<p>What things do you like/appreciate most about the current site? </p>
<p>What frustrations have you experienced in searching for information that seems to be hiding from plain sight? </p>
<p>Do you have any great, brilliant ideas for feature we really should be offering? What other colleges should we be looking at for terrific web sites? </p>
<p>I can't promise you we can or will fix every one of the challenges you share, but I will certainly take your ideas back as we go about the process. Thanks in advance for your help!</p>
<p>UR - Of all the schools I applied, your site was the only one that provided info from the administration in the way you did. It was timely, accurate and when needed, compassionate. I also thought the site in general was user friendly and up to date. The only thing I wish there could be more of would be pictures of the dorms - I’d like to know what they actually look like inside and try to imagine my stuff in them. All that said, I unfortunately will not be able to be a Spider, the FA just wasn’t enough and my parents still have a wedding for my sister and another kid after me to go to college. But please know that it will probably be one of my biggest disappointments not being a Spider. Best of luck to all!!!</p>
<p>The first thing I look for on a college website is the street address. It should be on the home page. UR does that. Good.</p>
<p>Next, I need to see a link to “fast facts” on the home page. UR does that, too. Good. (Although, I’d like to see some more details IN UR’s actual facts.)</p>
<p>Next, I look for the majors and minors. I HATE it when large schools expect you to magically know which “college” a major is in. </p>
<p>Next, I check out the campus map. The most helpful maps indicate what a building is for. That is, academic, residence hall, admin, etc. Maps that simply say “Brandenhauer Hall” are useless. I need context. Tell me whether it’s for sleeping or learning or whatever.</p>
<p>That’s all I can think of for now. But, I’m sure I’ll be back with more.</p>
<p>I think the websites should have some welcoming information about the admission counselors…akin to the W & M video of the admission officers presenting their humorous side.</p>
<p>Also, mentioned in another post–the fast facts section should have thorough information summarizing the answers to many of the common questions asked on college confidential.</p>
<p>The University of Richmond is a selective institution in the US, on the website tells us the history that led to such competitiveness. For example, pride important dates, major employers, alumni achievements, major current news, etc. perhaps, establish a campus student group that will research and deliver everything Richmond ranging from an alumni giving his/her perspective of a political event of a major cable network to minor research conducted by current students that has received media spotlight. I believe any and every thing either small or big will have a major impact on the prospective and current students. </p>
<p>In addition, the Robins school of business elevated from ranking 20th in the nation to 12th. that said, on the homepage all I saw about such achievement was a scrolling in the news sections!!! UR’s undergraduate business program has drawn much attention from outsider; therefore, introduce to potential students the image behind the school and what makes Robins better than institutions with a longer history. </p>
<p>Another aspect to consider is an image section. Possibly title it URs illustration valuing a 1,000 word. Yeah, I know that sounds uninspired… In the image section, post updated photos of campus eventsgroup socials, community involvement, group meetings, etc. </p>
<p>I apologize if Ive mentioned something that has already been said and/or is already on the U of R website. </p>
<p>i apologize if this has been mentioned, but i would just like to add a note on the importance of visual stimulation. UR’s current website in general lacks visual stimulation in the form of vivid, striking picturesque shots of the campus…sure there are some, but honestly, UR has an astonishingly beautiful campus and i do not believe the webisite does it justice. just my two cents</p>
<p>I have found the UR website to be full of very helpful information. I am a mother and read the spider diaries all year trying to get a “feel” for the student body. I have thoroughly combed your site. More informative posts from the UR Admissions blog would be good. Better pictures of the dorms and rooms in the dorms would also be good. Keep up the good work.</p>
<p>Please make the AP/IB credit policies more accessible, especially IB; ie. make absolutely clear if UR gives credit for HLs and SLs or just HLs, and whether credits are elective credits or actual class exemptions, etc.</p>
<p>These are all very helpful suggestions–thanks for taking the time to write. More are certainly welcome. I just wanted to acknowledge those who’ve written thus far.</p>
<p>also make the search function more useful. For example, search on “premed” and it should take the one immediately to a page that addresses being pre-health at UR. For example, search under pre-law, and the first link is to poli sci and prelaw courses. But, search on premed, and the engine pulls up published articles about students, not the ‘program’ at UR (yeah, I know, premed is not program nor major). With the gazillion of premed wannabes in every Frosh class, something like this s/b SOP.</p>
<p>Not sure I have any suggestions for sites to emulate, but a couple of that need work (that you should avoid) are George Washington and Emory – too many links are circular.</p>
<p>UR Admissions, I’m going to give you an in depth answer sometime in the near future. However, two websites you should look at is the College of William and Mary and The University of Chicago. Both school’s website showcases the schools unique personality and also clearly and succinctly presents information that a prospective applicant needs. They also looks very – how do I say this – modern? Not the exact the word I am trying to find, but I think you get the picture.</p>
<p>Ditto bluebayou on the GWU and Emory website, also include Wake Forest as school to NOT emulate.</p>
<p>I would like to add that the amount of information on the Richmond web site is amazing. Many schools have very little information posted on the web that is accessible to potential applicants. I would agree that the look of the web site could be updated a bit.</p>
<p>One additional thought. I would use the page layout differently. Currently you have lots of unused space on the left and right edges of the screen and yet one has to scroll down to see the content. I would try to eliminate the scroll by using the space better.</p>
<p>I think this might be a bit silly, but the first two times I logged into the site, I wondered whether the page I was looking at was the actual home page. I was confused between the “Apply Now” and “prospective students” link, since many of the other colleges have admissions informations under either of these two links. It would be better if these links were to be clubbed together under admissions. And as someone said here, the site can be made more colourful, warm and welcoming.</p>
<p>I’m interested to hear your thoughts on it. It has been a source of discussion with those that I know and I’m curious to get the thoughts of those who are not as connected to UR (yet) that have visited the site.</p>
<p>No way to sugarcoat it: the new layout of Richmond’s website is terrible.</p>
<p>A school’s website is it’s public face. The former layout of the Richmond website provided gravitas. The new layout of Richmond’s website resembles what a friend purchased for $109 from Office Max. Why is the traditional UR red colors not included?</p>
<p>In reply to your question of how UR’s website can be improved: (i) Start by attempting to improve, not scrap the former layout. (ii) include a video link on the site to a video of the Admissions information session and tour of the campus. All you need to do is have a camera follow an actual Admissions walking tour so that all visiting the site can see just how impressive the Richmond campus really is.</p>
<p>Sorry to be blunt but please tell the powers that be in Richmond’s administration that the new website layout looks tacky. Why would you want to change a site that was working pretty well?</p>
<p>I do agree with Otis’ comments…the old site was much more attractive and portrayed the image of the school extremely well. The new site reminds me of a large, public institution that is trying to convey too many messages. UR’s campus is, hands down, the most beautiful in the country…and that is somehow lost in the new site. Many more comments…but I suppose this should suffice.</p>