The University launched the new LSU.edu website Monday with updated features for mobile, tablet and web platforms.
The last version of the website was updated in 2011. The need for a site that was able to compensate for multiple viewing devices was the reason for the relaunch.
“The previous version of the website wasn’t responsive to multiple devices, so with more people accessing the web with mobile devices, it was important to have a site that was dynamic and provided a custom experience,” said Ernie Ballard, the University’s Media Relations Director, via email.
The new website utilizes Bootstrap, which is used for developing responsive, mobile versions of websites, according Ballard.
The grid-based design of the website automatically adjusts to fit whatever device users prefer to browse on. This allows for a customized experience that displays a version of the website that is clear. The site was designed to capture the spirit of what it means to be an LSU Tiger, according to a news release. In doing so, integrated video content and social media platforms have been added.
As prospective students are the primary visitors of the website, information is organized based on what students consider to be important in their college decision process. The LSU community is reflected in the ‘Buzzworthy’ tile, which shares University-related content from students through social media posts and hashtag promotions.
The University’s Office of Communications and University Relations developed the website in collaboration with Information Technology Services, which assisted with coding and organized training, among other things. Talk of creating the new website began in 2013. Throughout the process, potential website designs were made and focus group studies were conducted.
The website also underwent a transition to a different web content management system, or CMS. The University changed their CMS vendor from Rhythmyx to OmniUpdate. These CMS systems deal with the website’s text, photos, links and content.
“It’s just a way that a web user, so any department or the main university, that is updating the website,” Ballard said.
More than 109,000 webpages and 425 sub-sites are in the LSU.edu domain. It will take at least a year to move all the pages to the new system, Linda Bonnin, vice president for strategic communications, said in the release.