Just a quick update on the state of the migration to the new Web site/new version of the CMS. Many departments are completing their academic core information and we hope to go live with an academic program site in the next week. Kudos to Dr. Curt Hammond for the work he has put into the site for the Department of Music, Theatre and Dance. We will continue working with departments throughout the spring semester to get their sites created. Following that, we will work with offices and services to get their sites created in the new template, or moved into the MyMoreheadState portal - for internal information.
As you may have noticed our weather API has been on the fritz for a few weeks. While the 60+ degree temps were a reminder of spring, that's not very helpful when you are looking out your window at yet another pile of snow. Good news! We had to switch to a different weather API. We are now using the Yahoo! weather API and you are seeing the not so great, but accurate 20-degree temp for today with snow. Thanks to Mark Jarvis in OIT-WSS for his hard work in decoding and reworking that Web part! Related to weather, we hope to do some enhancements to how our weather and safety alerts appear on the homepage soon.
We have a lot to do in the next 6 months+, but we'll get there. I know it can be frustrating and it seems like progress is slow, but keep in mind our purpose. We need to do this right and our intent is to refocus our site to better recruit students. You know our enrollment goals for the fall (and if you don't, you need to ask and keep that in your mind). We also have priority programs that show growth potential and we'll be working diligently with those programs, as well as featuring them on the homepage. You may have noticed we have changed the homepage features - we are focusing those very specifically on key academic programs, recruitment events, and other opportunities that reach a broad audience of prospective students and families, as well as our donors and friends of the University.
MSU is also in the process of a new branding campaign. We have a new logo, new tagline and a new brand promise. These are not just marketing ploys, the brand promise reflects the mission and values of the institution and the commitment we make to the students and families that we serve:
"Morehead State University delivers a strong and affordable education for friendly, ambitious students who thrive in a student-focused learning environment defined by small class sizes and faculty committed to teaching and student success."
Please take time to review the new branding guidelines and information at http://goo.gl/3rshu. If you have any questions about the new Web site or branding, please email me at a.nutter@moreheadstate.edu.
Also, if you haven't yet checked out Tweagle - MSU's official Twitter feeds, take a look and let us know if your office/service would like to do an official feed:
http://twitter.moreheadstate.edu.