Web Strategy and Development Blog

Mobile-friendly academic website conversions: Fall 2015

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Students walking on campus while looking at smartphonesMobile usage is growing exponentially — particularly among our largest demographics of prospective students, Millennials and Gen Z.

In 2015, Google experienced two mobile milestones:

  • The mobile tipping point, in which the number of mobile searches in the U.S. surpassed searches on PCs
  • Mobilegeddon, a change to the Google search algorithm that benefits mobile-friendly websites over their non-mobile-friendly counterparts

Academic websites converting to mobile

Our office began the process of converting all academic department websites to a mobile-friendly format early this year.

The conversion process is not a complete redesign. Instead, it converts each site to the mobile template and reorganizes existing content for consumption on mobile devices.

Like the academic website redesigns, conversions are funded by the provost’s office and processed on a college-by-college rotation according to the deans’ prioritization.

Websites that are converted to the mobile-friendly template will later undergo redesign, during which new content, multimedia elements and design elements will be created. This two-step process allows our office to optimize all academic websites for mobile consumption as quickly as possible.

Fall 2015 progress

During the fall semester, we published the following mobile-friendly website conversions:

 

Redesigned MSAS website: Highlights professionalism and flexibility

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The redesigned website for the Master of Science in Administrative Studies recently launched as part of the Academic Website Project.

Flexibility – a complex selling point

Prospective students get excited about the administrative studies curriculum, which allows them to tailor leadership skills to their individual goals and experiences. This flexibility, however, adds complexity. Explaining the curriculum with clarity and concision became a focal point of the redesign.

Comprehensive program requirements

We accomplished this by building a Core Curriculum page, which outlines the curriculum in terms of its goals.

Website sections dedicated to each of the pre-designed option areas round out the program’s offerings:

A section dedicated to the Individualized Studies option outlines how students may design their own curriculum.

The section of the administrative studies website that is dedicated to international studentsOnline and international options

The MSAS program’s appeal to working professionals and international students also became important to the website’s redesign.

Many courses are offered online, which makes the program a great choice for people who want to pursue graduate studies while working. We created a page specifically for the Online Degree Option, which makes it easy for students to access the resources they need to succeed as online students.

Administrative studies is also an appealing option for international students, and because these students have specific needs and requirements we dedicated a section of the website to serving them.

Video assets

Current trends in digital media made video a critical part of the content strategy for the MSAS website. We created the following video specifically for this project.

In addition, we utilized the following videos featuring MSAS students and alumni, which were created for other University projects.

 Site credits

  • Project lead and content: Lucie Amberg, new media specialist in the office of Web and new media
  • Design: Veronica Adinegara, senior graphic designer in the office of publications
  • Editor: Don Hendricks, director of the office of University communications
  • Implementation: Brian Heaton, content management programmer in the office of Web and new media, with Lucie Amberg and Sara Clark, director of the office of Web and new media, and student coders Brandon Fitzlaff and Max Orlando

Social Media Kit: Public Affairs Convocation 2015

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Author Wes Moore, who will speak at Missouri State on Oct. 20, 2015Examining expectations

“The chilling truth is that his story could have been mine. And the tragedy is that my story could have been his, ” says Wes Moore.

His best-selling book, “The Other Wes Moore,” reflects on his youth and that of another man who shares his name. While they grew up in similar circumstances, their adult lives are remarkably different. Moore’s book chronicles their journeys and choices; it’s intended to spark discussion about the influences and expectations that shape young people.

In addition to being a best-selling author, Moore is a youth advocate, veteran and founder of BridgeEdU, which provides support to students as they begin their college careers. He will share his journey during this semester’s Public Affairs Convocation.

Key details

Share the story

Help us spread the word about this event to the Missouri State and local communities by sharing it on social media. If you attend this event, we want to hear about your experience!

We encourage you to join the online conversation during the Public Affairs Convocation by posting about it on Facebook, Twitter or Instagram and tagging your posts with the official Missouri State Public Affairs hashtag: #CitizenBear

Make your post social media savvy

Photos

The following photos are available for your use:

Sample tweets

  • Author, veteran, youth advocate @WesMoore1 speaks on expectations and empowerment at the Public Affairs Convocation, 10/20 bit.ly/1Pb9WBK
  • “His story could have been mine, and the tragedy is that my story could have been his.” @WesMoore1 speaks on 10/20: bit.ly/1Pb9WBK
  • Author Wes Moore shares his story with #SGF at this free lecture: bit.ly/1Pb9WBK #CitizenBear

Sample Facebook posts

These sample posts provide content recommendations based on our best practice tips for making the most of Facebook’s sharing features.

The Other Wes Moore, which is Missouri State's 2015 Common ReaderExample 1

  • Post: Author Wes Moore shares his story of one name, two boys and two very different fates, Oct. 20.
  • URL: bit.ly/1GEF5FT
  • URL custom text: Free Public Affairs Convocation

Example 2

 

 

 

Redesigned sports medicine and athletic training website: Tradition, achievement and energy

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The redesigned sports medicine and athletic training website recently launched as part of the Academic Website Project. This is the fourth academic website to receive a full redesign for the mobile-friendly template.

Excellence and opportunity

During the content development phase of the project, the athletic training program’s reputation for excellence repeatedly emerged as a theme. Both faculty and students mentioned:

  • The program’s long history of accreditation
  • The high scores graduates tend to earn on the Board of Certification exam
  • The program’s remarkable job placement rate

These ideas became the focus of the content and are layered throughout the website — in both text and multimedia. This video, which features two sisters who both chose Missouri State’s athletic training program, provides an example:

Keeping students connected

The redesigned website also provides opportunities to showcase the department’s very active digital communication channels. The news feeds from these channels are integrated into the website’s design, and the following channels are available via buttons in the site’s footer:

Introducing a new program

The redesign process coincided with the introduction of a highly anticipated new program within the department of sports medicine and athletic training: the Master of Occupational Therapy. Creating a website for a program in the foundational stage presented an interesting challenge. The vision for the program was represented through photography of the faculty members in their own work spaces, which provides a window through which prospective students may glimpse their own careers.

Selection of occupational therapy photos

Site credits

  • Project lead and content: Lucie Amberg, new media specialist in the office of Web and new media
  • Design: Abby Isackson, graphic designer in the office of publications
  • Photography: Jesse Scheve, staff photographer in photo services
  • Videography: Chris Nagle, videographer in photo services
  • Editor: Don Hendricks, director of the office of University communications
  • Implementation: Brian Heaton, content management programmer in the office of Web and new media, with Lucie Amberg and Sara Clark, director of the office of Web and new media, and student coders Brandon Fitzlaff and Max Orlando

Social Media Kit: Fostering Futures

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Join Missouri State University, Drury University, Ozarks Technical Community College, Evangel University and Southwest Baptist University in supporting children and families with Sammy’s Window.

Families who are willing to provide foster care receive very little time to prepare for children who are placed in their care. Sammy’s Window steps in to fill the gap by supplying critical items to foster families.

How you can help

You can participate in this year’s Community Engagement Project by donating the following:

  • Hygeine items – toothbrushes, toothpaste, shampoo and conditioner, hair detangler and feminine hygiene products
  • Non-perishable foods – canned vegetables, canned fruit, mac-and-cheese, ramen noodles, spaghetti, spaghetti sauce, tuna
  • School supplies
  • Baby items

Key details

  • What: Fostering Futures Community Engagement Project
  • When: Oct. 5 – 9, 2015
  • Where: Collection box locations around the Missouri State campus
  • Who: Students, faculty, staff, alumni and community members
  • Sponsors: Public Affairs, Sammy’s Window

Main events

  • Fostering Futures All-Collegiate Community Engagement Project
    • When: Oct. 5 – 9, 2015
  • Foster Care Panel Discussion
    • When: Oct. 5, 3 – 5 p.m.
    • Where: Plaster Student Union Theater
    • What: A discussion about foster care in Greene County, including perspectives from local experts and young adults who share their stories of foster care experiences through Youth Speak Out
  • Making the Right Choices
    • When: Oct. 6, 6 – 7:30 p.m.
    • Where: Plaster Student Union Ballroom
    • What: A event co-sponsored by Academic Integrity and Sammy’s Window that focuses on making the right decisions when confronted with ethical dilemmas

Share the story

Help us spread the word about Fostering Futures to the Missouri State and local communities by sharing it on social media.

We encourage you to join the online conversation about the project by posting about it on Facebook, Twitter or Instagram and tagging your posts with the official hashtag: #CitizenBear

Make your post social media savvy

Tagging tips

Other tips:

  • Boost your post by sharing it with a photo.
  • Nothing beats a first-hand perspective! Consider sharing a photo from or quote about your own experience participating in Fostering Futures.

Photos

Sample social media posts

Sample tweets

  • Help foster kids feel at home. Donate food or supplies, Oct. 5-9 @missouristate. #CitizenBear bit.ly/1jr8oXx
  • Find drop off locations for the Fostering Futures food and supply drive @missouristate #CitizenBear bit.ly/1jr8oXx
  • Join @missouristate, @DruryUniversity, @OTCedu, @EvangelUniv and @SBUniv in Fostering Futures: bit.ly/1jr8oXx #CitizenBear #SGF
  • Learn from young adults who share their stories of foster care, Oct. 5: bit.ly/1MBMjPk #CitizenBear #SGF

Sample Facebook posts

Facebook allows for additional customization. These sample posts provide content recommendations based on our best practice tips for optimizing link sharing on Facebook.

Example 1

  • URL: http://bit.ly/1MBMUAJ
  • Headline: Help kids feel at home
  • Long text content: Join the #CitizenBear Fostering Futures supply drive, Oct. 5-9
  • Short text content: Small supplies make a big difference to kids

Example 2

Child hugging an adult

 

  • Post: Your help can comfort a child in a new foster home. Donate to the Fostering Futures food and supply drive, Oct. 5-9.
  • URL: http://bit.ly/1MBMUAJ