Where to Focus First
When reviewing results in Siteimprove, Penn State units are encouraged to focus first on issues that have the greatest impact on users and the highest institutional risk. This typically includes:
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High-severity and high-priority issues identified in dashboards
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Problems that block basic navigation or access to essential content (such as missing form labels, inaccessible menus, or unreadable text)
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Issues that appear across many pages
Points you can gain
As you review issues in Siteimprove, the “Points you can gain” value is a helpful way to decide what to fix first. This number shows how much your overall DCI score will improve when you resolve that issue everywhere it appears. In general, issues with higher point values tend to have a bigger impact on your site’s accessibility and overall health. While you don’t have to fix issues strictly in point order, using this value as a guide can help you focus your time on the changes that will make the most meaningful improvement for users and for your site's score.
Examples of high priority issues:
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Missing alt text
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Improper headings structure
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Form label issues
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Keyboard traps
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Color contrast failures
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Empty links or buttons
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Non-descriptive links
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Auto playing media/content issues
Critical tasks
Accessibility Web Liaisons and site owners should also prioritize pages that support critical tasks, since barriers on these pages affect the largest number of users. Addressing widespread, high-impact issues first helps improve accessibility more quickly and creates a stronger foundation for ongoing improvement.
Examples of critical tasks:
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Applying for admission
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Paying tuition, fees, or bills
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Completing required forms
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Accessing advising information
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Finding essential contact information
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Registering for courses