USI » Home Page Redesign 2008

If you're here, you must want to know more about the revisions we've made to the USI home page... and why we think the new version is 110% better.

As our campus continues to change and grow in exciting, dynamic ways, it is imperitive that the website reflects these changes.

Considering nearly 300,000 people visited our site last year (80,000 first-timers)*, we have to treat our web site home page as if it were the front page of a recruitment brochure for all aspects of our campus community. Whether we're recruiting prospective students, new faculty or staff, or even Dean and President candidates, our website is often times our first introduction with newcomers.

Here are some of the major changes and the reasoning behind them:

General changes include:

a "liquid" header that spans the length of the user's browser window regardless of the user's browser/screen resolution settings.
A wider main body. Recent data suggests that nearly 95% of those who visit our site have their screen resolution set at 1024px wide or higher*. We settled on 960px wide for design reasons and decided to bolster the page's appearance with a bold red background that fills any additional browser window space and helps make the page stand out.

Fig.1: Main Navigation and rotating photo

FIGURE 1

Horizontal Navigation: We have kept the user group horizontal navigation that existed on the old home page, but we have trimmed it down considerably. Previously, the dropdown menu contained a second - and often third - flyout submenu. We found that information tended to get buried in these submenus, so users found alternate routes to find what they were looking for. By limiting the dropdown to a short list of items essential to each user group the navigation becomes more useful.

NOTE: We are currently working on "landing pages" for each of these user groups (Prospective Students, Current Students, Faculty & Staff, Alumni, Parents, and Community). These pages will include all of the information formerly included in the old flyout menus and then some, but they will be better organized and splashed with beautiful images of campus. These templates will also begin replacing the old standard template (like this one).
Rotating Photos: Did someone say, "beautiful images of campus...?" The main animated photo area used to focus on specific university news and events, however, we found ourselves designing to fit the story and neglecting some of the best aspects of campus. We want that space to be a showcase for our ever-changing campus, our new buildings, state-of-the-art classrooms, breadth of programs, dynamic faculty, and diverse student body. Four-five photos will rotate monthly and will reflect the change of seasons whenever possible.

NOTE: We are always looking to showcase dynamic classroom situations, so please forward your suggestions to Web Services and we'll arrange a time and date to come take photos.

Left navigation: We have narrowed this group down as well to include distinct departments and university functions: Academic Programs, Athletics, Employment, Giving to USI, Rice Library, and myUSI. Because "About USI" and "Site Index" do not fall in this category, but remain important, they have been relocated to the top right of the page (described here).
"Spotlight On:": This box will appear when News & Information has a news story or event to which they would like to call special attention.

READ ABOUT MORE CHANGES>>

* - Google Analytics statistics, January 2008

8600 University Boulevard - Evansville, IN 47712-3596 - 812/464-8600