CVMBS Webmasters Committee
Meeting Minutes February 10, 2009

Present: Jill Lenz, Linda Tarnoff, Larry Cobb, Judea Franck, Charlie Kerlee, Sallie Varner, Tom Harmon, Jamie Bethel, Merry Wright. Guest - Meg Wilson.

Absent: Erin Napier, Toby Mai, Jay Kammerzell, Carrie Schmer

Jill Lenz, Chair, started the meeting at 9:05 am

New Business

University Webmaster’s Committee Report

Jill reminded the committee that the Communicator Toolbox (http://graphicstandards.colostate.edu/index.asp?url=toolbox) was updated in January 2009 and mentioned page 15 in particular as one the webmasters should review for changes.

Web Audit by CSU’s Dept. of Web Communications this spring

Members are encouraged to start internally auditing their own pages. Pages not in compliance with CSU’s official Web Site Requirements and Guidelines at http://graphicstandards.colostate.edu/index.asp?url=toolbox_web will be removed from CSU’s A-Z Listing at http://search.colostate.edu/search-atoz.aspx. April will likely be the first time pages will be audited. As a result of previous branding efforts, CSU is, for the first time, developing some recognition within the state and a little bit outside the state. Enforcement of the design standards is intended to support the branding effort and removal from A-Z listing is a consequence of failing to design to standards.

Contractors Update

Jill announced that the SquareI contract is on hold due to budget restrictions.

Don Zimmerman’s PVM Student Usability Testing continues. Members have been invited to observe these sessions. Don will be invited to a future meeting to share the results.

CVMBS Web Standards - Meg Wilson, CVMBS Director of Strategic Initiatives

Jill introduced Meg Wilson and asked her to share her experience and background after all the committee members introduced themselves and explained what Dept/Unit they represented. Meg explained the majority of her experience is mostly business, marketing/communications/development. She has worked for HP and spent some time in Extension just before taking this position. She commented that the Web is becoming the top tool, if it’s not already, for recruiting students and reaching vet clients.

Our branding efforts and marketability studies are a key piece of the Web redesign. A certain level of consistency is needed when the public hears and sees about CSU and this is the immediate goal. A recent marketing survey showed the public knows CSU as a vet school. CVMBS/VTH are the CSU flagships – these units are a core part of what makes CSU special. Everything about our communications image needs to convey leadership and flagship. Consistency creates brand recognition and simplifies.

Meg Wilson asked the committee to focus on separating content from presentation. Studies show people scan for information on the Web, so 100 words or less per page is a good goal. Work on good content now by giving attention to spelling, good grammar, good writing. The CSU Department of Web Communications (formerly Communications and Creative Services) and Jill are working on the presentation.

How will faculty be educated to what branding is and what content will support that and how to achieve it? The university as a community and the CVMBS Webmaster committee, in particular, can provide input and discussion about how, details, what works, what may not and why.

If you’re working on new pages, please talk with Jill to eliminate re-work and see how changes can be supported.

Meg Wilson said the next step for committee members is to send her any questions or comments about the drafted CVMBS Web site standards. For example, there may the comment "this particular point listed would be too hard to incorporate into my Web work" and explain why. Or the question "how would I apply this particular point to these particular pages?" Or a suggestion such as "I agree with this particular point, however, here's a few things to consider or explain in further detail..."

Absent members may request a copy of Meg's draft sent via campus mail from Jill Lenz.

Meeting adjourned at 10:30 am.

Minutes submitted by Merry Wright.

The next meeting is Tuesday, March 10 at 9:30 in AZ W1.