Meeting 1/20/2009

Revised List of Requirements

Internal Audiences

• Login protected customizable personal page that customizes the user experience based on MIIS affiliation
  • Jobs database (students)
  • Banner access to academic records, scheduling (students, faculty)
  • Banner access to budgets (staff)
  • Alumni portal (alumni)
  • Banner access to HR (all)
  • Customizable subscriptions to specific information (e.g., events) via RSS (all)

External Audiences

• Offer main page + main admissions page in several languages
• Tell the story: pragmatic idealism
• Sharpen brand focus: "Be the Solution"

Both

• Interactive elements
• Stronger ties to Moodle/other web presences
• Integrate content from FirstClass
• Robust calendar interface
• Simple, consistent navigation -- no duplicate links
  • Breadcrumbs
• Support delivery to mobile devices
• Portal to Facebook, iTunes U, Yelp, Flickr, etc.

Focus Group Notes

TLC & IT

Attendance: Lynn McDonald, Bob Cole, Kristen Byers, AnneMarie Steiger Focus Group coordinators: Nina Dutra, Leah Gowron

This group has been heavily involved with the website redevelopment-preferred to address other areas of growth and transition vs. the pre-determined questions.

• Planning:
  • Website strategy needs someone as a visionary leader to ensure site is consistent and ever-evolving.
  • We need to define what is the “clear message” and how do we want to present ourselves?
  • What about a questionnaire on Facebook for prospective students, to see what they want on the website?
  • No one relates to one communication style—we need diversity in our style.
  • Make the site a fun adventure to roam, to find the info
  • Change text, site design, homepage monthly or regularly so even if actual data hasn’t changes, the site still seems new and “fresh”.

• Functions:
  • Develop a MIIS online community presence—blogs talking about student experience, faculty discussing topics, alumni sharing resources, etc.
  • Communications has to be 2-ways on site. People need to be able to respond to postings, blogs, etc. Creates an “intelligent” site.
  • A community blog?
  • How to address negative comments that may impact enrollment? “Diss” on the site allows MIIS to respond, usually will be done by others in the community, not the administration, and the comments can be more “realistic” than “party line”. Comments at all levels demonstrates open communications. Can lead to pride in Institute.

• Actions:
  • Plan a tutorial session for the Board on open-source generation-how to properly use/understand the use of technology for communications, marketing, enrollment, vs. old, traditional formats. “This is how out clients communicate and interact.”
  • General communications to MIIS community: use uTube or video to get message out-3 pg email with real message buried in rhetoric not useful, and leads to misunderstanding and confusion.

• Follow-up:
  • Contact Peter Liu (Library) to get on Library staff meeting agenda to seek additional resources. IT meeting?

Recruitment, Admissions, Financial Aid, Records

Present: Tate Miller, Jill Stoffers, Jenny Manseau, Pam Ventura, Regina Lomboy, Sherre Kruft, Devin Luedekke, Amy McGill

• Current website likes:
  • Graphics/visual appeal
  • Links to Banner and Directory
  • Interact and Explore sections
  • Reduction of wordiness
  • Cleaner

(summary: summer work on the web site moved us in a positive direction)

• Dislikes:
  • Not user friendly
  • Hard to navigate
  • Needs better map of information
  • Too many search results
  • Need larger font
  • Need portal site (personalized)

(summary: need to emphasize IA, interactivity/customization)

• Impact on recruiting
  • Prospective student feedback is fairly positive.
  • 40% of our applicants never inquire – they are getting their info (presumably) from the web and/or word of mouth
  • Bounce rate is still 49% -- consistent over 2 years

• Would like to see:
  • Button for transcript requests on homepage
  • Putting financial aid info with admissions is not logical for current students
  • Need the ability to interact immediately; pick up rss feeds
  • User centered elements:
    • Let alums upload news from the field
    • Applicants can look up what’s missing from their file
    • Live chat
    • Text messages
    • Pay deposits online, with a confirmation
  • Banner self-service will make some of this possible
  • Make language issues (requirements) less confusing
  • Clear brand definition – make people understand who we are