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What is Siteimprove and what does it do?

Siteimprove is a web governance and quality assurance platform that Penn State uses to help improve the accessibility, usability, and overall quality of its public-facing websites. It automatically scans websites on a regular basis and identifies accessibility issues based on standards set by the IT Accessibility Office in alignment with legal requirements, then organizes those issues into clear, prioritized reports that show what needs attention and where it appears on a site.

For accessibility, Siteimprove helps content authors, designers, developers, and site owners see problems such as missing alternative text, improper heading structure, low color contrast, unclear link text, and form-related barriers. Instead of requiring manual testing of individual pages, the platform provides a site-wide view of issues, saving time and helping teams focus on the most impactful fixes first.

However, automated scanning cannot detect every accessibility barrier. Some issues, such as whether content makes sense when read by a screen reader, whether interactive features are truly usable with a keyboard, or whether instructions are clear and meaningful, require human review and real-user testing. Manual testing helps validate scan results, identify usability barriers, and ensure that sites work well in real-world scenarios. In addition to identifying issues, Siteimprove identifies potential issues that require real-user testing.

Siteimprove also includes built-in guidance, examples, and learning resources that explain why an issue matters and how to resolve it. This makes it especially valuable for users who are not accessibility experts, since it connects technical requirements to practical steps.

At an institutional level, Siteimprove gives Penn State consistent insight into the accessibility status of its websites, helps track progress over time, and supports coordinated improvement efforts across units. It serves as both a monitoring tool and a learning platform, helping the University move toward more accessible, usable, and inclusive digital experiences.

See the following Siteimprove help articles for additional information:

How Siteimprove Supports You

Through the enterprise implementation of Siteimprove, Penn State provides users with consistent tools, clear expectations, and practical guidance to support accessibility and quality work in their daily roles. This service is intended to help users understand the degree to which their websites comply with University standards, prioritize improvements, access reliable documentation and training, and connect with support when needed.

Rather than placing the burden of compliance on individuals, Siteimprove creates a shared framework that makes accessibility work more manageable, transparent, and sustainable, enabling users to build confidence, develop skills, and make steady progress over time.

Who is managing this initiative at Penn State?

This initiative is led centrally at Penn State by the IT Accessibility Office in partnership with university-wide governance groups, including the Accessibility Leadership Coordinating Group and the Enterprise Accessibility Advisory Group, which help guide strategy, priorities, and standards for digital accessibility.

At the same time, Strategic Communications, University Web and Digital Group provides Siteimprove as an enterprise service to support monitoring and improvement efforts.

Together, these groups coordinate accessibility scanning, guidance, and reporting, while individual units remain responsible for improving accessibility within their own sites with centralized support and oversight.

Looking Ahead

Use of Siteimprove at Penn State will continue to evolve as:

Technologies advance
Regulations change
User needs grow
Best practices develop

This site will be updated to reflect those changes and to support the Penn State community over time.