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Redesigned kinesiology website: A fresh look for active programs

December 5, 2018 by Kai Raymer

Students and children in kinesiology class.

The redesigned kinesiology website recently launched. It’s the latest outcome of the Academic Website Project.

Academic websites have a tremendous influence on the college search process. Redesigns provide new content, design and photo/video elements.

Three specific areas we improved on kinesiology were:

Photography

Students in kinesiology undergraduate programs
All five of kinesiology’s undergraduate degree programs have hands-on learning opportunities for students.

Kinesiology has eight overall degree programs. However, the department lacked current photos.

Through several photo sessions, we gave the kinesiology website an appearance overhaul.

Getting new photos creates an accurate depiction of their programs.

Respiratory therapy students during a class.
The respiratory therapy program includes a clinical portion.

Clear application/admission language

We made it easier for future students to major in a kinesiology program.

Each program sub-site has prominent call-to-action (CTA) buttons that aid recruiting efforts. For undergraduate programs:

  • First, apply to Missouri State
  • Then, declare your major (to a kinesiology program)
The “Get started” button takes the user to the program’s admission requirements page.
Physical education undergraduate admission requirements page with apply now call-to-action box highlighted
The “Apply now” button takes the user to a
Missouri State University application form.

The application/admission process is a bit different for graduate programs, but the concept we used remained the same.

Track options

Four of kinesiology’s five undergraduate programs include track options or emphasis areas, which are specific areas of focus within the overall program.

We wanted to make these options better known.

Emphasis areas for the recreation, sport and park administration program website
The recreation, sport and park administration program offers four emphasis areas students can pursue.
Track option areas on exercise and movement science program homepage.
Exercise and movement science majors can pursue one of two track options depending on their career goals.

Track options/emphasis areas now have feature blocks that provide more information about that specific area and its outcomes.

Site credits

  • Project lead and content: Kai Raymer, content strategist in web strategy and development
  • Photography: Bob Linder, Kevin White and Jesse Scheve, visual media
  • Videography: Carter Williams, student videographer in web strategy and development
  • Design: Abby Isackson, graphic designer in editorial and design services
  • Editors: Sara Clark, director in web strategy and development and Nicki Donnelson, assistant director of university communications
  • Implementation: Student coders Alyson Jones and Nikki Jenkins along with Brian Heaton, content management programmer/analyst, in web strategy and development
  • Client: Dr. Sarah McCallister, kinesiology department head

Filed Under: Academic websites, News, Redesign, web strategy and development Tagged With: academic websites, kinesiology, Redesign, web strategy and development

Redesigned Doctor of Pharmacy website: Connecting one program at two schools

November 30, 2018 by Kai Raymer

Top part of Doctor of Pharmacy homepage.

The redesigned doctor of pharmacy website recently launched. It’s the latest outcome of the Academic Website Project.

Academic websites have a tremendous influence on the college search process. Redesigns provide new content, design and photo/video elements.

Three specific areas we targeted for improvement on pharmacy were:

Content

Top part of Doctor of Pharmacy's Admission and Application Requirements page.
The admission and application requirements page details how students qualify for, and apply to, the program.

The previous pharmacy website only had a handful of pages. We built the new site from the ground up, which meant creating and formatting content for pages like:

  • Admission and application requirements
  • Program requirements
  • Careers and outcomes
  • Scholarships and financial aid

Most users access a website to solve a problem.

Creating these pages helped answer crucial questions such as how to apply and how to finish the program, and how to get financial help.

Through reverse transfer, you can even complete your Missouri State bachelor’s degree while you’re in the program.

We kept duplicate content to a minimum. Most links refer back to the UMKC website, which lessens the chances for content becoming outdated.

Clarity

Details about collaborative program on Doctor of Pharmacy homepage.
The intro message on the Doctor of Pharmacy website notes that it’s a collaborative program.

Pharmacy is a collaborative program between the University of Missouri-Kansas City (UMKC) and Missouri State.

You’re part Kangaroo, part Bear.

You take UMKC pharmacy courses at the Missouri State site in Springfield. UMKC provides the scholarships and financial aid.

You have access to Missouri State student resources and services, but you end up with a UMKC Doctor of Pharmacy (PharmD) degree.

We wanted to make this unique partnership clear throughout the site.

Multimedia

The Careers and Outcomes page includes a video detailing what you can do with a pharmacy degree.

We shined a new light on the program with photo sessions, video packages and Spotlight stories.

  • Mica Henry Spotlight
  • Jackie Bradley Spotlight
Photos of students in the Doctor of Pharmacy program.
New photography highlights degree options and where graduates of the program can work.

Site credits

  • Project lead and content: Kai Raymer, content strategist in web strategy and development
  • Photography: Kevin White and Jesse Scheve, visual media
  • Videography: Carter Williams, student videographer in web strategy and development
  • Design: Veronica Adinegara, senior graphic designer in editorial and design services
  • Editors: Sara Clark, director in web strategy and development and Andrea Mostyn, director of university communications
  • Implementation: Student coders Alyson Jones and Nikki Jenkins along with Brian Heaton, content management programmer/analyst in web strategy and development
  • Client: Paul Gubbins, Associate Dean Vice Chair and Professor of UMKC School of Pharmacy

Filed Under: Academic websites, News, Redesign, web strategy and development Tagged With: academic websites, pharmacy, Redesign, UMKC, web strategy and development

Update your four-year degree plans with our help

June 25, 2018 by Kai Raymer

Person sitting in computer lab at station.

Web Strategy and Development is assisting with campus-wide updates to four-year undergraduate degree plans. This is a provost-supported project.

Send your updates to us

Academic departments should update their four-year degree plans for the upcoming academic year.

Does your department need help with making updates?

We’ll process them for you.

Email your updated degree plans to webpress@missouristate.edu by June 29. Expect two to four business days for us to process your changes.

We’ll make your updates for the 2018-19 academic year. Your department will complete future updates.

Why are degree plan updates needed?

Two reasons:

  • To reflect the new credit hour requirements
  • To align with the 2018-19 catalog requirements

Missouri State changed its credit hour requirements for undergraduate degrees from 125 to 120 hours.

Certain undergraduate degrees still require more than 120 hours. But, your degree plan must still reflect the current catalog requirements.

What if I don’t update my degree plans?

Your department will receive a notification about any outdated degree plans.

In July, the registrar’s office will conduct a search to catch any outdated degree plans on university websites.

Your degree plan will be flagged as outdated if:

  • It doesn’t have the current catalog year
  • It doesn’t have a review date listed at the bottom

Example: Degree plan with current catalog year

The introduction to your degree plan should reference the current catalog.

Example: degree plan review date

The bottom of your degree plan page should include a review date no earlier than March 29, 2018.

What if I’ve already updated my degree plans?

Great! Please make sure your updated degree plans include the current catalog year (2018-19) and the review date at the bottom.

These steps require some technical knowledge of Web Press.

Review our Web Press how-to instructions or contact our web help desk if you need assistance.

Even if you’ve updated your credit hour requirements, you still need the appropriate catalog listing (2018-19) and review date.

What about three-year degree plans?

We’ve removed most three-year degree plans from university websites. Some are still live, as requested by individual departments.

Questions?

Contact the web help desk at 417-836-5271 or email at webpress@missouristate.edu

Degree plan best practices

  • Develop your degree plans in the same format as the current four-year plans. A list of four-year plans is available on the Provost’s website.
  • Programs with multiple track options should have a four-year plan for each track option.
  • Programs with multiple degree types (BA, BS) should have a four-year plan for each degree type.
  • Title your four-year plan as specifically as possible.

Filed Under: Academic websites, News, Web Press, web strategy and development

Lessons learned from the Alumni Association and Bear Bulletin redesigns

March 2, 2018 by admin

person using mouse at computer

We recently, by that I mean a year ago, decided it was time to redesign the Alumni Association’s digital communications. Before embarking on this glorious journey we first needed to figure out what we wanted to do and why we’re doing it.

Make a game plan

We developed a set of goals to help us keep our audience in mind.

  1. User access to information on mobile devices
  2. Clear calls to act for alumni to engage with the university
  3. Streamline university news with alumni-centered stories from the printed magazine
  4. Implement our sub-brand across all communication platforms

Then laid out the three phases we planned to execute.

Phase 1 – Missouri State Magazine online

During this phase we found alumni want to get their printed magazine in an easy to read online format. So, we tore down the old magazine site and built a new blog. Through the use of syndication, we are able to pull real-time stories from the university communications department. We can now feature stories from the news, highlight faculty work, showcase student awards and give a home to all the alumni stories. The Bear Bulletin blog is mobile friendly and ties directly to our website.

From old to new – blog

Old magazine format on desktop.
New blog format for featured magazine stories on desktop.
Old magazine format on mobile.
New blog format for featured magazine stories on mobile.

Phase 2 – New mobile friendly website

Next step, updating our website to streamline information about events, programs and ways alumni can volunteer. Warning, don’t go into a website redesign before a major event. I planned to finish the redesign before Homecoming, but didn’t take into account all the updates to the Homecoming website.

Again, we went back to our goals and consulted the Alumni Association Board and Council. Since mobile stacks information into one column, we created a hierarchy for the content and used clear calls to act buttons on our Missouri State University Alumni Association website.

A mobile-friendly site

old alumni site
Old outdated alumni desktop site.
new alumni site
Newly updated and organized desktop site.
old not mobile friendly alumni site
Old and not mobile friendly website.
new mobile friendly alumni site
New and very mobile friendly website.

Phase 3 – New e-newsletter

Again, the data showed us nearly 50% of the audience accesses our email from a mobile device.  We stuck with one column, used more full-width photos, added calls to act buttons and reduced the text.

An email you want to open

Old desktop version of the Bear Bulletin e-news letter.
New desktop version of the Bear Bulletin e-news letter.
Old mobile version of the Bear Bulletin e-news letter.
New mobile friendly version of the Bear Bulletin e-news letter.

What we learned

  • Timeline for completion
    • Keep in mind vacations
    • Summer was great for us
  • Website
    • Plan ahead for any major content editing on your site
      • Ex: Homecoming is our biggest event and we were in redesign – not so good
    • Build sitemap
      • Before you start rearranging look at site navigation first
      • Then layout your pages
    • Review links on your site and pointing at you
  • Check mobile

You can download the full presentation for reference.

Filed Under: brand, Mobile, Redesign Tagged With: Blogs, digital communication, mobile friendly, Redesign, web and new media, websites

Free photo day for faculty and staff

June 26, 2017 by Kai Raymer

Need your MSU photo updated or a new one taken? On July 6, Photographic Services will be taking portrait pictures of faculty, staff and administrators free of charge. No pre-registration is required.

These photos are perfect for your department’s website and print projects. This is a great opportunity for new faculty and staff members to have their pictures taken.

Professional or business casual attire is preferred. Contact Chuck Busby, Office of the Provost, at 836-6495 or ChuckBusby@MissouriState.edu, if you have any questions.

Key details

What: Free Portrait Day
Who: Open to Missouri State University faculty and staff
When: 9 a.m. – 4 p.m. on Thursday, July 6
Where: Meyer Alumni Center, Kenneth E. Room 504

Select your photo on-site

You will review and choose your photo on-site at the free portrait event. This photo will then be uploaded to the University directory – with no additional effort on your part.

Within a few days of the event, you will receive the photo you selected via email. This photo is provided at no charge; you are free to use it for other professional purposes.

Filed Under: Academic websites, News, web strategy and development Tagged With: faculty, free photo day, free portrait day, headshot, photo, photo services, portrait, portrait day, staff

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