University of Missouri-Rolla Computing and Information Services 1 UMR's State of the Web Meg Brady Asst. Director, Client Services Presented to UMR Chancellor’s Council November 6, 2001 by

University of Missouri-Rolla Computing and Information Services 2 Your Internet Image is Everything!

University of Missouri-Rolla Computing and Information Services 3 UMR’s Web Presence New Staffing Allocation Vision, Mission, Initiatives Expected Outcomes

University of Missouri-Rolla Computing and Information Services 4 New Staffing Allocation approved by Chancellor Thomas, April 6, 2001 One additional position in Computing and Information Services (CIS) –GOAL: With existing Webmaster, improve campus-wide Web support and overall Web presence Two additional positions in University Advancement (UA) –GOAL: Improve UMR’s online publications and promotional Web presence and overall external visibility on the Web Formalized procedures and planning ensure both groups work together as one team

University of Missouri-Rolla Computing and Information Services 5 New Staffing Allocation : Who are they? Computing and Information Services (CIS) Cheryl McKay, I-Net Administrator, Webmaster Debra Jolin, I-Net Administrator, Web Developer University Advancement (UA) Jennifer Lynch, I-Net Administrator, Web Designer/Editor Michelle Heizer, I-Net Administrator, Web Developer

University of Missouri-Rolla Computing and Information Services 6 Web Staffing What (or who) is the WebCrew? The WebCrew is a group (>175 so far) of departmental staff who play one or more of the following roles in the official Web pages for their department. –Hands-on Web authors / page creators –Content providers –Decision makers / administrative oversight

University of Missouri-Rolla Computing and Information Services 8 Our Web Vision In our vision for UMR we see: A cohesive Web presence that positively and accurately projects UMR’s image to the world, and presents campus Web information to our visitors’ (customers’) satisfaction. A Web presence that provides information and functionality to students, faculty, staff and others in the UMR community in a way that facilitates UMR’s mission. A self-supporting Web development environment in which UMR Web authors have achieved a level of proficiency in Web publishing equal or greater to their current proficiency in other media, and where campus information is published first in the Web, then in other media.

University of Missouri-Rolla Computing and Information Services 9 Our Web Mission 1. Create a Web presence that adds value to: –Campus campaigns to recruit students, raise funds and promote a positive Web image of UMR; –Campus initiatives to retain and educate students, both on- campus and at a distance; –Strategic campus initiatives to achieve other academic, administrative and outreach goals. 2. Promote a Web development environment that makes the most effective use of available effort, proficiency and computing technologies in achieving Web goals.

University of Missouri-Rolla Computing and Information Services 10 STAMATS Report – Web comments 67 of 113 pages of specific, painful truths UMR’s Web site is “disjointed,” “frustrating,” “chunky” “UMR’s publications and Web site need to look like they came from the same school” To accomplish the goals for our Web site we must “work together as a team, communicate better, and become more creative in our approach to promoting the entire University” “The Web site should be organized to meet the information needs of your target audiences”

University of Missouri-Rolla Computing and Information Services 11 Immediate Initiatives First things first Formalize official UMR Web presence –Page/site standards –New server and automated publishing processes –Audience-focused navigation and content –Marketable URLs (no tilde “~”) Guiding Principle #1: Plan for change and continual improvement Current Highest Priority: New “official” Web server implementation

University of Missouri-Rolla Computing and Information Services 12 Immediate Initiatives “Drive ‘em to the Web” and deliver what they want when they get here (prospective students) –Viewbook online, “flashy” site, explore.umr.edu –Templates for departmental “recruiting” pages/sites –More photography, Web cams, more interaction, Web contests –Online polling and surveys Guiding Principle #2: Design for customer satisfaction (target audience satisfaction) Current Highest Priority: Potential students and their parents

University of Missouri-Rolla Computing and Information Services 13 Immediate Initiatives Do the same for current students, both on campus and off –Instruction, distance ed, course management (Blackboard, RealMedia, etc.) –BrainTrax helps retention of Algebra and Calculus students –New version of Blackboard offers “portal” services, may become the campus community entry point? Think “myUMR.umr.edu”

University of Missouri-Rolla Computing and Information Services 14 More Initiatives and Goals Short Term == 6 –12 months Train 100% of hands-on WebCrew members to an intermediate competency level in Dreamweaver Address other target audiences and develop “entryways” with navigation, “voice,” and visuals designed to their satisfaction Address PeopleSoft impact to Web presence and related processes Re-implement e-commerce (PeopleSoft dependency) Guiding Principle #3: Seek compliance with evolving UMR Web standards and procedures Current Highest Priority: Participate in WebCrew development

University of Missouri-Rolla Computing and Information Services 15 Expected Outcomes 1 – 2 years Measurably more consistent design, navigation and branding in UMR’s overall official Web presence Measurable increase in visitors’ satisfaction with UMR’s Web presence, particularly prospective students and their parents Measurably higher ranking in targeted search engine results Measurable increase in UMR WebCrew’s satisfaction with technical support and with their own effectiveness in Web maintenance Guiding Principle #4: Measure outcomes and evaluate progress Current Highest Priority: Determine benchmark measures

University of Missouri-Rolla Computing and Information Services 16 Expected Outcomes 1 – 2 years Web publishing processes are integrated with existing campus efforts so that every promotional campaign and institutional publication includes a Web component, allowing UMR to be more competitive in the Internet media Resource allocations continue to reflect the level of campus commitment necessary to sustain the necessary rapid growth of UMR’s Web presence (e.g., Web banner ads, support of distance/online educ., server upgrades, software, facility space, staffing, training, student workers) Guiding Principle #5: Assure effective use of UMR resources Current Highest Priority: Templates and standards

University of Missouri-Rolla Computing and Information Services 17 Presentation is posted online at