Web Redesign - Search Features

The biggest request we have heard in the redesign process is "fix the search!" Some like people search as default, some like ETSU search as default, some don't like the overall format, and some just want something....anything...different! :) Well, good news! The new etsu homepage and top level pages will implement the search features in a new way.

By default, when the page loads, you will see the ETSU search box in the top right corner. Here is a screenshot of that:


If you want to do a people search, you will click the "People Finder" link in the top right, and a new search box will drop down....covering the ETSU search option, so there is no confusion. You can enter a name and perform a people search directly. Here is a screenshot:



We hope this will be a good solution to our current search dilemma!!

Web Redesign - Navigation

We mentioned the navigation schemes on the ETSU homepage in a previous post. Because there is so much information that needs to be organized on the homepage of a university as large as ETSU, we opted to use multiple organization schemes:

- Exact (this will be the A-Z index)
- Audience Specific (links targeted to specific groups of people like "current students", "faculty/staff")
- Task Specific (these will be in the form of dropdown "quicklinks" for things like D2L and Goldmail)
- Topical (major categories of interest, such as "Academics" and "Campus Life")

these navigation systems are grouped together in different sections of the page to provide easy access to the information users need. User data was collected and analyzed to come up with labels for these links that would be easy to understand and send users in the appropriate direction for information.

Here is a snapshot of the audience specific navigation which sits in the top third of the page:

Here is a snapshot of the categorical or topical navigation which sits in the middle of the page:

Here is a snapshot of the task specific information. This will be in the form of a quicklinks dropdown that is easily accessible from the top navigation bar:

Web Redesign - Approved!!

Well, it has been some time since the last post. We apologize for the delay, but the silence does not mean work has ceased. On the contrary, we have great news. The new ETSU website project has been approved by the university web steering and ITCG committees! We have a new graphic design and many pages of new content and links. This content was based off of feedback from YOU, the user and we appreciate your help. We realize that change is always difficult, but we hope you will work with us in transitioning to the new pages and that you will like the new organization.

The center piece for the new homepage will be a dynamic rotating graphic/video area where important ETSU news, events and accomplishments can be highlighted. Here is what this piece will look like:




There will be 4-7 items that rotate automatically when the home page is loaded. Each item will be clickable, for more information and some items may contain video content. You will be able to jump directly to an item by clicking one of the numbers, and you can pause the rotation or go back and forth between items.

There will also be a second graphical section to hold additional announcements and items of interest:



To make it easy for users to have items considered for display on the homepage, this section will be setup to automatically pull approved events from PlanIt ETSU.

As the unit responsible for all public information related to ETSU, the office of university relations will be governing the content for these sections on the homepage.

The web team is busy working to get the approved pages coded into html/css and scripting. We will post more detailed information in the coming weeks, so please stay tuned!