College Web site rebuilt
Launched in JulyThe new Hillsdale College Web site, launched July 2, was the result of a two year project which involved building the site from the ground up. , flashy new features abound
Nick Tabor
Issue date: 9/6/07 Section: News
The new Hillsdale College Web site, launched July 2, was the result of a two year project which involved building the site from the ground up.
The previous Web site, which was launched seven years ago, was "tired" and "lagging," according to Fred Schebor, associate director of admissions.
"As with any Web site, the really crucial thing is that you can find the information you need," said Stephanie Maxwell, director of marketing and logistics and the leader of the redesign project. "The previous website did not have a hierarchy or a navigational structure."
She said the new layout is simpler and better organized.
A few faculty members have been taking advantage of the new site features.
Brad Monastiere, director of sports information, implemented live webcasts of sports games and a live statistics feed on the new athletic page. He said both features will be available for home games of men and women's basketball, football and volleyball.
"It's using the resources we have, but in a better way than they've ever been used before," he said. "We're on the cutting edge of the presentation [that] college programs want to give their students."
The admissions office is also taking advantage of the new site's marketing possibilities. Prospective students can now create personalized accounts on the admissions page so that, on return visits, they'll be greeted with content targeted toward their interests. Prospective students can also apply online and look up the admissions counselors for their respective geographic regions.
Schebor said the old admissions page already offered these features, but it hosted them on a "parallel site" from the main college site. Admissions counselors always directed prospectives to this special admissions site.
"Now we want prospectives to go to any place on the site," Maxwell said.
Maxwell was appointed the Web site's content manager in 2004, and she started the redesign in fall 2006. From February to June 2007, she employed two full-time assistants to help her prepare content and build Web pages. Art Director Angela Lashaway contributed graphics.
The previous Web site, which was launched seven years ago, was "tired" and "lagging," according to Fred Schebor, associate director of admissions.
"As with any Web site, the really crucial thing is that you can find the information you need," said Stephanie Maxwell, director of marketing and logistics and the leader of the redesign project. "The previous website did not have a hierarchy or a navigational structure."
She said the new layout is simpler and better organized.
A few faculty members have been taking advantage of the new site features.
Brad Monastiere, director of sports information, implemented live webcasts of sports games and a live statistics feed on the new athletic page. He said both features will be available for home games of men and women's basketball, football and volleyball.
"It's using the resources we have, but in a better way than they've ever been used before," he said. "We're on the cutting edge of the presentation [that] college programs want to give their students."
The admissions office is also taking advantage of the new site's marketing possibilities. Prospective students can now create personalized accounts on the admissions page so that, on return visits, they'll be greeted with content targeted toward their interests. Prospective students can also apply online and look up the admissions counselors for their respective geographic regions.
Schebor said the old admissions page already offered these features, but it hosted them on a "parallel site" from the main college site. Admissions counselors always directed prospectives to this special admissions site.
"Now we want prospectives to go to any place on the site," Maxwell said.
Maxwell was appointed the Web site's content manager in 2004, and she started the redesign in fall 2006. From February to June 2007, she employed two full-time assistants to help her prepare content and build Web pages. Art Director Angela Lashaway contributed graphics.
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