smart practices for graduate program websites
DESCRIPTION
SMART Practices for Graduate Program WebsitesTRANSCRIPT
By Karl Schindel
Karl Schindel
1998 Proud Alum of ISU in Marketing 1999-2003 Manager of Web
Communications for Fortune 500 Company
Karl Schindel
2003-2006 Owner of my own computer business, and Manager of a bookstore
2006-2008 ISU Graduate College IT
Current State of Graduate Program Websites at Iowa State?
Current State of Graduate Program Websites at Iowa State.
All are following at least some of what is listed in this presentation.
What makes a good website?
What are prospective students looking for?
ISU’s Graduate College Website
ISU’s Graduate College Website
The Number 1 page viewed by visitors to the Graduate College is the Graduate Requirements page.
http://www.grad-college.iastate.edu
What do Applicants Expect?
What do Applicants Expect?
and
What do Applicants Want?
What Applicants Expect
Professional Look and Feel of your website.
What Applicants Expect
Professional Look and Feel of your website. i.e. Looks like a part of ISU’s website.
What Applicants Expect
Professional Look and Feel of your website. i.e. Looks like a part of ISU’s website.
Examples:http://www.cs.iastate.edu/http://www.bcb.iastate.edu/
What Applicants Expect
Program Information
What Applicants Expect
Program Information
Example: http://www.hci.iastate.edu/Academics/phd.php
What Applicants Expect
Program Admission Requirements / How to Apply
What Applicants Expect
Program Admission Requirements / How to Apply
Examples: http://www.hci.iastate.edu/Academics/phd.phphttp://www.cs.iastate.edu/gradadm/
applying.shtml
What Applicants Want
What Applicants Want
Easy Navigation
What Applicants Want
Easy Navigation Clean, Simple, Intuitive
What Applicants Want
Easy Navigation Clean, Simple, Intuitive Way to get back to homepage
What Applicants Want
Easy Navigation Clean, Simple, Intuitive Way to get back to homepage Link to Apply
What Applicants Want
Information that sets your webpages apart Demographic Information/Statistics
http://www.genetics.iastate.edu/statistics.html
What Applicants Want
Information that sets your webpages apart Points of Pride
http://www.genetics.iastate.edu/whyisu.html
What Applicants Want
Information that sets your webpages apart Awards/Areas of Prominencehttp://www.fshn.hs.iastate.edu/alumni/
awards.php
What Applicants Want
Information that sets your webpages apart Career Information/Program Emphasishttp://www.imse.iastate.edu/jobs/
careers.html
What Applicants Want
Information that sets your webpages apart Types of researchhttp://www.cs.iastate.edu/research/
facinterests.shtml
What Applicants Want
Information that sets your webpages apart Types of research Financial Aid
What Applicants Want
Information that sets your webpages apart Types of research Financial Aid Student placement
What Applicants Want
Information that sets your webpages apart Types of research Financial Aid Student placement Student information/testimonials Example:http://www.history.iastate.edu/
hotsstudents.shtml
What Applicants Want
Information that sets your webpages apart Faculty InformationExample:http://www.cs.iastate.edu/people/
faculty.jsp
Summary
Current State of Graduate Program Websites at Iowa State.
All are following at least some of what is listed in this presentation.
Now What?
Taking Steps to Improve Your Websites
Taking Steps to Improve Your Websites Find out where people are going on
your website. (Ask your techs if you don’t know.)
Taking Steps to Improve Your Websites Find out the top questions applicants
ask your program. Put what they ask for on your website, or improve its location on your website. Are they asking for things that are
already on your site? Hint. Hint.
Taking Steps to Improve Your Websites Review your current website.
Is it current? How does it compare to these findings?
Where do I go for help?
Where do I go for help?
Ask Karl?
Where do I go for help?
ITS Web Development Services
Where do I go for help?
ITS Web Development Services Build Update Host
Where do I go for help?
ITS Web Development Services
http://www.it.iastate.edu/webdev/
115 Durham [email protected]
Good Luck Recruiting!