Jacob Dolan is the assistant director of MSU Web Communications and he may be contacted with any questions regarding Web standards, projects or support. His phone number is 994-5036 and his e-mail is jake@montana.edu. Jake also chairs the university's Web Advisory Committee.

The Web Communications unit is located on the 4th floor of Culbertson Hall. The staff works very closely with MSU Publications and Graphics and the MSU News Service for graphical and editorial support.

Strategies and Actions

Several strategies and actions to support this mission are underway. These include:

• Work with campus stakeholders to build consensus and support for the shift to brand management of the Web site.
• Integrate Web priorities with strategies and opportunities of the market positioning, integrated marketing plan, and creative development.
• Hire qualified programmers for technical services to support brand-driven Web development.
• Conduct research of Web design practices for branding to guide MSU's Web development and evaluation process.
• Provide creative design executions of branding and communications standards for use across MSU's Web presence.
• Coordinate branding standards for the conversion and development of Web site content.
• Coordinate integration of the branding program with the new MSU portal development.
• Develop new Web communications features to support MSU's branding and strategic goals.

Web Development Priorities

The redevelopment of the MSU Web site according to the brand architecture is the top priority. The components necessary to accomplish this will include standard Web templates for use throughout the site, a new MSU home page, and new Web pages for content closely associated with the home page. These include target audience pages, the public Web calendar, visitor information and other navigational, informational or organizational pages. In some cases technical approaches will be essential to supporting communications tactics and the unit will develop appropriate technical tools and training to support these.

Once the branded Web site templates are in general use and the new branded home/destination pages are complete, MSU Web Communications will shift its focus from site conversion to development of content and messaging features. In addition to existing online resources that need to be redeveloped for enhanced presentation, there are a wide range of creative new features that can support communications objectives -- particularly as related to recruitment and public relations. There are virtually an unlimited number of opportunities where creative Web communications can be developed to enhance MSU's Web presence.

Finally, all Web sites must continually evolve in order to stay competitive and culturally tuned. MSU's Web site will never be "done." It is a perpetual work-in-progress that will always benefit from effective content management and communications tactics. MSU Web Communications will meet these needs by continuing to provide forward-thinking communications enhancements of the Web site.

WEB SITE PROGRESS UPDATES

August 2006 -- Branded Web Site Update

The Web site conversion process has progressed very well since the Web templates were deployed last fall. We have made exceptional progress at the higher levels of the site, particularly with academic and administrative units. Dozens of individual unit sites, totaling thousands of pages collectively, have now been completed. Although there is still work to be done at the academic department level, virtually all of the colleges now have the top-levels of their sites converted, with many completed entirely. Most of the key administrative sites have now been completed. Significant progress has also been made with centers and agencies, though work still remains there as well. MSU Extension is another site where significant development has been completed. Overall, the site conversion process thus far has been very successful.

Regarding the MSU central home site resources, these were deployed in January and their progress has also advanced very well. Practically all of the primary central resource pages have been converted, including major data repositories such as the online catalog, planning and analysis information, and policy resources. Several features are either new, or have been given significant new functionality, such as the photo galleries, the campus map, the public Web calendar and the weather page. Additionally, new companion designs that better harmonize with the main MSU identity have now been designed and are currently being constructed for MSU Foundation and Bobcat Athletics.

To see examples of our progress thus far, please see our "Example Sites" Web page.

The priorities for the coming year include: 1.) continuing to carry the conversion deeper into the site overall, particularly in places where gaps may exist within academic sites, such as departments, and other key divisions, centers or agencies; 2) developing new features or expanding on existing features for the main centralized university site; 3) and beginning to shift some of the Web site branding focus from merely visual conversion to more content-related operations, such as messaging. There is still much work to be done, but at the current pace we're well on the way to achieving the goals set by university leadership for having a coherent university Web site that effectively and professionally conveys our branding objectives. We certainly appreciate the efforts of all our partners in this endeavor. Thank you.

October 2005 -- Branded Web Template Update

The new MSU branded Web templates are now complete and have been released for all MSU units to begin converting and building their Web sites. All MSU units should begin using these templates to convert and maintain their Web sites as soon as possible. Information about the templates and how to obtain them is available on the Web template download page.

All Web conversions and design work should be coordinated with MSU Web Communications to ensure appropriate graphical and messaging brand standards are met. Web site designs must be submitted for their review and input prior to publishing live pages.

Each MSU unit will be responsible for converting its own Web resources, but it's advisable to contact MSU Web Communications early in the process. They will assist with Web template selection and set-up, Web graphical style guidelines, and in some cases may provide direct assistance with conversion and/or design.

There is not a fixed deadline for conversion, but Web content owners are encouraged to revise their site designs as soon as is feasible. Starting immediately, any new Web development should also be produced using the branded Web templates.

For more information about the Web branding templates, design, or process, please contact MSU Web Communications at extension 5140 or e-mail webcomm@montana.edu.

August 2005 -- Branded Web Site Update

The design for the branded Web site templates has been finalized and several prototypical sites are currently being executed for testing purposes. Testing is expected to be complete by mid-September and the Web templates should be released for general use at that time. The design of the next home page and several associated feature pages is also currently underway. These should be complete by the mid-to-late fall semester. More information on the Web branding redesign process can be found in the minutes of the Web Advisory Committee.

Return to regular view	Text-only	Updated: 8/31/2006