Interim Homepage
UNC Asheville’s home page is about to change for the first time in more than seven years. It’s a prelude to a comprehensive redesign of the university’s Web presence that was announced recently by Chancellor Anne Ponder.
This “interim” home page is set to launch on Monday, April 13, and will address some pressing technical, design and content challenges that cannot wait for the major redesign, which will be completed by January, 2010.
Staff members in Information Technology Services, the Library, and Communications and Marketing have worked on these improvements for the past several months, and will be continuing to improve the home page and a limited number of other sub-pages as the major redesign project progresses.
In order to avoid confusion, the new home page maintains the current architecture, navigation scheme and quick links. Your bookmarked links will still work, and the major headings on the current homepage also will be found on the interim page. Individual units that would like to change their Web pages headers to match the new home page look can get header templates by contacting webmaster@unca.edu but this is not required at this time.
The new home page design is intended to improve functionality, content and appearance, as well as create some anticipation for the full-scale redesign, and to encourage the campus community to talk about what we can accomplish with the larger project.
The new page makes better use of screen real estate, as the former page was sized to fit now out-dated computer monitors. Accessibility and usability issues also have been improved.
Here are some new things you'll see on home page:
- A new header with our official logo
- A rotating feature area that showcases some of the latest student projects, faculty research and activities that are central to our strategic plan and make UNC Asheville the vibrant and exciting campus we know
- An improved “Search” capability powered by “Google Custom Search” and an easily identified search bar within the header area of the page to help internal and external visitors find what they need quickly
- A number of promotional “badges” anchored in a section of the page rather than posted in several areas of the home page. These can be rotated frequently to highlight major campus events or initiatives
- A News section with links to both news releases and content featured on other pages within the Web site
- Current events of broad public interest
- An “Apply Now” button to help prospective students find admissions information directly from the home page, and a very visible link to “One Port”
- A “Did You Know?” fact box to give visitors interesting facts about the university
The teams in ITS, the Library and Communications welcome your comments and suggestions as we continue to work to improve UNC Asheville’s web presence. To comment, go to the redesign blog at www.unca.edu/redesign. If you have questions, please contact Deborah Griffith, Interim Associate Vice Chancellor of Communications and Marketing, 828.232.5066, dgriffit@unca.edu.