our redesign:
With these pain points in mind, we ideated and landed on the following goals for our redesign:
Pain Points 👎
Pain Points 👎
Solutions ✅
Solutions ✅
Lack of critical course information
Lack of critical course information
Pop-ups with critical course essentials: view logistics, prerequisites, evaluations leaving the page.
Pop-ups with critical course essentials: view logistics, prerequisites, evaluations leaving the page.
Ineffective search capabilities
Ineffective search capabilities
A refined, personalized search system that uses degree audits to suggest classes.
A refined, personalized search system that uses degree audits to suggest classes.
Unintuitive UI
Unintuitive UI
A clean design system with consistent spacing, smart hierarchy, and just enough color to guide attention.
A clean design system with consistent spacing, smart hierarchy, and just enough color to guide attention.
Market Opportunity
Market Opportunity
What segment of the market could we realistically capture with our redesign?
What segment of the market could we realistically capture with our redesign?
TAM Total Addressable Market
TAM Total Addressable Market
1.59 billion
1.59 billion
SAM Served Available Market
SAM Served Available Market
235 million
235 million
SOM Servicable Obtainable Market
SOM Servicable Obtainable Market
15.9 million
15.9 million
[TEXT]
[TEXT]
Original Interface
Original Interface
How do we enhance the current user experience?
How do we enhance the current user experience?
We didn’t want to rip WebReg apart—we wanted to meet users where they were, and build on top of the system with smarter, more supportive design.
We didn’t want to rip WebReg apart—we wanted to meet users where they were, and build on top of the system with smarter, more supportive design.
Low-Fidelity Wireframes
Low-Fidelity Wireframes
Here’s how we started rethinking the interface.
Here’s how we started rethinking the interface.
Class planning view with cleaner layout + visual hierarchy
Class planning view with cleaner layout + visual hierarchy
Calendar view for finals with critical info
Calendar view for finals with critical info
Calendar view with more visible class statuses and visual cues
Calendar view with more visible class statuses and visual cues
Informed search results with unit counts and course blurbs
Informed search results with unit counts and course blurbs
Friendly error handling (invalid enrollment, waitlist alerts)
Friendly error handling (invalid enrollment, waitlist alerts)
Expanded course detail views with increased padding
Expanded course detail views with increased padding
Brand Guidelines
Brand Guidelines
We wanted our redesign to stay consistent with other UCSD tools, so we turned to our school’s branding guidelines.
We wanted our redesign to stay consistent with other UCSD tools, so we turned to our school’s branding guidelines.
High-Fidelity Wireframes
High-Fidelity Wireframes
Using new branding guidelines, we created our hi-fi prototype.
Using new branding guidelines, we created our hi-fi prototype.
Schedule and course listings page
Schedule and course listings page
Using color intentionally to draw attention to action items!
Using color intentionally to draw attention to action items!
Finals
Finals
A quick, simple summary of where + when your finals are.
A quick, simple summary of where + when your finals are.
Course schedule
Course schedule
A snapshot of next quarter’s schedule and enrollment status.
A snapshot of next quarter’s schedule and enrollment status.
Search results
Search results
No more cross-referencing course catalogs to find class descriptions!
No more cross-referencing course catalogs to find class descriptions!
Warnings and notifications
Warnings and notifications
WebReg will tell you when you can’t take an action, like enroll or waitlist.
WebReg will tell you when you can’t take an action, like enroll or waitlist.
Thoughtful padding and heirarchy
Thoughtful padding and heirarchy
Course listings were cramped and neon blue. This feels better to look at!
Course listings were cramped and neon blue. This feels better to look at!
Accessibility + Support
Accessibility + Support
We also implemented some new solutions to increase accessibility to information and support class planning.
We also implemented some new solutions to increase accessibility to information and support class planning.
🎓 Degree audit pop-up
🎓 Degree audit pop-up
Not sure where to start with class planning? WebReg will recommend some classes based on your GE and major requirements.
Not sure where to start with class planning? WebReg will recommend some classes based on your GE and major requirements.
🔍 Simplified ‘advanced filter’
🔍 Simplified ‘advanced filter’
If you know exactly what department, instructor, or weekdays you’re looking for, filter intelligently to find them.
If you know exactly what department, instructor, or weekdays you’re looking for, filter intelligently to find them.
🧑🏫 Professor CAPE evaluations
🧑🏫 Professor CAPE evaluations
Learn more about a professor before you enroll from average rating stats and class evaluations.
Learn more about a professor before you enroll from average rating stats and class evaluations.
Final Prototype
Final Prototype
Take a look at our final solution here!
Take a look at our final solution here!
View here
View here
Repositioning WebReg
Repositioning WebReg
We wanted adjust the messaging of our enrollment tool to feel empowering.
We wanted adjust the messaging of our enrollment tool to feel empowering.
With the opportunity to launch a new version of WebReg to the entire school, we would have used this repositioning statement to guide the tool’s shift in perception from frustrating to empowering.
With the opportunity to launch a new version of WebReg to the entire school, we would have used this repositioning statement to guide the tool’s shift in perception from frustrating to empowering.
For university students looking to streamline their class planning and registration process, WebReg serves as a one-stop course information and enrollment hub. WebReg provides an intuitive enrollment system, seamless access to course and professor information, and personalized degree recommendations for an efficient, stress-free experience.
For university students looking to streamline their class planning and registration process, WebReg serves as a one-stop course information and enrollment hub. WebReg provides an intuitive enrollment system, seamless access to course and professor information, and personalized degree recommendations for an efficient, stress-free experience.
Go-to-Market Strategy
Go-to-Market Strategy
No one has to adopt WebReg—they already use it. So how do we get them to love it?
No one has to adopt WebReg—they already use it. So how do we get them to love it?
As we already have a 100% usage rate (everyone has to enroll with WebReg), there wasn’t a need to convert students to Webreg users. Instead, we focused on the other three stages of the marketing funnel when creating a go-to-market strategy.
As we already have a 100% usage rate (everyone has to enroll with WebReg), there wasn’t a need to convert students to Webreg users. Instead, we focused on the other three stages of the marketing funnel when creating a go-to-market strategy.
Our goals:
📚 Earn consideration
🤳 Convert students into more active users
🗣️ Create loyal advocates
Our goals:
📚 Earn consideration
🤳 Convert students into more active users
🗣️ Create loyal advocates
Our goals:
📚 Earn consideration
🤳 Convert students into more active users
🗣️ Create loyal advocates
KPIs
KPIs
How do we measure success of our redesign and our repositioning?
How do we measure success of our redesign and our repositioning?
Reach
Reach
support growth in users and number of visits for 40k+ students, reduce number of crashes
support growth in users and number of visits for 40k+ students, reduce number of crashes
Satisfaction
Satisfaction
increase in user satisfaction with UI and overall system, user input surveys
increase in user satisfaction with UI and overall system, user input surveys
Function
Function
repair current pain points and outperforms previous iteration, A|B testing
repair current pain points and outperforms previous iteration, A|B testing
Retention
Retention
increase in # of users returning to use new features (class planning + recommendations)
increase in # of users returning to use new features (class planning + recommendations)
Bringing it back...
Bringing it back...
What would success look like in terms of our original metrics?
What would success look like in terms of our original metrics?
86%
86%
96%
96%
Would use WebReg for class planning
Would use WebReg for class planning
63%
63%
83%
83%
Use WebReg to search for classes
Use WebReg to search for classes
31%
31%
71%
71%
Use WebReg to access course information
Use WebReg to access course information
Product Requirement Document
Product Requirement Document
To stay consistent with industry standards, we tracked our progress + established hypothetical business needs in a PRD!
To stay consistent with industry standards, we tracked our progress + established hypothetical business needs in a PRD!
Future Enhancements
Future Enhancements
Some ideas that would make WebReg even more equitable for all students…
Some ideas that would make WebReg even more equitable for all students…
🤖 AI academic advising: Chat-based support that answers common questions in real-time
🗓 Auto-generated schedules: Based on major + degree requirements
🧮 Enrollment equity algorithm: Prioritize class access fairly based on need, not just seniority
🤖 AI academic advising: Chat-based support that answers common questions in real-time
🗓 Auto-generated schedules: Based on major + degree requirements
🧮 Enrollment equity algorithm: Prioritize class access fairly based on need, not just seniority
Takeaways
Takeaways
What I learned from our capstone project :)
What I learned from our capstone project :)
🤝 Working cross-functionally is an engaging, creative process.
🤝 Working cross-functionally is an engaging, creative process.
This was my first project working alongside a product designer and a product manager! We had a lot of fun exploring ideas together, as well as leaning on each other for ideation and feedback.
This was my first project working alongside a product designer and a product manager! We had a lot of fun exploring ideas together, as well as leaning on each other for ideation and feedback.
📈 Product thinking drives smarter, savvier decision making.
📈 Product thinking drives smarter, savvier decision making.
Functionality + the user experience + business goals = a successful product! Balancing all of these priorities challenged us to think from a development and business scope.
Functionality + the user experience + business goals = a successful product! Balancing all of these priorities challenged us to think from a development and business scope.
Functionality + the user experience + business goals = a successful product! Balancing all of these priorities challenged us to think from a development and business scope.
💭 Get feedback often!
💭 Get feedback often!
Getting frequent, consistent feedback from each other and our mentors allowed our team to iterate and refine our work, as well as regularly touch base on small wins and blockers we were facing.
Getting frequent, consistent feedback from each other and our mentors allowed our team to iterate and refine our work, as well as regularly touch base on small wins and blockers we were facing.
Acknowledgements
Acknowledgements
Thank you to my team, mentors, and Product Space @ UCSD!
Thank you to my team, mentors, and Product Space @ UCSD!
I’m very grateful to Christine Nguyen and Sarah Liu for being such fantastic teammates, as well as Tanisha Mandal and Rajvir Logani for their wonderful mentorship and support! I am so proud of the work we accomplished :)
I’m very grateful to Christine Nguyen and Sarah Liu for being such fantastic teammates, as well as Tanisha Mandal and Rajvir Logani for their wonderful mentorship and support! I am so proud of the work we accomplished :)
team bonding :P
team bonding :P
team bonding :P
grinding on our PRD!
grinding on our PRD!
grinding on our PRD!
final banquet >.<
final banquet >.<
final banquet >.<
us + our mentors <3
us + our mentors <3
us + our mentors <3