Transcript Western Idaho College Student Life Web Site Committee Philosophy Proposal and Recommendations 2/23/03 “The practice of student affairs…must shift from a campus-based model to a learner-based.

Western Idaho College
Student Life Web Site Committee
Philosophy Proposal and
Recommendations
2/23/03
“The practice of student affairs…must
shift from a campus-based model to a
learner-based model, wherever that learner
is...The emphasis will shift from providing
resources in a campus environment to
linking the learner with those resources
wherever the learner is located and
wherever those resources are needed.”
Upcraft, M. & Goldsmith, H. (2000). Technological changes in student affairs administration. In The Handbook of Student
Affairs Administration, M. Barr and Associates (Eds.). Jossey-Bass: San Francisco.
Abstract
The purpose of this committee was to create a
new web site philosophy. Based on the content
of that philosophy, it was determined that the
current web site should be critiqued and
redesigned. Results of the critique led to several
recommendations and options for
implementation. It is the opinion of this
committee that in order to make the
philosophy and the web site congruent, our
recommendations should be put into practice.
Student Services Web Site Trends
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Processes are redesigned from the external
student’s/customer’s perspective instead of the internal
perspective of the institution.
Barriers to information are removed by providing
online access.
Consistent institutional brand image is presented in all
materials.
Consistency and excellence of the service experience
are developed at each touch point.
Focus of services shifts from transactional to
experiential.
Burnett, D. J. (2002). Innovation in Student Services: Best Practices and Process Innovation Models and Trends. Retrieved
February 18, 2003 from
http://www-1.ibm.com/industries/education/pdf/eNEWSLETTEREDUHiEd9SEP02Ch1Burnett030102.pdf
Why is a divisional web site important?
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“Especially for small colleges in small towns,
you’ve got to provide some sort of visual
connection.”
– Paul Pribbenow
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Administrators estimate that 60-70% of the hits
on their sites come from outside their campuses.
McCollum, K. (1999). Colleges revamp Web pages with professional help. Chronicle of Higher Education, 45, 25-26.
Why is a divisional web site important?
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2001 Internet use by age
9-17 (Prospective Students): 68.8%
 18-24 (Traditional Students): 65%
 25-49 (Non-Traditional Students, Parents, &
Alumni): 63.9%
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U.S. Census Bureau. (2002). Statistical Abstract of the United States. pp 713.
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It is estimated that 70% of student interactions
with the institution will take place through selfservice.
Burnett, D. J. (2002). Innovation in Student Services: Best Practices and Process Innovation Models and Trends.
Retrieved February 18, 2003 from
http://www-1.ibm.com/industries/education/pdf/eNEWSLETTEREDUHiEd9SEP02Ch1Burnett030102.pdf
Why is a divisional web site important?

Improved customer satisfaction through
 24/7 information access
 Equal accessibility
 Exceeding customer expectations
“Due to services that they are able to receive from
other web based companies, students—and staff and
faculty—increasingly will expect services to be
available on a 24/7 basis and to be personalized based
on their needs and interests.”
Kidwell, J. J., Mattie, J., & Sousa, M. (2000). Preparing your campus for e-business. In The E is for everything, R.N. Katz &
D. G. Oblinger (Eds.). Jossey-Bass: San Francisco.
Why is a divisional web site important?
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Market our services by
 Improving our competitive position on the Web
 Showcasing opportunities to potential students and
faculty
 Utilizing our publicity outlets
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To be technologically advanced
 In comparison with other higher education
institutions
 Within the field of Student Affairs
What is the divisional web site trying
to accomplish?
To further the mission of W.I.C. by:
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Improving access of all students: traditional and
nontraditional, minority and disabled
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Providing necessary services to all constituencies:
on-line forms, efficient communications, current
information
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Heightening awareness of our services
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Increasing enrollment and retention
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Keeping constituencies aware of division events
Who is our target audience?
External Constituencies
 Prospective students
 Parents
 Alumni
 Potential employees
 Local and world
community
Internal Constituencies
 Students
 Faculty
 Staff
 Administration
 Board of Directors
The previous factors—commitment to
constituencies, furthering the mission
of the college, concern for present
online trends and a shifting paradigm
in student services—led us to develop
the following philosophy for the
Western Idaho College Student Life
web site.
Web Site Philosophy
In order to further the mission of Western Idaho
College and to serve current and future
constituency groups, it is necessary to create a
dynamic online representation of our division.
Therefore, the philosophy of the Student Life web
site is to provide diverse populations with quality
customer service in a centralized, online resource.
This web site is designed with the user in mind, to
provide ease of access, viewing, and navigation in
an effort to enhance each online interaction with
the Student Life Division at Western Idaho
College.
Based on the aforementioned
philosophy, the following are
critiques of the current
Student Life web site.
SWOT Analysis
Strengths
Weaknesses
Opportunities
Threats
Strengths
A web site has been developed
Good foundation
Centralized informational source
Simple layout
Prominent display of name and logo
Events calendar
Weaknesses
Wasted resources
Outdated information
Inconsistent page to page design
Broken links
Grammatical errors
Not stimulating, i.e. no pictures
Distracting color usage
Opportunities
Growth potential
Constituent outreach
Recruitment tool
Redesign for constituents with disabilities
Information exchange
Public forum
Online documents
Threats
Danger of becoming obsolete
Customer dissatisfaction
Contractual and legal liabilities
Overshadowed by competitors
Loss of potential students
Lack of browser neutrality
Unfavorable impression
Based on the previously
mentioned critiques and
philosophy, the committee
developed the following
recommendations.
Recommended Immediate Changes
Create functioning Career Services link
 Complete Housing page
 Include complete contact information
 Insert full description of program, dates and
activities on Orientation page
 Remove scrolling text on Athletics page
 Review site for spelling and grammatical errors
 Update all information
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Further Recommendations
1. Standard Header and Footer for all pages
Example header
Make header
Remove blank space
one line
Example footer
© University of Central Arkansas
To view this footer online go to http://www.uca.edu
Further Recommendations
2. All divisional pages have standard left
buttons
Example buttons
© Hendrix College, 2002
To view these buttons online go to http://www.hendrix.edu
Further Recommendations
3. Pages for Current Students, Prospective
Students, Faculty/Staff, Parents, and
Alumni will have customized links of
interest in addition to standard left buttons
4. Continuous improvement
a)
Update regularly
b)
Include an ‘expiration date’ for
information*
c)
Audit often and thoroughly
*To view expiration dates in use go to http://www.wellesley.edu/DeanStudent/homepage.html
Further Recommendations
5. Include divisional mission as opposed to
college mission
6. Include welcome by Vice President for
Student Life Division
7. Create text only site for audio-reading
technology to ensure accessibility
8. Require each department of Student Life
to create and/or maintain web page
Further Recommendations
9. Include legal and contract issues
a)
b)
c)
d)
e)
Policies and Procedures
FERPA
Campus Security Act
Student Right to Know
Student Handbook
As per Aronson v. University of Mississippi, 2001 an
attorney should review all posted information due to the
fact that all written materials comprise a contract
between the student and the university. This also
includes material on a university’s web page.
Further Recommendations
10. Web site assessment tools
A. For Free
•
“Guide to evaluating information technology
on campus” by EDUCAUSE; a campus wide
assessment of technology use
http://www.educause.edu/consumerguide/
•
Fix your website.com
http://www.fixingyourwebsite.com/
B. For Purchase
•
Bobby, an “accessibility software tool
designed to help expose and repair barriers
to accessibility”
http://bobby.watchfire.com/bobby/html/en/about.jsp
Based on the prior
recommendations, critiques,
and philosophy, the committee
presents the following options
for implementation.
Options for Implementation
Option one: Now
Immediate Changes and Education
Option two: Expansion
Seeking Funding and Finding a Consultant
Option three: Commitment
Budgeting and Additional Web Designer
Option one: Now
Immediate Changes and Education
Conduct immediate revisions using current
web manager
 Improve current web manager’s technical
skills via continuing education and
workshops*
 Complete routine updates
 Purchase design software to maintain
progress†
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*Continuing Education costs vary as to location and content.
† Software recommendations can be found at: http://wwws.sun.com/software/
Option two: Expansion
Seeking Funding and Consulting
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Write budget proposals
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Hire reputable Web Design Consultants
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Consult on needed changes
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Consider results of assessment
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Utilize current web manager for maintenance
Estimated cost: $2000.00
Idaho Web Designers and rates can be found at:
http://www.1234-find-web-designers.org/designers-directory/idahowebdesigners.html
Option three: Commitment
Budgeting and Web Designer
Write budget proposals
 Search and apply for possible grants
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Appeal to Alumni for private funding
 Create search committee for another Web
Designer
 Hire reputable and skilled Web Designer
Estimated cost: $46, 812.00
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Estimate from http://www.salary.com
Budgetary Considerations
1. Allocate funding for Web Designer
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Grant possibilities
Contact Alumni
2. Outsource web design company to direct
web development
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Ex. IBM and education possibilities
Ex. Notre Dame and Brainstorm
3. Purchase assessment tools
4. Fund continuing education for current
web manager
These recommendations have
the potential to carry the
Student Life division further
into the future, but we must
fully commit ourselves and
our resources to that purpose.
“Regardless of the first point of
contact, every interaction with
a student/customer must
deliver the same quality of
service.”
Burnett, D. J. (2002). Innovation in Student Services: Best Practices and Process Innovation Models and Trends.
Retrieved February 18, 2003 from
http://www-1.ibm.com/industries/education/pdf/eNEWSLETTEREDUHiEd9SEP02Ch1Burnett030102.pdf
Western Idaho College
Student Life Web Site Committee
Katherine Case
Sancy Faulk
Marie Mainard
Nick Wiard
Thank You For Your Time
and stuff…