The following is based on a

Web Advisory Group conversation regarding the status of the "Reboot" and

other related issues, October 22, 2009

REBOOT!REBOOT!

WHERE WE ARE AT...

• Completion of union.edu's new information architecture

• (IA = the blueprint that describes how info. is organized and structured)

• First week of Nov. begins an internal

review of mstoner's creative concepts • Forthcoming survey of the creative

concepts (date yet to be determined) • Currently investigating better

alternatives for the event calendars       

• Preliminary discussions with mstoner regarding Cascade CMS issues and Social Media strategy

• ID-29, our other creative partner, is

developing new brand and messaging concepts

• Launched Unionreboot.org to

communicate "Reboot" to campus community, alumni and public

      

Other Major Priorities:

THE BIG THREE

(and obviously they are all interrelated)

3       O

#1. Clarify the role of the "Web Team" to the rest

of the Union Community

      

Sudhamshu/Flickr

Web Team = The digital arm of the

Office of Communications and Marketing...

Web Team is not a mini-IT

Department

#2. Seek alternatives for legacy "Web applications"  

Custom web-based tools constructed at the request of Union community that viewed "Web Team" as an IT department

Lovestruck/Flickr

Seeking practical alternatives for many of these custom applications.

Any solution will need to address cost and support issues. Specifically, who covers both.

WHY?Lack of resources required to maintain custom-built tools (vacated position not to be filled) Communications & Marketing is not an internally-oriented IT department Need to tighten focus on Union College's Marketing and Communications initiatives

Implement systems, policies and best practices for digital content and community-building activities

      

Implement systems, policies and best practices for digital content and community-building activities

      

#3. Establish systems, policies and best practices for digital content & online community-building IN THEIR ABSENCE, THINGS GET RATHER MESSY...

Joshua & Amber/Flickr

"Worst Practices" for Websites, E-Newsletters and Union's Other Digital Spaces Include:

• Inconsistent use of Union College

branding elements • Navigational arbitrariness • Poor or incorrect formatting of code,

images and other web-page elements • Typos & editorial inconsistencies 

      

       

YOUR FEEDBACK REQUESTEDPost your comments/questions at

unionreboot.org ore-mail: college.union@yahoo.com or

Tweet: @unioncollegeny

Wanted: Web Advisory Group Members       O