As part of Queen’s University ongoing effort to improve its online presence, a new-look homepage was unveiled on Wednesday.

“The refresh of Queensu.ca is part of a larger university-wide strategy to modernize our online communications with the Strategic Framework and the academic mission of the university,” says Michael Fraser, Vice-Principal (University Relations). “Our efforts to refresh our main online presence have resulted in a website that reflects the vibrancy of the university while improving the user experience, ensuring that online visitors can quickly and easily find the information they need.”

The redesigned homepage features improved functionality and access to content while also putting a focus on design aesthetics.

Other recently completed redesigns include the website for the Centre for Teaching and Learning, as well as the webpages for the provost, principal, Student Wellness and Human Resources. A new webpage for Online Learning at Queen’s and a sub-site for Strategic Planning at Queen’s are also available.

 Other key sites will also be updated soon.

The final design is the result of input and feedback received from across the Queen’s community. Throughout the spring and summer, the Marketing team in University Relations held more than a dozen campus community consultation sessions, during which they received many insightful comments.

“I am thrilled with the new homepage. The work of our electronic communications team over the course of the summer has resulted in what I believe will be a best-practice website that will serve all of our audiences well and will comply with legislated accessibility standards, as well as provide a top-notch user experience on smart phones and tablets,” says Helena Debnam, Executive Director, Marketing. “University Relations is always looking for continued feedback from the community, especially on content that may be out of date, or about opportunities to add new information or appeal to all of our audiences.” Some of the more notable changes to the site include:

• More colourful and visually impactful images.
• Enhancements to the search area: Search tools are now housed in an expanding area that includes the Page and People search function, our A to Z listing, and the various portal logins for campus-wide and faculty-specific administrative and learning tools. With the removal of the previous “go” button, there are no additional clicks for searchers. A larger benefit to this style change will be for our users on smaller screens (phones and tablets).  ­ 
• The renaming of upper-level tabs back to the traditional language that is most common across other post-secondary websites – i.e. About instead of Discover, Academics instead of Learn, etc.
• Improved integration of the university’s main news website, the Gazette Online.
• Changes to slideshow design. Please note the “Submit a Photo” link, where community members can provide images for the homepage. Follow the link to the form and more information.
• Enhanced homepage video content.
• The inclusion of a note about Queen’s location on traditional Anishnaabe and Haudenosaunee Territory and a link to a recently added Queen’s Encyclopedia entry).
• Additional links/icons added to the Queen’s Events Calendar feed. Stay tuned for a new Events Calendar, coming later this fall.
• The new design will accommodate our 175th Anniversary graphic, which will be added at a later date.

Over the next few days, weeks and months the web team will continue to tweak the site. Feedback can be sent to Robin Moon, Group Manager of Electronic Communications in Marketing.