WU unveils new Web site
Nicole Smith
Issue date: 3/12/09 Section: News
Winthrop University's official Web site got a makeover last week.
President Anthony DiGiorgio said the new site represents two years of planning, technical assistance, design work and training.
"This initial phase for the Winthrop Web site is our first public step toward converting from the Frontpage environment we have had for many years to our new Content Management System, Ektron," he explained in a campus-wide e-mail. "This important first step reflects a major enhancement to Winthrop's Web presence."
He promised it will be more consistent and easier to navigate, along with being more sophisticated in appearance.
The sophistication is something sophomore biology and chemistry double major Kennon Smith said he agrees with.
"It's a more cohesive design," Smith said. "It looks better than the old site, too."
Sophomore psychology major Aletheia Fadness said she likes the look of the new site, too.
Adjusting to the Web site hasn't seemed to be a problem for Smith and Fadness.
Smith said the new site was a little confusing at first, but he quickly learned how to navigate it.
"It's all intuitive," he said.
However, Fadness said, "I don't like how all incoming e-mails are automatically centered."
DiGiorgio said there will be work continuing in the upcoming weeks to bring all of the site's pages up-to-date, something that will take time.
"With a Web site the size of ours encompassing thousands of pages, there was no way to change over the whole site in one fell swoop," he said. "Other sites will be added as more departments analyze their content and additional Web authors are trained."
These changes will eventually spread to other areas, DiGiorgio said, including new designs of the "Winthrop brand." The branding will "strengthen our visual presence in the marketplace."
The decision to switch to new Web-site software was decided two years ago after extensive research and consideration of audience needs.
"Key to our decision-making," DiGiorgio said, "was how to make the work of Web authors for official Winthrop pages easier, so they would have the ability to quickly add, change and update textual and visual information, while still maintaining a consistent overall 'look and feel' for the Web site."
He said this project has reflected the university's dedication to utilizing the best practices and emerging technologies.
"I believe we have achieved the goal to manage our Web-based information in an organized and collaborative manner," he said. "We look forward to your reactions to the new site, which may be submitted through a link at the bottom of any converted page."
He then thanked University Relations, Information Technology and other departments for the work on the Web site.
President Anthony DiGiorgio said the new site represents two years of planning, technical assistance, design work and training.
"This initial phase for the Winthrop Web site is our first public step toward converting from the Frontpage environment we have had for many years to our new Content Management System, Ektron," he explained in a campus-wide e-mail. "This important first step reflects a major enhancement to Winthrop's Web presence."
He promised it will be more consistent and easier to navigate, along with being more sophisticated in appearance.
The sophistication is something sophomore biology and chemistry double major Kennon Smith said he agrees with.
"It's a more cohesive design," Smith said. "It looks better than the old site, too."
Sophomore psychology major Aletheia Fadness said she likes the look of the new site, too.
Adjusting to the Web site hasn't seemed to be a problem for Smith and Fadness.
Smith said the new site was a little confusing at first, but he quickly learned how to navigate it.
"It's all intuitive," he said.
However, Fadness said, "I don't like how all incoming e-mails are automatically centered."
DiGiorgio said there will be work continuing in the upcoming weeks to bring all of the site's pages up-to-date, something that will take time.
"With a Web site the size of ours encompassing thousands of pages, there was no way to change over the whole site in one fell swoop," he said. "Other sites will be added as more departments analyze their content and additional Web authors are trained."
These changes will eventually spread to other areas, DiGiorgio said, including new designs of the "Winthrop brand." The branding will "strengthen our visual presence in the marketplace."
The decision to switch to new Web-site software was decided two years ago after extensive research and consideration of audience needs.
"Key to our decision-making," DiGiorgio said, "was how to make the work of Web authors for official Winthrop pages easier, so they would have the ability to quickly add, change and update textual and visual information, while still maintaining a consistent overall 'look and feel' for the Web site."
He said this project has reflected the university's dedication to utilizing the best practices and emerging technologies.
"I believe we have achieved the goal to manage our Web-based information in an organized and collaborative manner," he said. "We look forward to your reactions to the new site, which may be submitted through a link at the bottom of any converted page."
He then thanked University Relations, Information Technology and other departments for the work on the Web site.
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