By Craig Carmichael
Director of Digital Marketing & Communication
It’s Friday! That means through snow, sleet and rain, I have a web conversion update for you.
We are finishing the last extended campus conversion today. The conversion will be completed on schedule however optimization may extend into the first two weeks of March.
The fact that we complete converting all extended campus sites does not mean that we are finished with the extended campus sites. To the contrary, we now feverishly begin the process of optimizing each for consistency of navigation, organization, accuracy, and usability. To ensure a consistent presentation of the Webster University Brand, the “home” or index page of each extended campus site requires the approval of GMC prior to publishing it live on the website. All other directories and pages of the extended campuses are open to edit, create and publish as necessary. The new website Content Management System (CMS) is loaded with Cascading Style Sheets (CSS). This CSS code ensures consistent formatting and display across all pages of the website. The also means that “copy and paste” functionality is limited, the placement of tables created outside of the CMS templates/assets does not function and the use of the “style” and “formatting” drop down menus in the edit function are a requirement.
The list below highlights specific areas we are addressing during optimization.
- Consistent implementation of Request Info / Open House / Apply Now buttons
- Organization
- Social Media Implementation
- Navigation
- Copy
- Contact Us consistency
- Layout
- Linkage
- Images/Graphics
When reviewing websites it is important to remember that our new responsive website design allows us to present a quality user experience on multiple digital platforms including desktop, tablets and mobile phone. This will reduce redundancy and increase consistency, ensuring we meet the expectations of potential, new and current students.
I appreciate everyone’s patience as we diligently work to convert all these pages and satisfy a very diverse set of needs and wants at each campus location. For routine website edits, requests for employee access to the new content management system or general inquiry please contact the Service Desk and they will respond to the issue or escalate the concern to me as necessary. This allows for workflow tracking and improvement of service to each extended campus. The Service Desk can grant website editing privileges. In the case of an emergency or urgent situation, campus directors should always feel free to contact me directly. Email is usually a more efficient way to contact me, as I can reply with links, assets and solutions.
Important Links for extended campus locations below:
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