UMass Boston Website Redesign Project - The Website Redesign Project

The Website Redesign Project

The University of Massachusetts Boston has embarked on a major campus-wide project: the redesign and rebuilding of the university’s website.

Oct 21, 2009
by J. Keith Motley

UMass Boston’s existing website architecture and design is outdated and does not well serve the university’s needs. This major web project is aimed at creating an entirely new site that will present an enhanced internet presence for the university, provide greater efficiencies and controls for keeping it updated and relevant, create a more interactive and engaging user and visitor experience, and, ultimately, bolster the university’s efforts to engage the many audiences who come to the site.

Although UMass Boston has a highly talented IT department, the size and scope of this project require the university to engage an outside vendor that can conduct a thorough discovery process with stakeholders in the university community, develop new website architecture and design concepts to meet the university’s needs, integrate a new content management system for improved information management, and build a new site that accomplishes our objectives. Following an extensive RFP selection process, the university contracted with BigBad Inc., a Boston-based interactive media agency with deep experience in higher education website design, to build a new website for UMass Boston. For more about BigBad, visit www.bigbad.com.

This website project represents a substantial investment in the future of UMass Boston. In order for this project to be as successful as possible, it needs broad input and support across the university community. Toward that end, a campus-wide Steering Committee with representatives from all the university’s stakeholders has been formed to help shape UMass Boston’s new website and digital image. This committee will be consulted at various stages throughout this process to provide feedback and ensure that the new website will best meet the university’s needs.

To kick off the project, BigBad’s web development team will be on campus on Nov. 2-4, to conduct a series of 10 discovery meetings with key stakeholder groups, including the Chancellor’s Office, Executive Leadership Team, faculty, Enrollment Management/Admissions, University Advancement and Alumni Relations, Student Affairs and Athletics, Marketing and Communications, Web Steering Committee, and students.

For more information about this project, contact: