
If you haven’t already, go take a look at the new “areas of study” site (titled Majors, Minors, & Programs). Team members from Publications, Marketing, Design Services, and Digital Communications spent the summer participating in training, evaluating program information at other institutions, and poring over catalog information, department websites, admissions information, existing print material, and even the scripts for those program videos to compile and create supportive, consistent, audience-appropriate information for each major, minor, etc., at UMW.
The pictures on the homepage are pulled from our branded images, Great Minds stories, and news articles. They appear randomly and link to the offering they represent. Each degree/program includes clear icons indicating the type of offering, links to the department, catalog entry, financial aid, and admissions information request form. We’ve incorporated video and testimonials. We can generate a list of offerings for each department or college, and a list of each type of entry such as major, minor, certificate, adult degree program, etc. Graduate programs link to relevant (newly updated) information on the admissions site, for now, and minors associated with majors redirect to those majors.
The outcome is exceptional – and incomplete.
Now that we’ve established the baseline with the information available, we’re ready to get updates on both the published offerings and those that are missing from the list. As with most things, we’ve created a submission form that exactly mirrors the content template we completed for each offering.
We want to be sure this information appropriately reflects, to prospective students, each offering. We want to make sure it’s helpful and provides next steps to move prospects along on their journey. We will be working to pull relevant Great Minds and news stories into each program. We’d like to focus on key faculty and highlight successes in these spaces. We need your help to get there.
So go take a look. We’re looking forward to your suggestions.