This past week, the University launched a new Georgetown.edu website, a little over a year after administrators first solicited student feedback on the project. Both its cosmetic and functional changes are significant improvements over the last website, and it will serve the University’s current students and attract new ones for years to come.
After its first redesign in eight years, the website looks professional and vibrant compared to the drab old version. The construction and style of the new website resembles the design of three of the undergraduate schools and the medical center, providing more continuity across Georgetown’s web presence. In addition to being visually pleasing, the new user interface makes navigating to helpful pages much easier.
Throughout the redesign process, administrators made a conscious effort to involve the University community—a refreshingly open-minded approach from a school that does not consult students as often as it should. The Office of Communications launched a blog to keep students and faculty apprised of the process and conducted research sessions and tabling in Red Square to evaluate the current website and gather suggestions. Though the Georgetown community is used to constant delays for major projects on campus, the website went live with almost unheard-of punctuality, launching within a month of its original deadline.
Since many prospective students’ first impressions of the University are determined by its homepage, the look and organization of Georgetown’s website is critically important to attracting talented students. The new site poses Georgetown as a quality, modern institution, while video features like “Living Jesuit Values” maintain the school’s sense of tradition. The Office of Communications also wisely revamped the pages for admissions and financial aid.
But there is still work to be done. Since Georgetown does not use the Common Application, the website must make the online application process simple and undemanding. The University, which has not yet redesigned the core application website, should waste no time in expanding the redesign to the central application website, which is notorious for its poor organization and marginal functionality.
With the bold new look and improved functionality of the new website, it is clear that Georgetown appreciates the importance of its web presence as the face of the University. Perhaps it was too long in coming, but the University deserves praise for completing, on time, a crucial, successful project.
