Web Strategy and Development Blog

Redesigned physical therapy website: Identity and student success

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The redesigned physical therapy website recently launched as part of the academic website project. It is the latest academic website to receive a full redesign for the mobile-friendly template, a process that includes the creation of new content, design and multimedia elements.

Visual improvement

The redesigned homepage features distinct headers, brevity and a centerpiece photo showcasing a department student in action. Fresh photos give an identity to physical therapy students and faculty.

PT student in action.
A physical therapy student demonstrates techniques learned within the program.

Links on the left side of the page were also prioritized. Visitors are now one click away from high-interest department information such as curriculum and scholarships and financial aid.

Student achievements

Since 2009, the physical therapy department has held an ultimate pass rate of 100 percent. This information is highlighted in a call to action block on the home page, which links to year-by-year graduation rates – a vital recruiting tool for the department.

PT exam pass rates.
Exam pass rates a focal point for the physical therapy department.

Experience and opportunities

What, and where, will you be learning in the physical therapy department? Find out by visiting the Experience and Opportunities page, which explains your potential full-scale educational experience and the amenities of McQueary Family Health Sciences Hall.

Site credits

  • Project lead and content: Lucie Amberg, new media specialist, office of web and new media
  • Design: Abby Isackson
  • Photography: Bob Linder
  • Videography: Carter Williams
  • Editor: Nicki Donnelson
  • Implementation: Alyson Jones and Louis Freeman, with oversight from Brian Heaton

Redesigned physician assistant studies website: Academic excellence + work-life balance

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The redesigned physician assistant studies website recently launched as part of the Academic Website Project. It is the seventh academic website to receive a full redesign for the mobile-friendly website template, a process that includes the creation of new content, design and multimedia elements.

Homepage of the physician assistant studies website

Clarifying and communicating unique benefits

Early in the redesign process, we worked with the department to identify the following recruitment messages:

  • Physician assistants play a vital role in health care while also maintaining a positive work-life balance.
  • Missouri State’s physician assistant studies program allows students to finish in just 24 months — faster than many other PA programs.
  • Graduates of this program have a history of success on the physician assistant certification exam.

Emphasizing key recruitment messages

Photography throughout the site features physician assistants in action and students learning through hands-on experiences. The careers and outcomes page emphasizes the positive work-life balance associated with the profession.

The program’s efficiency, which gives it a strong recruitment advantage over programs that take longer to complete, is spotlighted on both the departmental homepage and the physician assistant program page. These pages consistently reinforce the message, “You will finish our program in just 24 months.”

The website highlights graduates’ success on the certification exam, which is required for anyone wishing to practice as a physician assistant. These pass rates have a permanent home on the exam pass rates page.

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: Kevin White, senior photographer in the office of publications
  • Editor: Kevin Agee, new media specialist in the offices of communications and Web and new media
  • 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 coder Louis Freeman

Mobile-friendly academic website conversions: Summer 2015

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Mobile usage is growing exponentially — particularly among our largest demographics of prospective students, Millennials and Gen Z.

Google recently 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

Missouri State content viewed on a smartphoneAcademic 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.

Summer 2015 progress

Over the summer, we completed and published the following mobile-friendly website conversions:

An additional 13 websites are currently in conversion and will be published in the mobile-friendly format this fall. The conversion process will continue until all academic departmental websites are optimized for mobile consumption.

Academic Website Project: Converting to mobile FAQ

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Website viewsThis semester, the office of Web and new media began converting all departmental websites to the mobile-friendly template.

As part of the Academic Website Project, this effort is funded by the office of the provost. Websites will be converted according to the deans’ prioritization on a college-by-college rotation.

Frequently asked questions

Why are we converting to mobile?

Smart phone and tablet usage continues to grow exponentially — particularly with our largest target demographic. In addition, last month Google updated its search algorithm, expanding its use of mobile-friendliness as a ranking signal in organic search results.

What’s involved in the mobile conversion process?

Conversion rather than redesign

The mobile conversion process is not a redesign of your website.

Certain academic websites (Examples: marketing, hospitality and restaurant administration, area studies) have been redesigned according to mobile-friendly specifications; during the redesign process, these sites received new content — including text, design elements, photos and videos. But during a conversion process, new content will not be created for your website.

Incorporating existing multimedia content

However, we will be looking for ways to incorporate content that has already been created for your program. Whenever possible, we will add multimedia pieces such as Mind’s Eye and spotlight videos, provided that they support your program’s recruitment goals and meet other content guidelines.

If you know of existing multimedia content you’d like to add to your website, please feel free to let us know about it once we begin your conversion process.

Future redesign

In the future, any academic website that goes through the mobile conversion process will also receive a complete redesign as part of the Academic Website Project. At that point, we will be creating new content.

Student looking at mobile phone

I represent an academic department. How do I get the process started?

Commencing the conversion

You don’t need to do anything.

  • The conversion process is funded by the office of the provost.
  • Your department has already been prioritized by your dean.
  • Web and new media will contact you via email when your website is entering conversion.

During the conversion

While your website is being converted, you will not be able to edit your live website. Instead, you’ll send updates to webpress@missouristate.edu. We will make updates on your behalf.

Following the conversion

  • Once the conversion is complete, you’ll be notified that your website is ready for your review.
  • At this time, you’ll have the opportunity to send feedback and request changes.
  • Please keep in mind that we will not be revising your content during this process. (If you’d like to make content revisions, you will have that opportunity once your mobile-friendly website has been launched and you have resumed responsibility for maintaining it.)
  • Your website will be launched four weeks after the date you are notified that it’s ready for review.

Once it’s converted, will we still be using Web Press?

Yes, you’ll continue to manage your website through Web Press.

I’m part of a University unit that isn’t an academic department. How do we start the mobile conversion process?

Mobile conversion isn’t fully available to non-academic departments yet. We are working through that process and will post when available. You’re welcome to email web@missouristate.edu if you’d like to be an early conversion client.

Redesigned HRA website: Welcoming and mobile-adaptive

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The redesigned hospitality and restaurant administration website recently launched as part of the Academic Website Project. It was the second academic website to receive a mobile-happy makeover, making it adaptive to smartphones and tablets.

Sophisticated color palette, welcoming photos

Designer Veronica Adinegara chose the blue and gray color scheme because it evokes the department’s professionalism and sophistication. She selected photos (many of which were supplied by the department) that underscore the connection between the HRA curriculum and students’ real-world experiences in private clubs, restaurants, hotels and other hospitality environments.

The HRA BS program page, which illustrates emphasis areas with photos from private clubs, restaurants, hotels and more
Photos of real-world experiences paired with high-impact text connect the HRA curriculum to career outcomes.

Consistent message of success

The office of University publications had already created successful recruiting pieces for HRA, which served as inspiration for the written content. Many of these words and ideas – particularly the focus on leadership and internships – were identified as being key to student recruitment. These ideas are incorporated throughout the site.

Streamlined organization

One challenge was making the available degree options clear to prospective students. All students are eligible for the BS in hospitality and restaurant administration, which offers opportunities to specialize in certain areas. Students who have already completed an AAS degree in either hospitality or culinary arts are also eligible for the BAS program.

During the redesign process, distinct program pages were created that illustrate the differences between the BS and BAS programs. A new Advisement page was also created, which gathers resources for both programs.

Site credits

  • Project lead and content: Lucie Amberg, new media specialist, Web and new media
  • Design: Veronica Adinegara, senior graphic designer, University publications
  • Photography lead: Kevin White, senior photographer, photographic services
  • Editor: Nicki Donnelson, public relations specialist, University communications
  • Implementation: Micah Meadows, Web and new media student team member, with oversight from Lucie Amberg, Brian Heaton, content management programmer/analyst, and Sara Clark, director of Web and new media