Iona College Launches More Interactive Website

New Rochelle, NY (August, 2009) Every three to four years, Iona College overhauls its website to reflect a more up-to-date image and to maximize the ease of accessing information for visitors. Its latest revamping—which was launched on August 17—is in marked contrast with the website's prior version by making greater use of interactive features.

"The website is now much more interactive so that our core audiences can get a real flavor of what's going on at Iona College and what it is like to be at this campus," said Joanne Steele, Vice Provost for Information Technology and Chief Information Officer

The most visible new feature is the use of five high-resolution videos on the homepage showing various campus scenes with students, faculty members and administrators. In addition, a number of navigation improvements have been added to that page to help visitors access information including portals for future students, current students and parents as well as an expanded and more prominently placed calendar of events.

Ms. Steele noted that the new streamlined design mirrors the trend of greater use of visualization to communicate in the digital era. "In today's busy world, a website needs to make a quick and positive impact on visitors and to invite them to explore and experience. This was the principle that guided us in making the latest changes on the website."

More than a year in the making, the updating of the website began with the formation of a sub-committee by the Committee on Information Technology and Computing Services. The subcommittee represented the interests of students, faculty, staff, admissions, college communications and the webmaster. This group contributed to and helped gather input for the website's design direction. Campus-wide focus groups were conducted to assist in the gathering of information. Three different homepage designs were developed for consideration and the design sub-committee made the final selection.

A continuing work in progress, future plans for the website include making all pages interactive to fully engage prospective students and their parents and to help promote events.

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For questions or more information please contact:
Dawn Insanalli
Public Relations Office
Iona College, 715 North Avenue, New Rochelle, N.Y. 10801
Office: (914) 637-2726
Fax: (914) 637-2711
dinsanalli@iona.edu