After months of development, University Relations is debuting the new Elon University Web site. Read this note for details on the new features…
The new Elon Web site design includes greatly improved site navigation, with drop-down menus in page headers that allow users to quickly move around the entire Web site. Content on the site is better organized around the eight categories of links grouped in the page headers. The headers also provide quick access to E-net, e-mail, campus directories and a search box.
The new Elon home page begins with large pictures that showcase the campus. After three seconds, a set of “gateway” links appears, with content tailored to first-time visitors to campus. Use the “gateway” links on the left of the page to choose a set of home page links that are appropriate to you (faculty/staff, alumni, students, etc.)
While the core site is now operating, implementation of the entire site will continue over the next several weeks, as more department pages are redesigned using the new page templates.
One major feature that is now being implemented has to do with E-net postings. As existing department sites are brought into the new system, faculty and staff postings to E-net will automatically be cross-posted to the home page of the departments of the people posting the notes. For example, a posting by a history professor to E-net could also be seen on the History department home page as well as the Elon College home page . This is an easy way to keep fresh content on department home pages and highlight the news and events of each department. We hope this feature will encourage more faculty and staff to share their news and information with the greater community.
Special recognition for the new Elon Web site design goes to a University Relations team that began work early last spring. They are graphic designer Christopher Eyl (who created the graphic look and feel of the site), Web programmer Alex Lindgren (who created the complex programming and managed the behind-the-scenes site structure and the new Elon content management system), Web site manager David Morton (who began work just a few weeks ago and coordinated the implementation of the new site design), and writers Mandy Byrd and Cathy Hefferin (who helped organize content on the site into more user-friendly categories). Web technology programmers J.R. Shortall and Brian Baute also pitched in on implementation of the new design on portions of the site.
If you have questions or comments about the new site, please send them to me or David Morton. We look forward to hearing what you have to say.
Dan Anderson
Assistant Vice President and Director of University Relations