As we begin this new year, we want to be sure you’re up to date on the progress we’ve made toward our new site. Below are key activities that are ongoing:
- mStoner joined the website redesign executive leadership team earlier this month to walk the team through the revised information architecture (IA), content models and wireframes. This meeting provided an interactive engagement between the executive leadership team and mStoner as they reviewed these components, providing the opportunity for dialogue and feedback.
- Abby Dean continues to review the revised IA and wireframes with the colleges and other major service units. We will review the feedback gathered with the executive leadership team in January before providing final feedback to mStoner for execution.
- mStoner met on Dec. 18 with the technical team to begin defining our technical strategy; internal conversations and brainstorming have already begun in advance of that meeting.
- The core project team is working with mStoner to plan out next steps in regards to the governance strategy, technical strategy, functional specifications and analytics planning.
- mStoner presented two design concepts to the core team on Dec. 5 and requested initial feedback within one week. Therefore, the core team held a working session to walk through both design concepts and document feedback for mStoner. Once revisions are made, the core team will present the design concepts to the executive leadership team for review and feedback.
- The core team held a working session on Dec. 10 to thoroughly review and discuss the IA, comparing the new IA to the existing website to ensure we were not missing important recruiting components. Our feedback was documented and has been shared with mStoner for revisions.
- Once an updated creative concept is provided, the core team will share that with the executive leadership team for further feedback
Platform Update
- The project team has finalized all testing of the platforms, and contract negotiations are underway with the vendor for the chosen DXP platform, Sitefinity.
- The project team and mStoner have conducted technical calls with potential implementation and hosting/managed services providers to understand the services offered around implementation, long term hosting, maintenance and support of the platform. The final call was held on Dec. 17 and the team will soon make a recommendation on the implementation and managed services provider.
As always, if you have any questions about the ongoing work of this project, please submit your question to: webproject@cmich.edu.