JMU to redesign, integrate Web site

The JMU Web site soon will receive a facelift that aims to provide more information efficiently.

Shannon Keenan, assistant director for University Information, said plans for changes could take up to six weeks as representatives at University Information test products and consider design and layout.

"As for a picture of what the new portal will look like — we’re not there yet, and we won’t be for quite a while," Keenan said. "We are currently looking at different vendor products." Different programs are available to facilitate portal production.

Student input into the redesign is being solicited at three informational sessions. JMU Webmaster David Taylor said students, faculty, staff and other constituents will be consulted during the process.
"We will soon have products from two vendors on campus for a 30-day demo," Taylor said. "During that time, we hope to provide sessions for students, faculty and staff to see the products and offer input."
Preliminary plans include the incorporation of Webmail, Blackboard and e-campus services in a personalized format, JMU spokesman Andy Perrine said. "The idea is eventually to roll up everything. Even student schedules should be wrapped up in a portal that the student can personalize," he said.
Integration will take time as programmers configure compatibility between different software systems while allowing students the freedom to personalize their portal.

"The plan is to have the portal up and running by the fall," Perrine said. Full implementation of the portal could take upwards of five years.

"All [areas] of the university have collaborated to support the project and we hope to be able eventually to offer personalized services to many internal and external university constituencies," Taylor said.

Plans for the Web site redesign originated from a presentation by the Student Government Association to administrators a year ago, Taylor said.

Informational sessions are scheduled for today at 3:30 p.m. in Taylor Hall, room 306, Feb. 9 at 9:30 a.m. in Taylor Hall, room 306, and Feb. 15 at 11:30 a.m. in Taylor Hall, room 304.

Final product selection should be completed by April 1.