New signs give help to lost visitors

By DANA IRWIN
and JILL LEONARD
Collegian Staff Writers

Navigating the campus is now a little easier for new students and visitors, thanks to a new sign system.

The Office of Physical Plant has recently implemented a mock-up sign display in several locations.

The goal is to create a better navigation system on campus, said Scott Hord, OPP facilities analyst.

"We want to standardize the sign system on campus," he said, adding no such system presently exists.

The 14 mock-up signs appear on campus. Along with vehicular direction signs, the mock-ups include pedestrian maps, accessible entrance signs, bike path designations, bus stop markers and building names.

Students give their opinions about the aesthetics and effectiveness of the signs on the Penn State World Wide Web site (www.psu.edu). The committee decided a Web survey was the best way to reach students, Hord added.

"The survey will be worthwhile if people take it seriously. It is important to get student feedback," Jessica Beierle (freshman-biology) said.

Because the signs aim to help freshmen and visitors around campus, the Wayfinding and Signage Committee is looking for input mostly from first- or second-year students, Hord said.

Though the committee wants student input, information about the online survey does not appear near the mock-ups.

So far, student reactions to both the signs and the survey have been positive.

"The signs are a worthwhile investment for new students, parents, visitors and guests," Kevin Vogt (freshman-telecommunications) said.

Although student opinions are valued, plans for the appearance of the signs are tentatively set.

"We are really happy with the way the signs look," Hord said. "We will take into account people's views, but we are pretty set."

The signs will be on display and students will have access to the survey until April 15.

The survey results will be presented at the committee's final meeting. Results will be posted on the Web at the end of April, and permanent signs will appear on campus during Fall Semester 1999.

SOURCE: Wayfinding and Signange Committee
GRAPHIC: Daryl Lang