Page 17 - 2022 OIT Progress Report

9/27/22, 6:44 PM Page 1 of 1
Web Team Takes on New Challenges
THE WEB APPLICATION SERVICES TEAM HAS BEEN BUSY PREPARING FOR THE UPCOMING UPGRADE TO OUR WEB CONTENT AUTHORING SYSTEM, SITECORE. TO PREPARE FOR THE UPGRADE, THE TEAM DECIDED TO FOCUS ON THREE MAIN DELIVERABLES—REMOVE EXCESS CONTENT, PROVIDE ENHANCED CONSULTATION AND SUPPORT, AND IMPROVE THE TOOLS AND SKILLS FOR USING ANALYTICS TO HELP GUIDE FURTHER WEB DEVELOPMENT EFFORTS.
“The Web Application Services team worked in conjunction
with departments to remove unnecessary content from the SMU website,” explained Curt Herridge, Associate Chief Information Officer for Data and Application Services. In these partnerships, they
were able to remove over 12,000 Sitecore pages—an almost 25% reduction—compared with 2019. With each page being reviewed,
it helped ensure the relevance and usefulness of the pages remaining. This also resulted in better performance for the site for visitors.
The Web Team expanded its consultation services this
year with one-on-assistance
with WordPress and Sitecore. Launched in April, the WordPress consultation service provides faculty with creating professional sites to strengthen their brand.
A web specialist works closely with the faculty member to assess the faculty’s current site, make recommendations, and then helps
to build out a new web presence that is responsive to the faculty’s vision. Individual instruction also returned this year, allowing a site editor to work with a web specialist in updating, consulting, or adding features to their site. While this service is provided after a class
or training, users have found it valuable to implement new features or forms.
Another new expansion is the Web Analytics Services to help site owners and marketers understand website usage and traffic patterns and gauge performance. Again, the collaboration starts with a one-on-one consultation that guides the user through their most visited sites and provides ideas for improving content and navigation.
Over the upcoming year, the Web Application Services team will help schools and departments migrate to the new look and feel of smu.edu. Examples can be seen on the home page and on the Meadows website.
nEw PROcESS ImPROvEmEnTS EnhAncE cAmPuS SERvIcES
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Start a MOVEMENT
StartAMovement Weeducatevisionaryartists,scholarsandcommunications professionals ready to make an impact on the world around them.
OUR MISSION
Challenge yourself to find your voice, hone your craft and make the world better.
At Meadows, you'll start creating on day one. You’ll do more than prepare for the future at Meadows—you’ll shape it in your first year. We challenge each student to develop his or her gifts to the highest level. We challenge students to find their unique voices and to develop the highest level of craftsmanship. While message and craft are the foundations of art, at Meadows we also practice entrepreneurship, outreach and engagement because they make an artist employable and relevant.
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This fall, Meadows will participate in the 2022 Strategic National Arts Alumni Project (SNAAP) – a one-of-a-kind survey that explores the lives and careers of arts alumni nationwide. Update your contact information to ensure you receive an invitation to take the survey.
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