New Web site to Launch in February

Several Web site pages are in the process of a complete makeover.

The university Web site, www.vanguard.edu, will be different visually and navigationally.

The current launch goal for the Web site is mid-February 2011. Chief Communications Officer Kelly Kannwischer stated that the Marketing and Communications Department is currently on target for that goal.

Vanguard hired outside agency Orange Static, lead by Adam Moro, to design and build the Web site.

In addition to the main page, each department will have its own micro-Web site.

The Marketing and Communications Department is in contact with each department as to how they will use the Web site and what functions they will need. Each department is going to have vastly different features due to the broad spectrum of needs.

Along with the main university website, www.vanguard.edu, other university sites such as the athletics department and the bookstore are also being redone.

Kannwischer believes the new Athletics page will be a great recruitment tool as well as give parents a chance to be involved in campus sports.

The university bookstore page does not yet have an estimated time of completion, but is planned to undergo a complete overhaul both in design and navigation.

Among these improvements, several university blogs will be launched. At this point, the only blog near completion is the Administration’s blog called “Forefront.”

Contributors will include President Carol Taylor and the members of the President’s Cabinet: Jeff Hittenberger, Ann Hamilton, Kim Johnson, Ron Harris, Lettie Cowie and Kelly Kannwischer. They will share leadership experiences as well as a little bit about each member personally. Forefront is planned to launch around Thanksgiving.

Many may remember hearing about or even seeing the live video stream of Taylor’s inauguration Oct. 15. Live video stream will be a permanent addition to the Web site. It may be used in several different areas of the Web site, such as streaming more university events, live chapels and classes in session.