Contributed Photo
Fairfield revealed its newly re-designed Web site to the public Wednesday and already the renovation has its share of mixed reactions from students and faculty.
Since the spring of 2008, Tellart Inc., along with Fairfield’s web communications staff and the Computer and Networking Services, have all been hard at work to update the school’s Web site.
Vice President of Marketing and Communications Rama Sudakar knows that a school’s Web site is usually a prospective student and their family’s first impression of the school. To ensure that Fairfield’s site was up to par with other schools, the web communications staff reviewed Web sites of other Jesuit universities and Northeast area schools during the first stage of the rebranding process.
‘We want to make sure the Web site provides easy access to the information they seek about our University and academic offerings in a consistent manner,’ said Sudakar.
She also said that Fairfield ‘needed to rebrand the Web site to reflect our strategic goals and present Fairfield’s focus on integrative living and learning in a vibrant and visually appealing manner.’
The new site includes a rollover navigation system, designed to provide easy access to academic information. Sudakar is most excited about ‘the central multimedia piece on the home page that shines the spotlight on ‘Education for an Inspired Life’ and highlights Fairfield’s strategic distinctions in the areas of Jesuit Value, the Core, Living and Learning, Education for a Lifetime, and Global Community.’
There have been differences of opinion held by students and faculty regarding the renovation. Some have felt uneasy because they are still unfamiliar with the new sites design.
‘I think that the new Web site looks much more elegant and has a lot more information,’ said Caitlin Ligourii ’11. ‘I do think that it is a bit trickier to navigate but that is probably because I am used to the old site.’
FUSA Secretary of Communication Jordan Hummel ’10 said, ‘I think the new Web site is much more interactive and user-friendly.
‘It gives a more accurate portrayal of what Fairfield University is like through innovative combination of text graphics and other multimedia representations,’ she added.
Though he has not yet seen the site since its debut, University President Fr.’ Jeffrey von Arx was excited about the Web site when viewing it before the launch.
‘I was impressed with the interactive features and believe it will create a good first impression, especially with prospective students,’ said von Arx. ‘It’s certainly a great improvement over the previous site!’
Some members of the Fairfield faculty have been concerned with missing links as well as absent Web pages that are essential to gain information about their departments.’
Philip Shaw, assistant professor of economics,’ believes that the new site is ‘more professional looking and it seems to be easier to navigate.’ However, he also said ‘the fact that there is now no information whatsoever on faculty members.
‘I think there should be links to faculty websitesso students and parent can evaluate the training and interests of the faculty easily,’ Shaw added.
Chair of the Communications Department James Shanahan, said, ‘The look and feel of the new Web site is nicer than the old one. I’m disappointed that a lot of the content that is important to majors, other students, faculty members, and other constituents seems to have disappeared or is now buried at a deeper level than before.
‘My understanding is that a lot of this content will re-emerge soon,’ he added.’ ‘I’m hopeful that the Web developers will work closely with us to make sure that the Web site returns to its previous level of functionality as soon as possible.’
According to Sudakar, a meeting is being set up with department chairs to review the content on their department’s site and take care of any remaining issues. Sudakar said changes to the site are still ongoing.
‘ The changes are not over; new features are to come. Sudakar said that in the future, Fairfield hopes to include features such as video, podcasts, blogs, a more robust events-calendaring system, a spotlight on student research and a more cohesive arts presence.
Megan Gonsalves contributed to this report.
Leave a Reply