The ACU website is going through technical and aesthetic changes to become more efficient and customizable.
One of the changes is a new content managements system (CMS) called Adobe Experience Manager, which also serves as a digital asset management system for the university.
Robin Saylor, the web content editor, said the current CMS is becoming increasingly obsolete. The online marketing team is looking to take advantage of its phasing out to make beneficial changes.
“The CMS is necessary,” Saylor said, “but it is only a tool to help meet the needs of our audience.”
Though there is no set date for when the new system will be complete, the phasing out of the old format will begin soon. The new format of the website is going to be mobile-friendly and more responsive.
“The new system is going to have more variance,” said Scott Kilmer, director of online marketing. “It’s going to introduce the idea of individual sites differing. For example, the art department will have a chance to be artistic on their site, or COBA may want their site to look a specific way.”
The search feature will also be more efficient, said Kilmer.
“We could improve all the different sites, but in the end, when someone sees a search bar, they’re going to click it,” Kilmer said. “The current provider isn’t providing a good search experience.”
The stories featured on the website will be more visually tailored to specific audiences.
“If you are coming to our website from the Dallas area you might see stories about students or alumni from Dallas, or you might see a story about ACU’s partnership with CitySquare or an event happening in the Metroplex,” Saylor said.
“However,” Kilmer said, “if you access the website from somewhere farther than 200 miles away, the story featured might be about how to stream rather than attend Summit events since it’s less likely for someone that lives far away to make the drive.”
Most importantly, the goal is for the website to be more intuitive, Kilmer said.
“We are always looking for stories to tell the story of the university through its people,” Saylor said.
Suggestions, requests and information can be sent to web@acu.edu.
