In my last update, we anticipated sharing a preview of the new website design by the end of the semester. Now that we've made it through Commencement and Reunion (which is what we really mean by "end of the semester), we are ready now to share the design.

Fastspot (our design partner) visited campus on April 4 with three design concepts. As a result of this presentation, the Web Design Advisory Group recommended a clear direction, and since then we've been refining and enhancing the design, exploring how the navigation will work, what the sub-pages will look like, and testing out the overall impression on prospective students and their parents.

Our goal with the new website is to increase Bucknell's national reputation by conveying to prospective students the quality of the academic programs and the breadth of opportunities that exist here. We're aiming for a site that is at once elegant and youthful, intellectual and active, focused and uncluttered.

For a sneak preview of the new Bucknell and Bison Athletics home page designs, log in to myBucknell and look under the "Spotlights."

We welcome your feedback.

FAQs:

Q. When will the new site go live?
A. We are anticipating being ready to go live with this design in late July.

Q. Will I still be able to make updates to my department/program web pages?
A. You can continue to update your pages using the Ingeniux Web Content Management System as you currently do. There will be a period of time before we go live when we will have to block everyone from making updates. As soon as we know something more specific we will announce this to the campus.

Q. What do I need to do to use the new design on my department/program web pages?
A. Not a thing. When we implement the new design, it will cascade throughout the whole website. You won't need to do anything.

Q. Other than the look, how will my site change?
A. All of your content will remain. However, you will have some new optional features available - such as an area for a photo gallery, and a spot for featuring an alumni, student, or faculty member. We wii also be standardizing the format of the faculty/staff contact page, as well as the detail page for individuals.

Q. Will I still use Ingeniux to update my web pages?
A. Yes. In the fall semester we will resume instructional sessions for Ingeniux, teaching you how to use new features.

Q. Tell me again why we're redesigning the website?
A. The current site has been up for over four years now. During that time, web technologies have improved, and the way that people interact with the web has evolved. The creation of strategic documents like The Plan for Bucknell and the Communications Strategy, coupled with the research we did last year to gauge Bucknell's national reputation, means we now have a clearer idea of both our audience and our message. The new design reflects this clearer vision.

Q. If the main Bucknell website is geared towards prospective students, what about current students, faculty, and staff?
A. Library & Information Technology is currently evaluating every aspect of myBucknell with the goal of dramatically improving both the content and the functionality. Because an internal audience is seeking very specific information, we are committed to making the portal the most convenient place to find what you need, while we develop the main site with the external audience in mind.

Q. What about Alumni?
A. We recently launched B-Link for Alumni. If you haven't seen it, take a look. Alumni can log-in to a site tailored to their specific information needs: e.g. a directory, career information, clubs, class notes, and other content that is unique for Alumni.