August 13, 2008

Colleges and community extend warm welcome to students

Students returning to St. Cloud area colleges this month will receive a welcome unprecedented in Central Minnesota history.

The College of St. Benedict, St. Cloud Technical College, St. John's University and St. Cloud State University are saluting students:

• Poster Billboards
• Electronic Billboards
• Banners
• Magazines
• Window Clings
• Table Tents
• Postcards

Find out more details in the August 13, 2008 News Story:
College and community extend warm welcome to students

April 13, 2007

Project Goals and Rationale:

A Web audit conducted by Stamats in late 2005 spelled out several recommendations including that the institution embark on a redesign to bring a stronger marketing focus to the SCSU Web site. The rationale is that between 72% and 85% of our prospective students, and many members of the general public, get their first impression of St. Cloud State from the Web site.

As the Web project has proceeded, the Web Redesign Team has kept among its goals a desire to create a balance between the information needs of our external audiences and the information and tool needs of our internal constituencies.

Other goals of the project include:

• Create consistency, continuity and repetition among the Web and key marketing efforts including admission publications.
• Create an “image and content rich” Web site which reflects the wealth of opportunities exemplified on campus.
• Tell the stories of the successes of students, faculty and alumni through profiles.
• Create a site that is as “user friendly” as possible and which enhances the capability of readily finding information

What We Have Accomplished:

Stamats, an integrated marketing communications company based in Cedar Rapids, Iowa, conducted an audit of the St. Cloud State University Web site in November of 2005. The company interviewed various target audiences and analyzed competitor Web sites, resulting in a number of recommendations for a redesign of the St. Cloud State University Web site.

In fall of 2006, Stamats was hired to assist with the redesign of the upper layers of St. Cloud State University‘s Web site. Based on interviews and research, Stamats proposed a revised Web site architecture. Three design concepts were then created and presented to various target audience groups for feedback. Taking into account the feedback received from the target groups and Stamats, revisions were made and a final home page design selected (image on right). Ideas for secondary page designs were created based on the home page design.

Where We Are Now:

Stamats is currently in the process of writing content for 72 of the upper layer pages and the SCSU Web Team is integrating this content into the new Web site design.

The Web Design Group is actively seeking feedback from the campus community and public regarding the progress of the redesigned site. Please feel free to periodically visit the in-progress site and provide your feedback to the Web Design Committee.

What the Future Holds:

Stamats and the Web Design Committee will continue to build the remaining pages and the new Web site is expected to be launched in summer of 2007. Based on the ability to obtain further funding, a Phase II may be implemented to provide more content for other critical areas of the Web site.

Web Design Committee:

If you have questions or comments about the Web Redesign project, contact one of the committee members:

• Loren J. Boone - ljboone@stcloudstate.edu
• John E. Brown - jebrown@stcloudstate.edu
• Sara A. Grachek - gracheks@stcloudstate.edu
• Mark A. Monn - mamonn@stcloudstate.edu
• J.C. Turner - jcturner@stcloudstate.edu
• Jeff Wood - jcwood@stcloudstate.edu

July 23, 2007

New Web Site is Launched

On July 23, 2007, St. Cloud State University launched a new Web site.

The results of 18 months of study, planning and implementation, the new Web site is:

• Easier to navigate
• More "image rich"
• Enhanced in telling the story of the quality of St. Cloud State University
• Directed at our external audiences who are looking for information about the University
• A compilation of input from the campus community over the last 18 months
• More organized in compiling the tools of our internal constituents in specific pages
• A work in progress

What's next?

Once the "kinks" have been worked out of the launch of the new site, the Web Redesign Committee will approach a long list of deferred elements which need attention and will then begin addressing an even longer list of areas of campus wanting assistance in redesigning their pages.

We appreciate the campus and community's patience and persistence as the committee works through the details of the launch.

April 13, 2007

Project Goals and Rationale:

A Web audit conducted by Stamats in late 2005 spelled out several recommendations including that the institution embark on a redesign to bring a stronger marketing focus to the SCSU Web site. The rationale is that between 72% and 85% of our prospective students, and many members of the general public, get their first impression of St. Cloud State from the Web site.

As the Web project has proceeded, the Web Redesign Team has kept among its goals a desire to create a balance between the information needs of our external audiences and the information and tool needs of our internal constituencies.

Other goals of the project include:

• Create consistency, continuity and repetition among the Web and key marketing efforts including admission publications.
• Create an “image and content rich” Web site which reflects the wealth of opportunities exemplified on campus.
• Tell the stories of the successes of students, faculty and alumni through profiles.
• Create a site that is as “user friendly” as possible and which enhances the capability of readily finding information

What We Have Accomplished:

Stamats, an integrated marketing communications company based in Cedar Rapids, Iowa, conducted an audit of the St. Cloud State University Web site in November of 2005. The company interviewed various target audiences and analyzed competitor Web sites, resulting in a number of recommendations for a redesign of the St. Cloud State University Web site.

In fall of 2006, Stamats was hired to assist with the redesign of the upper layers of St. Cloud State University‘s Web site. Based on interviews and research, Stamats proposed a revised Web site architecture. Three design concepts were then created and presented to various target audience groups for feedback. Taking into account the feedback received from the target groups and Stamats, revisions were made and a final home page design selected (image on right). Ideas for secondary page designs were created based on the home page design.

Where We Are Now:

Stamats is currently in the process of writing content for 72 of the upper layer pages and the SCSU Web Team is integrating this content into the new Web site design.

The Web Design Group is actively seeking feedback from the campus community and public regarding the progress of the redesigned site. Please feel free to periodically visit the in-progress site and provide your feedback to the Web Design Committee.

What the Future Holds:

Stamats and the Web Design Committee will continue to build the remaining pages and the new Web site is expected to be launched in summer of 2007. Based on the ability to obtain further funding, a Phase II may be implemented to provide more content for other critical areas of the Web site.

Web Design Committee:

If you have questions or comments about the Web Redesign project, contact one of the committee members:

• Loren J. Boone - ljboone@stcloudstate.edu
• John E. Brown - jebrown@stcloudstate.edu
• Sara A. Grachek - gracheks@stcloudstate.edu
• Mark A. Monn - mamonn@stcloudstate.edu
• J.C. Turner - jcturner@stcloudstate.edu
• Jeff Wood - jcwood@stcloudstate.edu