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A new feature of the MUM website is an interactive campus map that includes video tours of the buildings.

 

 

New MUM website features portals, social media, interactive campus map, more functionality
by Maharishi University of Management, Fairfield, Iowa, USA, The Review
17 December 2012

A new MUM website was launched late last month, featuring not only a complete redesign, but also greater functionality and a new focus on portals for each class of users: prospective students, current students, faculty and staff, trustees, administrators, donors and alumni.

"Students shouldn't have to walk someplace on campus to get the information they need," said Paul Stokstad, who headed the redesign. "They should be
able to do it all online: check their grades, class schedule, registration, classroom assignments, or whatever."

The student portal will also offer information such as campus activities, events, and student government news. And it includes a social media function that lets them chat with or message each other.

In a similar fashion, the portals for other groups, such as faculty and administrators, are tailored to their needs.

Another major purpose of the new site is to make it easy for people to add content thanks to the implementation of a content management system called Magic Hour. Academic departments, for example, now have much greater control over their departmental website rather than having to rely on a webmaster to implement their additions.

"It allows more people to contribute and creates more efficient communication within the University and with the public," Mr. Stokstad said. "The goal is a design that facilitates a frictionless flow of information."

The empowerment extends beyond access to information and easy authoring of content. In a sense it's also a personal portal for every user.

"This is a very special feature of the site," Mr. Stokstad said. "Each user of the site can have an account that they use to manage their area of the site."

Users can manage their email newsletter subscriptions, change their contact information, check their calendar, connect with their Facebook page or
Twitter account, chat with or message others, and more. Plus, within classes of users, it will be possible for students to view, for example, the public
area of the accounts of other students, thereby creating a community.

"The new site is user-centric rather than institution-centric," said Mr. Stokstad, MUM director of marketing. "Students today expect this kind of functionality."

In keeping with today's trends, the home page of the site even features a Twitter feed of the latest MUM-related tweets from students and others.

Also prominent on the home page is an area featuring the latest news and a calendar of events.

The attractive appearance and organization of the new site is the work of campus designer Shepley Hansen, while the background photos and many of the other photos are the work of professor Ken West.

A new feature of the MUM website is an interactive campus map that includes video tours of the buildings.

Every building on campus on the map has a small number superimposed. Clicking on the number brings up a window with information about that building.

The popup window also includes a photo of the building, and most of the locations also include a video that features students giving a tour of the
building and telling more about it. Some locations have a slide show.

The videos are hosted by student LaTisha Page and MBA intern Graham Torpey. Nita Travis, who shot and edited the videos, said that the hosts were hysterically funny, but that only some of their humor was included in the final videos.

Videos include the Argiro Student Center, Sustainable Living Center, Rec Center, Fieldhouse, greenhouses, Dreier, Henn Mansion, Maharishi Veda Bhavan, McLaughlin, Maharishi School, Gate Ridge Court, the Domes, and Golden Dome Market. Only the dorms, Art Center, and Science Wing are yet to be filmed. Any dorm residents interested in hosting a video tour are invited to contact Ms. Travis at ntravis@mum.edu.

The project was initiated by Paul Stokstad, MUM director of marketing, and the map was done by a commercial company.

In speaking about her experience making the videos, Ms. Travis said, "I wanted people to fall in love with MUM just by looking at the map."


© Copyright 2012 Maharishi University of Management

 

   
"The potential of every student is infinite. The time of student life should serve to unfold that infinite potential so that every individual becomes a vibrant centre of Total Knowledge."—Maharishi

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