March 2011 Archives
Since it was announced, the campus has been eagerly awaiting the roll-out of SDL Tridion, the new web content management system, as well as the website redesign. Web Services has been busy readying the technological infrastructure, finalizing the new design templates and preparing for the transition. Import of existing content is ongoing. The launch is planned for Summer 2011.
Current Projects
The Web team has been continuing to provide the campus with web and other electronic publications while simultaneously designing and implementing the new design. A sampling of projects includes:
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Customized video player used to embed videos across the site |
System wide video streaming solution |
Access Services parking passes , authorization pages, citation payments and temporary Permits |
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Electronic version of NewsLine marketing publication |
Over 200 campus web sites maintained; 447 internal users supported |
Email campaign for Undergraduate Admissions |
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Forms and online donations for Advancement resulting in @$28k for forms and $87k for online donations in FY11 |
Mobile web application |
Class notes contest submission |
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Tau Sigma and ODK forms online |
Email login page |
Research database |
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UML Today enhancements |
NanoEHS website (blog feed, formatting), symposium registration |
Athletics Tickets - new info/packages. |
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Upgraded AD authentication site-wide |
Registrar - Course Lookup Enhancements- [zipcode and course title lookup] |
Teacher appreciation application |
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R25 customization and programming |
Hawki designs and custom RSS Feeds |
Commencement eve forms |
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University Wiki management and LDAP sign on, request form |
Student Symposium application |
Facilities reporting tool, room features data entry |
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CRC Registration forms, online transactions, Rec Solutions setup |
Community Showcase form |
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Redesign
Visually the design will look very different and will incorporate the recommendations of a web consultant in conjunction with best practices and feedback from the campus community. 
Members of the web staff have been meeting with colleges and departments, to develop plans for new content and interactive features to enhance each site.
The web is one of the primary marketing tools for campus recruitment, with much of the focus on prospective students and families. Other audiences will continue to be served with their own landing pages accessed from the universal navigation.
New marketing messaging identified by research conducted by Maguire & Associates also will be incorporated into the design as part of a new branding campaign.
Changes included as part of the redesign:
Flexible content areas with larger screen resolution to fit more content
Increased video throughout the site
Social media feeds pushed throughout the site
Video enabled flash designs
Streamlined navigation
Explore landing pages for colleges
Phased Roll-out
With nearly 50,000 pages and more than 200 websites, the implementation will be phased much like was done for Collage, the previous web content management system.
Phase 1 includes:
Top level pages
UML Today
New landing pages for each college
18 new explore pages for academic disciplines
News
Research
Undergraduate Admissions
Graduate Admissions
Financial Aid
Profiles of students, faculty, staff and alumni
Content will be reorganized, edited and imported into Tridion. Images will be selected. Video will be incorporated wherever possible. Web Services is working with the R25 implementation team to pull calendar information into the Tridion design.
After launching, a usability study will be conducted allowing any tweaks to the design to improve the user experience.
Timelines for future phases will go more quickly than this initial phase. Please continue to update your website in Collage until you are contacted by a member of the web content team. The import of your pages will go much faster if pages are accurate and well organized.
Phase 2: Academic departments and student services will begin over the summer
Phase 3: Administrative departments
Phase 4: Research centers and labs
Benefits of Tridion
After an extensive search of the top web content management systems available, the committee composed of faculty and staff chose SDL Tridion.
Some of the features Tridion offers include:
In context editing or ability to make changes on a simulated live web page (What You See Is What You Get or WYSIWIG)
Red lining or version side-by-side comparisons
Task approval through email client
Quicker deployment of changes
Content dynamically generated
Easily reuse content in multiple locations
More flexible template design
Training
Training will be conducted by the Web Services team. A knowledge database will be developed similar to the CMS blog, but searchable. There will be introductory and advanced training sessions. The goal is to make the transition as easy and seamless as possible, while significantly improving the experience for the campus and our users.
Questions about the implementation for your department should be directed to Elaine_Keough@uml.edu.
Questions about the design and technical requirements should be directed to Gerard_Nelson@uml.edu.
If you are having trouble viewing the slideshow about, it is available for download, redesign-all.pps
