NDSU Web Analytics (Google Analytics)
Access Google Analytics for the www.ndsu.edu domain using your NDSU G Suite account.
To get started using Google Analytics:
- Request access to Google Analytics at NDSU via the IT Help Desk
- Log in to Google Analytics using your NDSU G Suite account
All CMS pages are automatically tracked using this Google Analytics account.
If your website is hosted outside of CMS, you should include the following tracking code in your www.ndsu.edu page for visits to tracked. You are responsible to follow the Google Analytics terms of service, including your proper use of data collected, and to inform the visitor of your use of Google Analytics on each page where Google Analytics is used. Inclusion of a prominent Privacy Statement link to www.ndsu.edu/privacy satisfies that notification. You should review the Google Analytics terms of service to ensure you are familiar with, and adhere to, all of the terms.
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(i[r].q=i[r].q||[]).push(arguments)},i[r].l=1*new Date();a=s.createElement(o),
m=s.getElementsByTagName(o)[0];a.async=1;a.src=g;m.parentNode.insertBefore(a,m)
})(window,document,'script','https://www.google-analytics.com/analytics.js','ga');
ga('create', 'UA-73525008-1', 'auto')
ga('send', 'pageview');
</script>
<a href="https://www.ndsu.edu/privacy/">Privacy Statement</a>
Why use the NDSU-provided Google Analytics account instead of a personal account?
Most importantly, there is inherent risk in using a personal Google account (any account that is not @ndsu.edu and managed by NDSU) because the university cannot assist you in account management. If the individual who owns the account used for tracking your department's website leaves the university, your department also loses its web analytics data. Even if you create a "shared" account, NDSU IT cannot prevent an employee from changing the password and locking out others or restore access to any data deleted in this scenario.
Along with select other G Suite services, Google Analytics has been approved by NDSU IT Security and the terms of service have been vetted by university staff. The general terms and services provided and available to an @gmail.com Google account have not been approved for university use. Keep in mind that use of a personal account may bring that account into scope of North Dakota Open Records laws.
Google Webmaster Search Console for www.ndsu.edu has been tied to Analytics, allowing you to track your pages' search performance. This is only possible through your NDSU G Suite account.
While using a separate account to display only your department's material may seem like a good way to focus on just your department's web content, being able to see your department's traffic in context of the rest of the university provides important insights about your visitors and how they find your content. The NDSU G Suite Google Analytics account tracks other www.ndsu.edu pages so you can discover whether visitors are visiting a page because of a home page banner campaign, from an entry in the university web index, or a link from your college's website. You might be able to discover that visitors are trying to find your content in an unanticipated place on www.ndsu.edu and resorting to a search, enabling you to close the gap.
Is Google Analytics training available?
Google offers a few resources to Learn Analytics.
- Analytics Training and Support
includes Analytics Academy, an Analytics Demo Account, and information shared on the Analytics YouTube Channel and Analytics Blog - How to prepare for Google Analytics IQ
includes "Analytics Academy" courses for beginners and advanced GA for preparation for the free Analytics Individual Qualification (IQ) proficiency demonstration.
