The Campus Life section of The University of Denver’s WebCentral Internet site will be redesigned as a home page for student use beginning Spring Quarter.
The revamping of the site is a joint effort between University Technology Services (UTS) and the Office of Communications and Marketing and will become permanent by the summer.
“This is only a preliminary site,” said NSM/SECS Senator James Haug. “The plan is to test some things out this quarter and hopefully have a permanent change made over the summer with the knowledge we will gain this quarter.”
The site will have links to current Clarion articles, a daily list of events on campus, and a feature story exclusive to the site. Senator Haug and the Senate proposed the upgrade to the chancellor and provost in the hope that the new “homepage” will spawn a more linked student body on campus. Senate President Chris Adams supports the idea as a site more accessible and centered around students.
“We are essentially tailoring it more to students,” said Adams. “We will have student surveys and something to engage students, such as editorials that students can put on the site every day.”
The new student oriented WebCentral is very timely, especially after a meeting where the Senate came under fire for being disconnected from the student body.
“The basic idea behind the improvement was the need for a more connected
student body,” Haug said.
“My hope is that this site will serve as THE place to get information about campus events and also as a common source for information pertinent to the undergraduates.”
Parts of the site upgrade are still in the planning stages, including who will operate the improved section of the site.
This and other details will be finalized during the summer.
“We are currently trying to figure out how the site will be maintained and who will be doing that,” said Haug.
“Hopefully we will get those things straightened out by the fifth of sixth week and make the changes then.”