This is a catch-up post, as the last few weeks have been very busy and I'd like to recap them both together.
SEO
Work has continued on SEO (Search Engine Optimization) on the new website. We are continually taking efforts to build our search rankings and traffic.
Necessary voices video posted
The second video can be found at bridgeport.edu/voices and we are working to produce the third lecture, where Dick Allen, Connecticut Poet Laureate will speak this Thursday.
Events
Notable events posted included the Engineering Colloquium series, International Education Week and many more. With so much happening at UB, just finding time to post the many events that happen during the course of a week is a great challenge to have. If you have any events, please send them to me to be posted.
New Waterbury page
A new look was created for the Waterbury page, which includes a new event listing and link to the IDEAL video.
ActiveCampus Upgrade
We are working to schedule an upgrade of the new CMS software with our vendor, Datatel. This upgrade will allow us to begin training folks in the new software on updating their pages.
Web Review Meetings
The Web Review Meetings have continued and have been very positive, and will continue throughout the semester. An issue that has been coming up repeatedly is the inclusion of content from the old site. I am happy to accommodate those requests, if folks alert me to the content they would like moved into the new site. There are always adjustments that need to be made after such a major redesign and restructuring, and I am happy to work together with everyone on these issues.
Faculty Information pages
Designing new templates to house faculty information has been a major priority, as this information is of interest to prospective students and parents. We will be communicating soon with the academic areas about the new template for faculty information.
That's it for now, stay tuned...
Friday, November 12, 2010
Friday, October 29, 2010
Weekly Friday Web Update
Here's the first of the weekly Friday updates on the Web Manager's blog. The aim of these updates is to provide a place for folks around campus who are interested in the ongoing activities of the website to stay informed of what is happening week to week.
Web Review Meetings
This week began the fall semester Web Review meetings. The first web review meetings were held with the International College and Facilities this past week, and both were extremely productive. The aim of these meetings is to engage each area in improving their content, hearing and addressing concerns, and brainstorming together on new ideas. These will continue throughout this fall.
Archiving of old website
This week was busy on many fronts as we finish the transition away from the old site into the new site. Archiving the old website was a big focus this week, as the old website will no longer be available online after next week. I was able to create a full archive both on my local machine and working with our vendor to ensure that moving forward we have the content for archival and other purposes.
What's Happening at UB?
With so many events this fall semester, gathering all of the details and posting the events to the website is an everyday task here in the Web Office. This week I posted so many events it is hard to recall them all, but some standouts include the upcoming film event next week and an event on China-Connecticut Business here at the Arnold Bernhard Center Gallery and Mr. and Mrs. Henry B. duPont III Tower Room. Halloween events were also a great sign of how much there is for students to engage in on campus each week.
Video Highlights
An exciting new focus with the redesigned site is video and audio content. This content is engaging and dynamic, and really displays what is unique and special about UB. So far we have about 15 new videos on the new site.
A video highlighting the IDEAL program was posted, while work on the second lecture video and podcast in the Necessary Voices lecture series continued. The lecture content should be published next week after the final touches.
Eureka getting a new look
I also worked on a new look for the digital library that will match it up with the identity of our other web presences.
Getting Ready for Winter?
Training was also held for the necessary editors to be able to update the website in the event of a school closing or delay. This task reminded me that it is almost Thanksgiving, and winter will soon be here.
Stay tuned for next week's update.
Web Review Meetings
This week began the fall semester Web Review meetings. The first web review meetings were held with the International College and Facilities this past week, and both were extremely productive. The aim of these meetings is to engage each area in improving their content, hearing and addressing concerns, and brainstorming together on new ideas. These will continue throughout this fall.
Archiving of old website
This week was busy on many fronts as we finish the transition away from the old site into the new site. Archiving the old website was a big focus this week, as the old website will no longer be available online after next week. I was able to create a full archive both on my local machine and working with our vendor to ensure that moving forward we have the content for archival and other purposes.
What's Happening at UB?
With so many events this fall semester, gathering all of the details and posting the events to the website is an everyday task here in the Web Office. This week I posted so many events it is hard to recall them all, but some standouts include the upcoming film event next week and an event on China-Connecticut Business here at the Arnold Bernhard Center Gallery and Mr. and Mrs. Henry B. duPont III Tower Room. Halloween events were also a great sign of how much there is for students to engage in on campus each week.
Video Highlights
An exciting new focus with the redesigned site is video and audio content. This content is engaging and dynamic, and really displays what is unique and special about UB. So far we have about 15 new videos on the new site.
A video highlighting the IDEAL program was posted, while work on the second lecture video and podcast in the Necessary Voices lecture series continued. The lecture content should be published next week after the final touches.
Eureka getting a new look
I also worked on a new look for the digital library that will match it up with the identity of our other web presences.
Getting Ready for Winter?
Training was also held for the necessary editors to be able to update the website in the event of a school closing or delay. This task reminded me that it is almost Thanksgiving, and winter will soon be here.
Stay tuned for next week's update.
Tuesday, October 26, 2010
Website Update
Dear Web Content Editors and Approvers,
Update on the new Content Management System and Training
Since the new website launched in late August, I have been working with our vendor, Datatel, to set the new system up and enable an approval process so content editors will be able to make edits to their pages, via the process outlined in the content management guidelines (attached, and also available via the Web Manager’s Blog). As soon as the system is ready, we will send out an announcement regarding training.
Web Review Meetings
I would also like to hold another round of web review meetings this fall semester. Throughout November and December, I will be scheduling web review meetings to discuss the website with each department. These meetings will continue our positive momentum in creating new content and keeping existing content fresh.
In addition, I have heard concerns regarding some areas of academic content in the new website. I will be inviting the deans and their faculty to web review meetings this semester. I anticipate these meetings will be a great way to work together and move forward in a positive way concerning our academic programs on the web. I will be contacting the deans to schedule these meetings.
Content Management Process
Below please find the two options for maintaining content moving forward. The process may be subject to change, given that everyone is getting used to the new process and system.
Your department can choose from one of the two following options to get updates to their pages on the website. If you choose option B, the editor DOES NOT have to attend training. If you choose option A, the editor for the department must attend a training session.
A. Make the updates to your pages yourself
Choice “A” is good if you make frequent updates and would like to make updates on your own. Turnaround time will also likely be quicker under this option to get your updates live on the site.
B. Send updates to the Web Manager
Choice “B” is good if you have very infrequent updates or do not have an interest in learning the updating software.
Don’t worry, the details regarding the above process will all be covered in training.
**PLEASE NOTE** Old Website Archive
Please also note that the old website, currently found at www-old.bridgeport.edu, will be taken down per our contractual agreement with SunGard as of the end of this month. I will retain a text backup of all of the content from the old site, along with the images and document assets. Moving forward, if you need any content from the old site, please contact me and I will be happy to provide it to you.
Weekly Web Update available at the Web Manager’s Blog
For those interested in weekly updates on the activities on the UB website, documentation on the content process, and more please stay tuned to the blog.
Beginning this Friday, I will be posting a general update every week regarding the website.
I look forward to working with you all on improving your content.
Sincerely,
Dan Alves
Update on the new Content Management System and Training
Since the new website launched in late August, I have been working with our vendor, Datatel, to set the new system up and enable an approval process so content editors will be able to make edits to their pages, via the process outlined in the content management guidelines (attached, and also available via the Web Manager’s Blog). As soon as the system is ready, we will send out an announcement regarding training.
Web Review Meetings
I would also like to hold another round of web review meetings this fall semester. Throughout November and December, I will be scheduling web review meetings to discuss the website with each department. These meetings will continue our positive momentum in creating new content and keeping existing content fresh.
In addition, I have heard concerns regarding some areas of academic content in the new website. I will be inviting the deans and their faculty to web review meetings this semester. I anticipate these meetings will be a great way to work together and move forward in a positive way concerning our academic programs on the web. I will be contacting the deans to schedule these meetings.
Content Management Process
Below please find the two options for maintaining content moving forward. The process may be subject to change, given that everyone is getting used to the new process and system.
Your department can choose from one of the two following options to get updates to their pages on the website. If you choose option B, the editor DOES NOT have to attend training. If you choose option A, the editor for the department must attend a training session.
A. Make the updates to your pages yourself
Choice “A” is good if you make frequent updates and would like to make updates on your own. Turnaround time will also likely be quicker under this option to get your updates live on the site.
- Attend a training session and learn how to make updates to the website.
- Make your changes to the page.
- E-mail a link to your approver or print your edited page for their review before it goes live.
- After your approver has given their approval to you, you can submit the page to the Web Manager in the system.
- The Web Manager will review the updates and either post or return the page to the department if there is need for more edits.
B. Send updates to the Web Manager
Choice “B” is good if you have very infrequent updates or do not have an interest in learning the updating software.
- Please send the Web Manager your updates via e-mail to web@bridgeport.edu, in Word or plain text format.
- Please copy your approver (typically your department head or Dean, if you have questions about that please let me know) on the e-mail so they can stay informed and approve the changes you are requesting to go live on the site.
- Please be as specific as possible regarding the update and include the URL of the page you would like updated, along with the specific copy change request. For most routine requests, a turnaround of 24-48 hours can be expected before your item is posted to the live website. For more complex updates, turnaround times may vary depending on the nature of the update.
Don’t worry, the details regarding the above process will all be covered in training.
**PLEASE NOTE** Old Website Archive
Please also note that the old website, currently found at www-old.bridgeport.edu, will be taken down per our contractual agreement with SunGard as of the end of this month. I will retain a text backup of all of the content from the old site, along with the images and document assets. Moving forward, if you need any content from the old site, please contact me and I will be happy to provide it to you.
Weekly Web Update available at the Web Manager’s Blog
For those interested in weekly updates on the activities on the UB website, documentation on the content process, and more please stay tuned to the blog.
Beginning this Friday, I will be posting a general update every week regarding the website.
I look forward to working with you all on improving your content.
Sincerely,
Dan Alves
Tuesday, September 14, 2010
New site LIVE!
Many thanks to the entire campus community for all of their effort. The new site had a very successful launch right before the Fall semester began. So far I have heard nothing but positive things, and it is a credit to everyone's hard work and enthusiasm that the site came out so well.
Thursday, August 5, 2010
New site to go live Thursday, August 12
We would like to introduce UB’s new website. On Thursday, August 12 our current website will be replaced with a new, redesigned and completely restructured site.
The primary audience of the new website is prospective students, with the goal being to enhance the experience our prospective students have so we can maximize our recruiting efforts. The redesign will bring about an exciting new phase of our multi-channel marketing and communication efforts.
A broad-based group, composed of representatives from each academic and administrative department, has been working collaboratively over the past eight months developing the new site.
You can expect much of the content to be located in different places than the current site due to our restructuring efforts. Much of the content that is not intended for our primary audience has been moved into the new myUB portal.
Here are some tips that will help you locate some commonly used resources on the new site:
The primary audience of the new website is prospective students, with the goal being to enhance the experience our prospective students have so we can maximize our recruiting efforts. The redesign will bring about an exciting new phase of our multi-channel marketing and communication efforts.
A broad-based group, composed of representatives from each academic and administrative department, has been working collaboratively over the past eight months developing the new site.
You can expect much of the content to be located in different places than the current site due to our restructuring efforts. Much of the content that is not intended for our primary audience has been moved into the new myUB portal.
Here are some tips that will help you locate some commonly used resources on the new site:
- Administrative and academic information and forms for current students, faculty and staff can be found in the myUB portal at http://bridgeport.edu/myub
- The Campus Directory lookup has been revamped, and is accessed via the header on the new site
- Webmail is accessed via a link in the footer on the new site
- UBNet is accessed either directly via http://bridgeport.edu/UBNet or by visiting the “Additional Information For: Faculty and Staff” or “Additional Information For: Current Students” links off the homepage
Thursday, May 13, 2010
Final Edits Due May 17, Schedule Update, and Profiles Needed
Jumpchart Final Edits Due May 17
Please make any last-minute edits and finalize content for the external website in Jumpchart by Monday, May 17.
Based on what is in Jumpchart as of May 17, I will be building out your pages in the new web site.
Also, please send me any student, faculty, or alumni profiles you have collected for your program by Monday, May 17. Feel free, if you haven’t already, to circulate this link to people you know that would make a great profile candidate for your site: http://bridgeport.wufoo.com/forms/send-us-your-story/ . Using the form, they can submit their profile story for the new website.
Please contact me with any questions.
Thank you for all of your hard work in preparing for the new bridgeport.edu web site.
Here are some more important updates on the project:
Schedule Update
Please note that the trainings on how to update the new website, which were scheduled for next week on May 10, 11, and 12, have been postponed. The trainings will be held after we launch the new website, in plenty of time for the fall semester.
Here is an update on the timeline:
May – June 7: Build
The Web Office will build new website based on content that was staged in Jumpchart.
June 1- July 1: Campus Review
Campus-wide content review period for new website before go-live. I will be sending a link to the new site in the beginning of June so each department’s Editors and Approvers can have sufficient time to review the new site and send changes to me.
July 1: Launch
After the campus-wide review, the site will launch on July 1.
July-August: Training for Editors and Approvers
Training for Editors and Approvers will be held on how to make edits and maintain their sites.
Student, Faculty, and Alumni Profiles Needed
We are trying to develop compelling student, faculty, and alumni stories about academic life at UB for use in our publications and on the new website. These stories will highlight how our programs are special and unique. We would like to collect as many stories as possible.
Do you know of any students, faculty, or alumni in your programs that have stories to tell that would be compelling to a prospective student interested in UB? Let us know and they will be highlighted in your program area in the new website, and possibly in future publications.
Please forward this e-mail to any students, faculty, or alumni that you know who would have a compelling story to tell about your academic program. Please also feel free to forward this e-mail to faculty within your programs, so they can send the link to students or alumni they may know.
By following the link below, students, alumni, or faculty can submit their story for use on the new website or in an upcoming publication:
http://bridgeport.wufoo.com/forms/send-us-your-story/
After filling out the form, I may contact them to schedule a photo session to complement the information they submitted in the form.
Thank you in advance for your action and attention, these stories will be essential in highlighting the great students and programs we have here at UB. If you have any questions please let me know.
Please make any last-minute edits and finalize content for the external website in Jumpchart by Monday, May 17.
Based on what is in Jumpchart as of May 17, I will be building out your pages in the new web site.
Also, please send me any student, faculty, or alumni profiles you have collected for your program by Monday, May 17. Feel free, if you haven’t already, to circulate this link to people you know that would make a great profile candidate for your site: http://bridgeport.wufoo.com/forms/send-us-your-story/ . Using the form, they can submit their profile story for the new website.
Please contact me with any questions.
Thank you for all of your hard work in preparing for the new bridgeport.edu web site.
Here are some more important updates on the project:
Schedule Update
Please note that the trainings on how to update the new website, which were scheduled for next week on May 10, 11, and 12, have been postponed. The trainings will be held after we launch the new website, in plenty of time for the fall semester.
Here is an update on the timeline:
May – June 7: Build
The Web Office will build new website based on content that was staged in Jumpchart.
June 1- July 1: Campus Review
Campus-wide content review period for new website before go-live. I will be sending a link to the new site in the beginning of June so each department’s Editors and Approvers can have sufficient time to review the new site and send changes to me.
July 1: Launch
After the campus-wide review, the site will launch on July 1.
July-August: Training for Editors and Approvers
Training for Editors and Approvers will be held on how to make edits and maintain their sites.
Student, Faculty, and Alumni Profiles Needed
We are trying to develop compelling student, faculty, and alumni stories about academic life at UB for use in our publications and on the new website. These stories will highlight how our programs are special and unique. We would like to collect as many stories as possible.
Do you know of any students, faculty, or alumni in your programs that have stories to tell that would be compelling to a prospective student interested in UB? Let us know and they will be highlighted in your program area in the new website, and possibly in future publications.
Please forward this e-mail to any students, faculty, or alumni that you know who would have a compelling story to tell about your academic program. Please also feel free to forward this e-mail to faculty within your programs, so they can send the link to students or alumni they may know.
By following the link below, students, alumni, or faculty can submit their story for use on the new website or in an upcoming publication:
http://bridgeport.wufoo.com/forms/send-us-your-story/
After filling out the form, I may contact them to schedule a photo session to complement the information they submitted in the form.
Thank you in advance for your action and attention, these stories will be essential in highlighting the great students and programs we have here at UB. If you have any questions please let me know.
Monday, March 22, 2010
Reminder, Content Deadline is Next Week: THURSDAY, APRIL 1
I have been looking in the jumpchart area and have been seeing tremendous progress on content, please keep up the good work.
For those who have yet to stage the content for their areas, this is a friendly reminder that the due date is next Thursday, April 1.
Please remember that if you need help getting started or have questions I am always available by phone, and I also hold regular hours in the Projects Office Training Room from 2-3 each Thursday and Friday this month.
For those who have yet to stage the content for their areas, this is a friendly reminder that the due date is next Thursday, April 1.
Please remember that if you need help getting started or have questions I am always available by phone, and I also hold regular hours in the Projects Office Training Room from 2-3 each Thursday and Friday this month.
Monday, March 8, 2010
New Website Designs Finalized
Thanks to the hard work of many here on campus, the final design concepts for the new bridgeport.edu can be found on the Datatel extranet site, where all deliverables for the project will be posted. Once in the site, click on 'Home' and under 'Pictures' on the left, choose 'Final'. If you do not have login information to access the site please e-mail me or call me at x4510.
Again, many thanks to everyone that helped shape these new concepts.
Again, many thanks to everyone that helped shape these new concepts.
Web Content Help Available | Friendly Reminder, Web Content Due April 1
Need to work on content? Have questions about getting your content ready for the new site and portal? Just need a quiet place to work on your web or portal content without distraction?
That quiet place for content work is the Projects Office training room, where I will be available for folks to ask questions, get help, or assist in simply getting work done on your content. In the style of the Academic Resource Center, I will be available for hands-on help with any issues you might face in creating and moving content.
I will be available every Thursday and Friday in March from 2-3PM in the Projects Training Room on the 2nd Floor of the Library. All Editors and Approvers are welcome, this is an OPEN INVITE so please drop in!
Friendly reminder that April 1 is coming fast, and it is our goal to have web content in the staging area (Jumpchart) ready by April 1. I look forward to working with everyone, and anticipate that my availability in the Projects Office Training Room will be a helpful opportunity for Editors and Approvers to work on content.
That quiet place for content work is the Projects Office training room, where I will be available for folks to ask questions, get help, or assist in simply getting work done on your content. In the style of the Academic Resource Center, I will be available for hands-on help with any issues you might face in creating and moving content.
I will be available every Thursday and Friday in March from 2-3PM in the Projects Training Room on the 2nd Floor of the Library. All Editors and Approvers are welcome, this is an OPEN INVITE so please drop in!
Friendly reminder that April 1 is coming fast, and it is our goal to have web content in the staging area (Jumpchart) ready by April 1. I look forward to working with everyone, and anticipate that my availability in the Projects Office Training Room will be a helpful opportunity for Editors and Approvers to work on content.
Friday, February 12, 2010
Finalizing Content Review Meetings, holding followups, and answering questions campus-wide
Quick update for everyone, I have met with almost everybody on campus (I have about 4 more meetings to hold) and some of you I have met twice. The support and excitement around the website is tangible.
Thank you for all of your work to date and in advance for the work that will be done in the next few months to get new content created and migrate existing content.
Finalizing Design Phase
We have also finished Round 2 of feedback on the designs for the new site, which will determine what the site will look like. We have one more round of feedback before the designs will be finalized. As mentioned in previous posts, you can access the designs via the Datatel site (Datatel Shared Docs)
So, What About the Portal?
The past few months I focused on meeting with everyone involved in lying the groundwork for creation of content -on the ground level- for the new external website. In many of my review meetings with program directors, faculty, and administrators, we have held some substantial discussions about the portal, and its relationship to the external website. In many cases I have directed folks to follow up with the appropriate portal representative to make their requirements for portal content known.
Portal Focus Groups Being Held
Various portal focus groups are currently being held for students, faculty and administrators in the next couple of weeks. I encourage you to attend these, and you should be hearing from a portal representative for your area soon regarding schedules for the focus groups. The input gathered in these meetings will drive what we will be offering inside the portal to the campus. If you cannot make a portal focus group, please voice content needs to both your portal representative and me.
Thank you for all of your work to date and in advance for the work that will be done in the next few months to get new content created and migrate existing content.
Finalizing Design Phase
We have also finished Round 2 of feedback on the designs for the new site, which will determine what the site will look like. We have one more round of feedback before the designs will be finalized. As mentioned in previous posts, you can access the designs via the Datatel site (Datatel Shared Docs)
So, What About the Portal?
The past few months I focused on meeting with everyone involved in lying the groundwork for creation of content -on the ground level- for the new external website. In many of my review meetings with program directors, faculty, and administrators, we have held some substantial discussions about the portal, and its relationship to the external website. In many cases I have directed folks to follow up with the appropriate portal representative to make their requirements for portal content known.
Portal Focus Groups Being Held
Various portal focus groups are currently being held for students, faculty and administrators in the next couple of weeks. I encourage you to attend these, and you should be hearing from a portal representative for your area soon regarding schedules for the focus groups. The input gathered in these meetings will drive what we will be offering inside the portal to the campus. If you cannot make a portal focus group, please voice content needs to both your portal representative and me.
Wednesday, January 20, 2010
Progress Update | Majority of First Round Content Review Meetings Held
I would like to give everyone a quick update on content progress. An effort like a successful website redesign takes input and involvement from the entire campus. Lots of thanks to everyone who I have met with to date, and those who I am in the process of scheduling reviews with. Everyone has been very helpful and the excitement around the new website is tangible with many across campus.
Major Progress Made
Below is a simple pie chart of the progress we have made to date. The graph shows the amount of offices/departments that have held their initial content review meeting, or are in the process of scheduling the meeting with me in the next couple of weeks (65%), compared to the remaining departments I have left to follow up with.
Content Review Meetings Held Campus-Wide
Major Progress Made
Below is a simple pie chart of the progress we have made to date. The graph shows the amount of offices/departments that have held their initial content review meeting, or are in the process of scheduling the meeting with me in the next couple of weeks (65%), compared to the remaining departments I have left to follow up with.
Content Review Meetings Held Campus-Wide
Friday, January 8, 2010
Round 1 Creative Design Concepts Delivered by Datatel
One of the most exciting phases of the website redesign process began this week. Wednesday, January 6 Datatel presented the first round of creative concepts for the new website.
The two design concepts can be found on the Datatel extranet site, where all deliverables for the project will be posted. If you do not have login information to access the site please e-mail me or call me at x4510.
UB now needs to choose one concept to refine in subsequent rounds of revisions. The redesign steering group has recommended the second creative concept to President Salonen.
The ActiveAdmissions redesign steering group has met twice and held a student focus group to review the design concepts. After careful thought and discussion, the group recommended choosing the second design campaign concept for the following reasons:
The two design concepts can be found on the Datatel extranet site, where all deliverables for the project will be posted. If you do not have login information to access the site please e-mail me or call me at x4510.
UB now needs to choose one concept to refine in subsequent rounds of revisions. The redesign steering group has recommended the second creative concept to President Salonen.
The ActiveAdmissions redesign steering group has met twice and held a student focus group to review the design concepts. After careful thought and discussion, the group recommended choosing the second design campaign concept for the following reasons:
- Easier to navigate and find information
- Broad appeal to a variety of key audiences; including international graduate and undergraduate, domestic graduate and undergraduate, and continuing education students
- Presents a more modern and classy look for UB
- 9 out of 10 current students favored the second option in a focus group held here at UB
- Increase the vibrancy of the concept
- Ensure that creative brand elements from the Stamats and Creative Partners’ work are incorporated more fully
- Utilize the strong elements of the Stamats design (colors, impact) and the first Datatel design (vibrancy) in revising the second design
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