University of Denver’s Web Overhaul Project Update

When judging a website, which happens within seconds while navigating online, mobility, accessibility and relevancy are three important factors considered. Is the design responsive regardless of the device? Can the site be navigated quickly and easily? Does the site feel as if it were designed to meet my needs and interests? If the answer is not “yes,” to all three questions, then your site needs an overhaul.

For the past 18 months, the Division of Marketing & Communications (MarComm) has been revamping the DU website. In its ongoing web overhaul project, MarComm has been collaborating with colleges, schools and divisions to transition the University’s websites to a new content management system. Now at the halfway point, more than 24 sites have transitioned to Drupal and 8,729 pages feature updated information architecture and a revised content strategy focused on the user experience. 

Creating a more unified experience for DU’s digital audience, many of whom are prospective faculty, staff, students and their families, is more important than ever, not only to meet recruitment and enrollment goals, but also to increase engagement through social strategy, digital advertising and email marketing.

Using that framework, MarComm is pleased to announce the most recent website launches this year, including the College of Arts, Humanities, & Social Sciences, its School of Art & Art History, Lamont School of Music and the Office of Graduate Education. MarComm has also rolled out new sites for the Center for Effective Interventions, the Burnes Center on Poverty and Homelessness, Colorado Women’s College, Scrivner Institute of Public Policy, and Denver Advantage.

“We are grateful for the level of support and guidance the central Marketing and Communications team provided during our core site launch and continues to provide during ongoing optimization and inline site development," said Elizabeth O’Hara, director of marketing and communications at the Graduate School of Social Work. "They welcome and implement our ideas toward improved module development and user experience, which helps us achieve a holistic digital presence. From a 190% year-over-year increase in prospective student inquiries to a robust storytelling platform, the new site has elevated our school’s ability to serve our community. This growth is a testament to our partnership and the tedious, technical work from their team every day.”

We look forward to working with our campus partners to launch sites for the Center for Sustainability and Advancement in the coming weeks.