University Web site redesign continues without Webmaster

October 9, 2006 —

Since beginning the overhaul of SVSU's Web site this spring, the staff behind the redesign and restructuring of the University's online identity has been refining appearance and functionality.

The new "theme" of SVSU's Web site has been in place since March 15, when the newly revamped front page launched. Since then, ITS, University Communications, and a couple of other departments in between have coordinated the development and evolution of SVSU's Internet existence via a fairly complex relationship, combining the expertise of designers, image management specialists, programmers, and students who may know better than anyone what image the University needs to display in order to attract more students.

Jason Swackhamer works for University Communications as the director of Web Communications, and has done so ever since the post was created two years ago. His division operates under the auspices of Student Services.

"My primary role is how our Web site interacts with potential students. [It] isn't the implementation side of it."

According to Swackhamer, the new design of the site was a collaborative effort between his department and representatives from all over the University, which discussed possibilities in committees and sub-committees before eventually coming to some agreement.

Nearly six months later, the redesign is still not complete, but Swackhamer argues that Web sites are never really "done."

"The one thing I always tell people when they talk about timelines and Web sites, is that Web sites are never done - it's an evolution, we're constantly taking ideas. Just Monday night, we met with a focus group of students."

Swackhamer says that everyone should expect some changes to the homepage by Thanksgiving, as part of the University's efforts to adjust and tweak the appearance in order to reflect the most desirable possible image. Part of his job is to collect feedback and turn that feedback into tangible designs.

"I am always receptive to comments - or more effectively, we're probably going to be doing more of these focus groups, and if a student would like to be part of that, they could pretty much just e-mail me."

Swackhamer mentioned that Todd Pashak, who formerly occupied the position of Webmaster under ITS, was instrumental in effecting some of the changes the Web site has seen over the course of the year.

"He played a huge role in where we're at right now," Swackhamer said.

Pashak recently left SVSU for a similar position at the University of Miami in Ohio. Swackhamer said that ITS is looking to replace him with a programming-minded Webmaster, as Pashak was a design and layout specialist.

"Todd was real good at visuals, design, those types of elements," he said. "From what I understand, they're looking [for] more a programmer, someone who gets into the nuts and bolts."

Even with Pashak gone, Swackhamer continues to work with Ken Schindler and the rest of ITS, refining SVSU's online identity. Anyone with comments on the Web site can submit them to the team at svsu.edu/its.