posted on April 16: McMaster’s Web site gets new look

Over the next few months the McMaster Web site at http://www.mcmaster.ca/home.html will undergo some major changes.

Working in tandem with the University's branding initiative, the McMaster Web site will be redesigned in an effort to update it and make it easier and faster to find information.

The redesign of the University Web site will ensure that information is presented consistently, particularly at the main levels of the Web site, as well as allow users to easily go back and forth between subsites and the main University site.

Specifically, the objectives are to:

demonstrate McMaster's overall brand strategy and identity

establish clear, consistent navigation

address the unique needs of various target audiences, current and prospective (students, staff, faculty, alumni, partners, general public)

ensure adaptability for all Web content

respect the individual differences of the various Faculties, schools and departments.

With the technical expertise of Cossette Interactive, the project research is completed and the development phase is getting underway.

This includes production of a series of functional templates and accompanying guidelines that can be integrated by Faculty and department representatives with their Web content.

The templates are targeted for completion by July followed by a “train the trainer” opportunity to learn how to apply and update the templates to keep them current.

The benefits of the redesigned site and templates include:

simpler navigation: consistent main navigation throughout the sites

cost efficiencies/time saving: once the templates are adopted, departments will find it simpler to update content (saving time) on an ongoing basis

a unified, yet unique “look and feel”: content flexibility will exist across departments

better communication tools: target audiences will find what they are looking for faster and easier.

The Web site steering committee will share project updates via the Daily News and the McMaster Review. Many people with various levels of involvement with the Web site will be invited to provide their input at various stages along the way.

The Web project steering committee includes:

Fred A. Hall – chair

John Drake, acting dean of science

Pat Harris, student liaison office

Heather Grigg, computing & information services

Jayne Johnston, Office of Public Relations.

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Over the next few months the McMaster Web site at <a href="http://www.mcmaster.ca/home.html">http://www.mcmaster.ca/home.html</a> will undergo some major changes.<p><br />
Working in tandem with the University&#039;s branding initiative, the McMaster Web site will be redesigned in an effort to update it and make it easier and faster to find information. <p><br />
The redesign of the University Web site will ensure that information is presented consistently, particularly at the main levels of the Web site, as well as allow users to easily go back and forth between subsites and the main University site.<p><br />
Specifically, the objectives are to:<p><br />
<br />
<ul><li> demonstrate McMaster&#039;s overall brand strategy and identity</li><br />
<li> establish clear, consistent navigation</li><br />
<li>address the unique needs of various target audiences, current and prospective (students, staff, faculty, alumni, partners, general public)</li><br />
<li> ensure adaptability for all Web content</li><br />
<li>respect the individual differences of the various Faculties, schools and departments.</li></ul><br />
With the technical expertise of Cossette Interactive, the project research is completed and the development phase is getting underway. <p> This includes production of a series of functional templates and accompanying guidelines that can be integrated by Faculty and department representatives with their Web content.<p><br />
The templates are targeted for completion by July followed by a "train the trainer" opportunity to learn how to apply and update the templates to keep them current.<p><br />
The benefits of the redesigned site and templates include:<p><br />
<br />
<ul><li>simpler navigation: consistent main navigation throughout the sites</li><br />
<li>cost efficiencies/time saving: once the templates are adopted, departments will find it simpler to update content (saving time) on an ongoing basis</li><br />
<li>a unified, yet unique "look and feel": content flexibility will exist across departments </li><br />
<li>better communication tools: target audiences will find what they are looking for faster and easier.</li></ul><br />
The Web site steering committee will share project updates via the <i>Daily News</i> and the <i>McMaster Review</i>.   Many people with various levels of involvement with the Web site will be invited to provide their input at various stages along the way.<p><br />
The Web project steering committee includes:<p><br />
<ul><li>Fred A. Hall - chair</li><br />
<li>John Drake, acting dean of science</li><br />
<li>Pat Harris, student liaison office</li><br />
<li>Heather Grigg, computing & information services</li><br />
<li>Jayne Johnston, Office of Public Relations.</li></ul><br />
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