College Previews New Web Site

A prototype of Mount Holyoke's new and improved World Wide Web site is now on view (http://wwwtest.mtholyoke.edu/). In the works for over six months, this newly restructured and redesigned site will eventually replace the College's current site (still running at http://www.mtholyoke.edu). For now, however, the prototype is being shown exclusively on campus, giving the Mount Holyoke community a chance to make comments and suggestions.

The new Web site is designed to serve the College community, prospective students, and visitors. In its current stage of development, the new site represents a proposed structure of information, much of which will be filled in over time. In this proposed structure, the home page serves as a gateway to the Visitor Center, the Admissions Center, and the Online Information Center (OIC), which will be the main source of information for the Mount Holyoke community. Because the site is constantly evolving, any information currently online may be rethought, reformulated, reorganized, or removed as need demands.

Typically, Web sites are used to communicate with the external world, and Mount Holyoke's site will certainly do this. However, the new site is also intended to be a powerful tool in facilitating communications on campus. Professors, for example, could put lecture notes online. Members of the community could submit book orders or make interlibrary loan requests and read the College's latest press releases by pressing a few keys in their rooms or offices.

Development of the Web site and its policies is being administered by the Oversight Group, whose members represent academic, administrative, and student constituencies. The site is being designed and implemented by the Operations Group, comprised of staff from Computing and Information Services, the library, and the Office of Communications.

The College community is invited and encouraged to offer feedback and suggestions by emailing oic@mtholyoke.edu or posting to the mhc.general newsgroup.