After many years of using a dated interface, Shepherd University has finally modernized its website. The new site is sleek, featuring a deep blue background and colorful, changing photos of the campus on the homepage. Links to important information are found in different tabs, making the page appear simple and clutter-free.
There are now five tabs on the front page, including one for current students. Each tab contains links to all relevant pages on the website listed alphabetically.
Across the top of the page, there are several links to things such as maps, calendars, and the directory. However, as Zachariah Schleuss, a student majoring in pre-medical biology, pointed out, the links to RAIL, Sakai, and the student email are located within the current student tab. “That’s what everyone goes on the website for and now it’s not there,” Schleuss said.
The fact that those important links are now buried within a separate tab does make the site less convenient for students who want quick access.
“It looks really nice, but functionality-wise, it’s a bit lacking,” according to Stephanie Gardner, a history education major. Gardner felt that the new version of the website just is not as navigable as the old one, which was more easily accessible.
After the front page, Shepherd has yet to update many of the pages relevant to its current students. Most of the links still go to pages that look like the old version of the site. However, several of the pages for future students have been updated, so it appears that it will be a long process to bring each page up to date to the newer version.
While there are still some issues with the site, such as finding error messages when clicking links from other places or using old bookmarks, I would argue these kinds of bugs are to be expected with any kind of large online update. As the problems are found, the website will be fixed and improved.
However functional it was, the old website was clunky. The front page was covered with links and very static. Shepherd made the correct decision to update. If this school wants prospective students, donors and other schools to take it seriously, it needs a properly done, current site that is updated frequently.
People will often complain about technology updates, such as when a new iOS comes out for their cell phones. Despite how much “better” the old version was, everyone quickly gets used to the new version. Most people won’t even remember what the old interface was like in a few weeks.
West Virginia University’s website actually follows a similar format to Shepherd’s new site. There are tabs containing links for current students and others. There are also changing photos on the front page featuring students and events. Shepherd is moving in the right direction to make itself a more well-known, well-respected school.
The new shepherd.edu is a clean, nice-looking website. It makes our school look current and like we actually care about our appearance. Hopefully Shepherd’s technology department will continue to update and improve not just the website, but everything technology-related for the students who go here.
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