Meeting 12/16/2008

Recap: Who We Are

• Midd taskforce looking at redoing their website
• MIIS is simultaneously thinking about how to make a more useful website
• A redesign to reinforce the reorganization
• Implementing new features to help create a digital community
• Not sure where Midd & MIIS processes will converge

Website Redesign Group

• • Group began with a Yammer post from Amy McGill
  • Group members are nicely spread across different groups/depts on campus
  • Purpose: to brainstorm ideas and bring in best practices, survey the community, run focus groups, and ultimately put together a set of requirements for the new site

Focus Groups

To be completed in January:

New Students

• Interface with whoever is planning student orientation
• Kathy & Lynn

Admissions/Records/Financial Aid

• Tate & Amy

Advancement & Communications

• Caroline & Rafael

HR/Student Services/School Staff

• Anne Marie & Caroline

IT/Library/TLC

• Leah & Nina

Direct Reports & Deans

• Bob & Lynn

Faculty v2.0

• Sarah & Jen

Survey Input

• Alum role was created after many alumni responded to survey

iModules

• $8000/annually
• Web data management program used by university systems
• iModules purchased IAC, MIIS got a good deal to switch to iModules
• Creates robust database of who works where, etc.
• iModules doesn't believe in having a closed social network community
• MIIS may be on board for testing for other languages + linking to other international social networks
• Hoping to create a very comprehensive career services section including a mentoring system
• In a perfect world, every incoming student will be paired w/an alum
• Has mass mailing system & electronic newsletter system similar to Constant Contact (can be used for alumni newsletter)
• Creates cluster audiences (alums in Europe, T&I alums, etc.)

Work to be done

• Finalize database system and send to iModules
• Need people to volunteer to create particular pages and help archive photos
  • Career resources
  • Networking
  • Giving
  • Newsletters/blogs
• Get word out to alumni to submit photos
• Make sure alumni will be more inclined to give to the Institute when they see the steps we are taking to reach out to them
• Determine which areas will be password-protected

Create an Account

• Link will be sent out

How to finish this?

• Develop a work plan
• Identify each task in the work plan
• Names can be assigned to each task

Homework for next meeting

• Review the following pdf document
  
  • Conduct a Focus Group (pdf)