GUEST BLOGGER: Saying "Yes" to Web Re-Tooling Pays Off for Arts & Sciences

Back a year or so ago, before we started our work re-tooling the Arts & Sciences websites, I checked with some colleagues at other institutions to see if they had any suggestions or advice.

“Don’t even try” was about the most positive comment I heard. “Not possible in a university environment to rally around shared objective. Like herding cats.”

Turns out, William and Mary really is different.

Nearly all of our units have now been through the transition process with their websites. We took a fresh look at the content, and new ways we could serve our audiences better. We cleaned up a lot of coding and deleted old files. The results have been gratifying, and we’re now positioned very well for the coming transition to re.web.

Each of our units approached the re-tooling a little differently. The common thread was a real commitment to presenting our work--and the College--so that our audiences could better understand what it is we do, and how they can participate or benefit.

It’s exciting to contemplate what we can accomplish as our 400+ W&M web editors pull together through re.web. And I’m pretty sure those nay-saying colleagues of mine are in for another surprise.

posted by Steve Otto, Director of Communications for Arts & Sciences and guest blogger

Weekly re.web Podcast: Are you listening out there?

Episode 15 of the re.web podcast is called "Are you listening out there?" I need to know: do you find this podcast useful? If you occasionally listen and think we should continue the weekly episodes, please comment on this blog entry. Thanks!

Links to the re.web content within the W&M on iTunes U site:

• subscribe to podcast (does not require iTunes)
  


• download episode 15 (does not require iTunes)
  

posted by Susan Evans

Undergraduate Admission: now and later

Besides sifting through a record-breaking 11,500 applications for undergraduate admission, the W&M Admission Office is devoting precious time and vital energy to Web 2.0. In fact, their web presence was taken up a notch this year when they created a Meet the Committee page and a new W&M Admission group in Facebook. Good stuff.

Just think what's possible when they get their hands on the new W&M design!

posted by Susan Evans

But what will my department's site look like?

When many W&M web editors view the new design for www.wm.edu, they almost immediately wonder how their own departmental sites might look. I'm no exception - the IT site, and hundreds of other sites, will use the new page layouts.

Using the current About W&M page, here is a makeover using one of many options that will be possible for W&M web pages:

• About W&M Using the New Design

posted by Susan Evans

Campus Life: a before and a possible after

Cindy Baker, Henry Broaddus, Steve Salpukas, and others on the re.web project team are talking weekly about the new design for the W&M site. We're having a lot of fun seeing what second-level (landing) pages might look like.

Applying the new design to the current Campus Life page results in a startling and welcome contrast.

posted by Susan Evans

Weekly re.web Podcast: The Real Deal

Episode 14 of the re.web podcast is called "Just Give It to Me Straight."

Links to the re.web content within the W&M on iTunes U site:

• subscribe to podcast (does not require iTunes)
  


• download episode 14 (does not require iTunes)
  


• download the transcript for episode 14 (PDF, does not require iTunes)
  

posted by Susan Evans

Concept One Is the One

After two months of review by hundreds of individuals (you!) and many, many campus constituencies, the W&M Web Redesign Advisory Committee is pleased to announce that the future W&M website will use Concept One!

Thanks to Joel Pattison for developing a few FAQs about the new W&M web design choice.

Working with the mStoner designers to enhance the appeal and impact of what was ingeniously titled "Concept One," we expect the evolution of this concept to continue for a few more weeks. Watch this blog, the re.web Facebook group, and the re.web project site for future versions.

As we plan for the new look on www.wm.edu, you'll notice that the re.web project site and this blog will begin to take on the look of the Concept One design :)

Thanks All!

posted by Susan Evans