These days, a student’s first impression of a university campus begins with a click of a mouse.  In addition to serving the needs of prospective students a site must provide those currently enrolled with all the basic services, links, information and features one would expect from their institution homepage.  Over the years a growing consensus view that our site was not meeting the expectations and needs of our campus has led to a proposal for change.  As a campus distinguished by excellence in student services, cutting edge facilities, and providing our students the best in everything, The Universities at Shady Grove has charged forward with the initiative to give a brand new look and feel, improved user interface and complete overhaul of the current website.

For an exceptional campus  we have enlisted the the help of an exceptional firm.  Hailing from Baltimore, Maryland, the privately-owned Mindgrub Technologies is offering their award-winning technology innovation expertise to develop a site that will appeal to not just our students, but the entirety of our audience and stakeholders.  To give you some insight into the challenging task of designing a website that fits everyone’s needs think about the people who might visit our site.  Those people would include parents, prospective students, faculty, staff, local businesses and donors, the list is endless.

As a representative of our student body I have participated already in a number of USG website committee meetings.  The process is still ongoing with an expected launch date some time around May of this year. The most exciting part of the website that I believe will interest students the most is the plan for a Events and News page that will converge all student life, photos, stories, upcoming events in one location.  Its a brilliant idea and I can’t wait to share with you some of the design prototypes as they become available.

As always, it’s a pleasure to share with you the scoop on all the happening around campus.

Derek