LLUAHSC SCOPE Summer 2001

Website upgraded on fifth anniversary of launch

[SCOPE, Summer 2001]

A new look for the Loma Linda University Adventist Health Sciences Center website made its debut on March 18, 2001, featuring enhanced navigation aids and enhanced graphics.

The site, which was first launched on December 1, 1995, with more than 100 web pages, now encompasses more than 10,000 pages.

The web team, part of the office of public affairs, had earlier surveyed administrators, faculty, staff, and students to obtain feedback about functionality of the website. Opinions and suggestions were then used in the creation of the new design.

Survey results indicated a need for more navigational aids. As a result, drop-down menus and interactive buttons are now included on the homepage and the top-level pages.

A consistent design is maintained throughout the entire site. No matter where you go on the site, menus at the top of the page and text links at the bottom will take you back to the main pages.

Navigation aids include easy-to-find/ easy-to-use search and content pages, a quick site map, drop-down menus, quick links (drop-down menus appearing at the click of one button), and numerous interactive buttons and links.

The main page, <www.llu.edu>, provides a portal for all areas of the institution where visitors can choose to visit various University, Medical Center, and Health Care pages.

Different sets of color schemes and navigation links within institutions and schools assist in the surfing process. Nevertheless, the ability to click back to the portal page from any area of the site is always an option. Due to the relationships among Loma Linda University Adventist Health Sciences Center and its many entities, pages are extensively cross linked.

Department-specific navigation is available along the left side of the page. For example, on the Proton Treatment Center's first page, links specific to the Center are found on the left.

Department templates are available online to use in developing new web content. The web staff also plans to offer tutorial sessions to help web contact persons learn how to create and update their web content. This service will be available both for existing and new web content providers.

Once the campus and the public is acquainted with the new website, public affairs will conduct another survey to obtain feedback on where additional improvements are needed.

As you may have learned from your experience surfing the Internet, no website is "finished" and all websites are "under construction." The LLUAHSC website will continue to be a constantly updated and changing project.

While the goal is to provide a site that is pleasing to the majority of our audiences, all comments and ideas are taken into account. If you would like to offer further suggestions, you may contact the web team at <webmaster@univ.llu.edu>.

[SCOPE, Summer 2001]