Two College Web sites adopt new format

The new format has been put in place for University-level pages, as well as for administrative pages in the College, in student affairs, and in undergraduate admissions. It's also available to academic departments.

The template for the Web pages is designed to give departmental page publishers an easy tool to use. It provides the "masthead" and standard buttons that allow easy navigation, allowing the page publisher to concentrate on developing the "local content." (Web page publishers from throughout the University are members of the Web Advisory Committee, led by University Web Technical Coordinator Dale Grady. The committee meets monthly to share information, discuss new applications, and generally compare notes.)

The Department of Economics's site includes items of interest to both undergraduate and graduate students. It includes information on program requirements, departmental rankings, placements of graduates, advice to undergraduates about preparing for graduate school, faculty research interests (and e-mail addresses), working papers, lectures and seminars, as well as QuickTime movies of some notable lectures.

"While adapting our pages to the University's new Web format, we took the opportunity to significantly revamp our site," said Michael Wolkoff, senior lecturer in economics and public policy, and deputy chair of the department. "We have made it possible for our students to access course and advising information, career guidance, links to other Web sites of interest to economists, announcements of departmental seminars and special events, information about the major, etc. These innovations have been extremely well received by our students and we have plans to further enhance what's available. We hope to be adding some exciting additions in the near future."

The philosophy department site includes information on faculty, departmental colloquia, and Philosophy Council meetings, as well as intriguing "puzzles and paradoxes" and links to non-University sites on philosophical topics.

"We combined introduction of the new templates with a site overhaul scheduled for the summer, and the whole process went much more smoothly than I expected," said John Bennett, an adjunct assistant professor who is responsible for maintaining the philosophy department's Web site.

"We use our Web site as a vehicle for introducing philosophy to those who may not know what it's about, and for providing those who do know with easy access to information about our program--for example, general news about the department, colloquia, undergraduate council meetings, and courses and requirements," said Deborah Modrak, professor of philosophy and department chair. "Revising the Web site was a good occasion to think about how best to meet the various needs of visitors to the philosophy page."

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