Web Advisory Committee meeting (October 17, 2012)

October 17, 2012– Needles Hall (NH) 3001 – 3:00 p.m. 

Present:

Heather Anderson, Marta Bailey, Cynthia Breen, Kristy Budd, Chris Carignan, Natalie Cockburn, Janice Cooke, Michelle Douglas-Mills, Donald Duff-McCracken, Chris Francis, Guillermo Fuentes, Marlon Griffith, Vadim Kononov, Collin McIntyre, Isaac Morland, Liam Morland, Kris Olafson, Megan Saunders, Terry Stewart (Chair), Andrea Sweet, Jeff Voskamp (Guest), Jonathan Woodcock

Regrets:

Chris Gray, Pat Lafranier, Wendy Philpott.

Absent:

Amy Aldous, Dave Annable, Mary Lynn Benninger, Alison Gelata, Nigel Henriques, Karen Jack, Jim Johnston, John Kemp, Tammy Marcinko, Geoff McBoyle, Paul Miskovsky,  Suzana Pinto

1. Chair’s Remarks

  • Welcome to new members: Andrea Sweet (DI), Vadim Kononov (MUR, replacing Beth Bonnert) and Kirsty Budd (SSO, replacing Jodi Szimanski).
  • Welcome to guests: Ellen Rethore, Associate Vice-President (CPA) and Christine Goucher (CPA).

2. Visual Identity Update (Ellen Rethore and Christine Goucher)

  • Ellen Rethore and Christine Goucher presented an update on UW's Visual Identity at the suggestion of Web Steering.
  • The previous Visual Identity project under the former vice-president was never completed.
  • It is time to go back and review the visual identity and fully develop it.
  • Waterloo currently has at least nine functioning logos and identities: 6 Faculties with their own wordmarks and colors, a Warriors theme, an Alumni brand.  There are also Marketing and Undergrad Recruitment, Food Services and Retail identities out there.  The identities of other universities, such as  WLU, UBC and uToronto, were displayed.  They present a more unified approach.
  • Why is marketing and strategic communication important to the University?  Logo factors work against our goal.  For example, if three executives attend a conference with their logos, others would not get an understanding of an aggregated institution. 
  • The ranking of the University of Waterloo is extremely important; if we don’t have a cohesive way of displaying the University, then we are not on the radar of the people who rank the Universities.
  • The University is hoping that by the winter term that they will be introducing the new logos.  CPA has a fragmented approach toward advertising the University, this is not a redefined U of W.
    • The shield is a universal icon, by removing the shield we have made ourselves no longer recognisable as a learning institute.
    • Retail Services logo is underwhelming, this is the complete opposite of what the University was trying to do.
  • Questions and Comments: 
  1. Are we not using the shield right now?  Yes, it is being used in many places now even though in theory it no longer exists.
  2. If we are designing new documents, should we wait until the visual identity has been approved before printing? No.  It has not been taken to the Deans yet, so go ahead with printing.

3. Approval of Minutes.

  • Minutes were approved without correction. 

4. Business Arising

  • Because of time constraints, Eva Grabinksi's update from the Web Accessibility Committee was postponed until the November meeting.

5. Student Technology Services Update (Natalie Cockburn)

Natalie's Powerpoint presentation, Leveraging Technological Opportunity to Enhance Student Success, is online.

  • Open Data Initiative is so that more information can be made public.
  • Each of the four projects is awaiting approval for mobile interface.
  • Released discussion paper available through Natalie (written primarily by students) - distributed to WAC via e-mail.
  • Kris Olafson will have more input next month.
  • Middleware (RFP) some apps have been created; People Soft, Jobmine not as easy.
  • What format will the Middleware be offered?
    • Depends on what they order.

6. Digital Initiatives Update (Jonathan Woodcock)

Jonathan's Powerpoint presentation, Home Page Feedback October 2012, and Home Page Feedback Report 2012 are online.

  • Every person that gave feedback with contact information was contacted later for a Q & A.
  • Management Plan – make sure your links are well organized, a lot more work than you might realize.
  • Need to push out more that our school colours are black and gold.
  • School colours are not recognized on campus by students as our colours.
  • CPA will be dealing with the issue of non-Senate-approved Research Centres as part of the Faculty pathway pages but currently working on audience pathways.

7. Waterloo CMS Update (Pat Lafranier, Kris Olafson)

  • 19 new sites since last update.

  • WCMS Drop-in Lab, October 24th, 1:00-4:30, MC2060.
    Starting at 1pm, CMS will discuss a new Person content type to replace the current Contact and Person Profile content types.  The team would like feedback on what person-related data should be stored and how it should be displayed.

  • Two or three weeks until next major release.

Google Search Appliance (GSA):

  • Google search has launched; no negative feedback.
  • If you want something hidden or re-indexed contact Kris to have removed.
  • Reviewing top searches to make sure results are the same.
  • Re-indexing can take a while; Google Masters are available for help. Submit a request ticket for help.
  • Indexing 650,000 pages growing by about 300 a day.


Portal Project:

  • Portal Project is underway, going to be hard to get data.
  • Awaiting new content type to change into useable portal.
  • Once everything is approved, will be able to give more feedback.

8. Other Business

Web Steering Committee Update:

  • Portal Project will be reporting to Web Steering.
  • Campus Map, most heavily used, not easily accessible.
  • Natalie Cockburn/Greg Smith can answer questions regarding mapping.

URL Consistency:

  • The issue of consistency of URL's was brought up;
  • The issue is not entirely clear in the Faculty Information Architecture plans; and are definitely not being consistent.
  • Not good for usability.

Comments

  • Need to consider a working sub-committtee to deal with this (Colin volunteered to help).
  • The WCMS team should maybe focus more on the URLs when teaching how to create a URL.
  • Maybe everything should be unified to present a cohesive university.
  • Some users have been unable to locate an IA website.
  • It was suggested that sites be made to follow IA Governance.
  • Kris is going to take back to Pat and Heather issues with URL training
  • Asking that the group look at IA document, if not enough guidance contact Kris Olafson.

9. Next Meeting 

  • NH 3001, 3:00-4:30p.m., November 21, 2012

10. Meeting Adjourned at 4:30 p.m.