Western Website Gets an Upgrade

Western Illinois University's website has a new look.

According to Kristin Dunstan, director of University marketing, Western's website, www.wiu.edu, is both a marketing window to external audiences as well as an internal tool for faculty, staff and students. The University unveiled a new look, and upgraded structure to the site, in January.

"The new design is coordinated with student recruitment efforts and institutional integrated marketing priorities for the Macomb and Quad Cities campuses," Dunstan said.

The new University design features quick links to web tools used on a regular basis, which are located on the upper left of the screen, and navigation is on the right on the homepage. The new design also provides more direct links to key areas such as admissions, academics, cultural arts, athletics, alumni and information for all audiences.

Amanda Shoemaker, assistant alumni director, said WIU alumni viewing the University's site will find the Alumni section accessible from the toolbar.

"Our new Alumni Association website was launched last fall, just prior to when the University's new site went live," she said. "It allowed us to gather feedback that would assist in the redesign of the overall University site."

Director of Alumni Programs Amy Spelman MS '98 added that even though the look of the Alumni site, www.wiu.edu/alumni, is not identical to that of the University's new look for the overall site, it still offers all of its previous features.

"We hope that users find it more accessible than in the past," Spelman said. "We are grateful for the input we received from many alumni and friends during the redesign process."

The University site design was finalized in 2006, after initially being presented to campus constituencies and administrative areas and being made available for public commentary throughout the summer and fall. The new design was adopted based on the feedback from these sessions, and the research compiled throughout the development process, Dunstan said.

"So far we've had a great deal of positive feedback from alumni, friends and students," she added.

 

Articles  |   1  |  2  |  3  | More... |