New UMassD.edu web design is now up and running
A newly designed UMass Dartmouth web site launched on August 29. The re-design, based on input from faculty, staff, and students from across the campus as well as the expertise of our web development team and outside experts, offers a new look and feel that makes our online presence in the world more compelling and easier to use.
Many division heads are already fully engaged with the web development team to assure that their web presence is properly integrated into the new design. If your division has not scheduled a consultation with the web team yet, please do so as soon as possible by contacting Don King at ext 8575, or dking@umassd.edu .
We urge you to start kicking the tires now. Your input and ideas are welcome. Web pages are dynamic and constantly evolving. They can always be improved as we gain new knowledge, new tools, and new perspectives. We ask that you be part of this process, which is so critical to our ability to communicate with each other and people all around the world. Please send your ideas, requests, and feedback to the CITS Web Design and Development team.
Meanwhile, here are the answers to some frequently asked questions:
What is changing?
- The
layout
Our new design is based on the best practices used in a number of higher education web sites around the country and the feedback received in over 100 surveys and interviews with faculty, staff and students.
The web site is also designed to work in tandem with print publications that are developed across the campus in order to increase the power of the UMass Dartmouth message.
Among the highlights of the redesign:- A lot more blue and gold, the university's official colors.
- Links to Research and Outreach in the top level, signifying the campus' emergence as a fully engaged university.
- Direct links to each of our colleges and major academic divisions and one-click navigation to departments within those divisions.
- More dynamic content for the home page, especially news, announcements, and events.
- Direct
links to web-based tools such as email, MeetingMaker,
the Online Calendar of Events, and COIN (Corsair Online
INformation). Our goal is to get people where
they want to go in three clicks or less.
- Downloads times
Beneath the surface, invisible to most users and developers, is a new Cascading Style Sheet based programming code that is used to build the layout. The new code will allow for faster page downloads, greater consistency among the variety of browser/platform combinations, and the ability to make site-wide changes with ease. - Site
standards
We are moving toward a new set of standard links designed to ease navigation throughout the site. For example, all sites should have links to key contacts and staff listings. This will encourage site consistency and ease of use. We will be communicating in more detail about these issues in the coming weeks.
Why are we redesigning our web site?
- To
regain our technical lead on the web
UMass Dartmouth was one of the first universities in the world to create a web presence. We held the lead in implementing web technologies and using the Internet to promote the university. Area colleges and universities would solicit our advice and help in creating their own web sites. Over time, budget and personnel cuts, combined with growing demand for services, cost UMass Dartmouth the lead. This upgrade will return us to a competitive position. - To
promote the university as a leader in teaching,
research and service
UMass Dartmouth is a leader in research, education, and community engagement. We have world-respected researchers working in fields that are critical to the social and economic development of the Commonwealth. We draw students from across the nation and the world. It is important that UMass Dartmouth have a technological front door that advances this mission. - To
increase search rankings through infrastructure
improvements
We are making major improvements in our rankings in top search engines so that more people looking for information about higher education institutions land at our web site. Search engine rankings are a highly prized indicator of the power of a web site to reach critical audiences such as prospective students, faculty, and policy makers. These rankings are determined in large measure by the quality of the site's organization, navigation, and content. Improvements to the infrastructure behind web pages (including page layouts, the elements of page layouts, and consistency across pages) also factor into better search results. This redesign addresses each of these areas. - To
aid the addition of new web technologies
Regaining our technical competitive edge is only the beginning. A variety of new web technologies, as well as improvements to existing technologies such as Flash, open new paths to promote and extend UMass Dartmouth's mission. We can only take advantage of these new technologies if our infrastructure is up-to-date. This redesign positions us to incorporate new technologies as they become available. - To
promote greater unity across UMass Dartmouth's
web sites
The first rule of high quality web sites is to create consistency in design throughout the various levels. This indicates an institution that is focused, cohesive, efficient, and professional in its pursuit of its mission to teach, research and serve. The overall quality of the web site reflects on every component of the university. A consistent, compelling, easy-to-use layout that is carried throughout the university's many levels enhances the perception of the university for anybody who visits the site. - To
ease the work load of departments and site maintainers
Every department of the university has many tasks that need to be completed in a finite amount of the time. Maintaining web content needs to be one where the return-on-investment of time and energy is the greatest. Currently, webmasters across the campus are forced, by inconsistent design and a lack of coherent content rules, to spend an inordinate amount of time on the web. Consistency of design, coherent rules, and strong content tools will allow webmasters to deliver updated content faster and easier. This will free up time for other tasks and keep the site current and engaging.
What is the schedule for college, department and other unit redesigns?
Most of the major administrative unit pages have been fully redesigned. Our goal is to complete redesigns of college pages by the fall and work with individual departments, centers, and other units in bringing a common design deep into the web site by the spring semester.
Please contact the CITS Web Design and Development group for more information.
To discuss development of a new site, upgrading your site design or content, adding features to an existing site, or for requests to post information on the University homepage, please contact Don King at dking@umassd.edu or x8575.
Site Link Descriptions
The New Design link details changes to the visual design and layout and introduces the site's new features.
The Navigation (usability) link discusses site navigation and structure and reveals hidden features that improve ease of use for every user, not only those with disabilities.
Accessibility links to a page detailing how UMD Web's efforts to meet the challenge of Web accessibility.
Custom Tags details server tools developed by Internet Development using Coldfusion. Take a look to see some of the advanced products that we've created to make the UMass Dartmouth site better.
To return to this page, just click on the Project Homepage link in the topmenu. Additional links will be added as the project progresses.
