Minutes (Jan. 3, 2008) Web Advisory Committee
Present: Dr. Nedal Arar, Alan Miller, Debbie Valle, Brian Bell, Katie Prentice, Lynda Howell, Roseanne Hurst, Ramiro Fuentes, Anna Maloy, Rene Torres, Tim Presley, Dr. Christine Burke, Jim Barrett and Mary Yanes
Dr. Nedal Arar, the chair, called the meeting to order. Committee members approved the Dec. 6 minutes.
Jim Barrett presented the webmaster's report. He said:
- Web traffic on the two institutional servers had not been totaled for the month of December, but he expects the year 2007 will be the first in four years when web-page usage dropped.
- Final templates for the web-site rebranding were distributed Dec. 28 through the listservs. The templates now allow for a two-button search, and provide several fixes. Mr. Barrett said the Atkins Group, contractor for the design, said it would also supply 6-7 theme photos and a homepage design by the end of January. Tim Presley asked about pooling photos for the university homepage and sites elsewhere in the university domain. The group discussed the issue, and felt that it could solicit donations for the photographic work, and then ask the Office of External Affairs to arrange the photo shoots. The photos need to meet standards for diversity and ethnic balance so the arrangements would best be made by External Affairs, said Alan Miller.
- Work is under way to integrate the web site of the Cancer Therapy & Research Center into the university's site. He asked for the group's opinion of adding a link to the CTRC on the university homepage under "Patients." The group agreed.
In new business, Katie Prentice led a web usability exercise in the final 30 minutes of the meeting. Ms. Prentice asked members at the table to divide into two groups: one would represent the interests of students, and the other would represent administrators. She gave each group a list of the existing 57 links on the university homepage and asked each group to identify the 10 most important links from the list.
Comparing the results, the groups found few sites that had common appeal. Ms. Prentice said the exercise helps participants understand the competing needs for space on web pages. Mr. Barrett said the exercise would be helpful when the committee evaluates the prototype of a new homepage that is expected in the next month.
There was no other business, and the meeting was adjourned.
-- Minutes prepared by Mary Yanes and Jim Barrett
-- Approved Feb. 7, 2008