In an era, where our online presence is the first point of contact for almost all of our target audiences, an effective website can garner a wider audience, enhance engagement, build relationships and trust, and—when deployed effectively—advance the school's strategic priorities.
After completing a website consolidation, Indiana University School of Medicine is now upgrading its website platform to improve internal usability and implement new features to enhance the user experience among external target audiences. The website upgrade includes a new content management system, design updates, new internal-user tools, and updates to on-page content and information architecture. This work has begun and is expected to be complete in 1Q20.
New Platform
The consolidated IU School of Medicine website is moving from its current platform (Wordpress) to SiteCore, a highly ranked content management system that enables the school to elevate digital marketing outreach and engagement. SiteCore features easier-to-use templates, improved workflows for internal users, and more powerful personalization and audience-targeting tools.
Design Enhancements
As part of the upgrade work, IU School of Medicine digital platforms, including the website, are undergoing a design refresh that strengthen the school's visual alignment with Indiana University through adoption of IU Studio's Rivet Framework. The design update also addresses some of the issues related to navigation and better showcases each department and school-level center and institute.
Change Freezes
The school's website (medicine.iu.edu) will freeze in the coming months to complete the migration. First is a structural freeze that includes new pages, placement of existing pages and URL changes. No changes to the information architecture of the site will be made during this freeze. Structural changes (including new pages, placement of existing pages and URL changes) must be requested by end of business on December 6. Requests received by December 6 will be considered and potentially implemented until the structural freeze takes effect on December 20. A content freeze (which includes on-page text, images, graphics and other content) will go into effect late this calendar year or early in the new year. Every effort will be made to minimize the duration of the overall freeze period to the shortest period possible. More information will be shared on timing for this and other milestones as plans are finalized.
Content Updates
To prepare for a smooth transition, the Office of Strategic Communications and Office of Technology Affairs continue working with unit communicators to complete necessary updates to the current website. Web leads and communications staff through the school should review web content related to their program or unit and make updates using the Wordpress workflow or request updates using the Web Update Request Form. In anticipation of sunsetting the current site, changes that require significant developer and staff time will be held for the post-migration period.
New Access Requests
To enable the Office of Strategic Communications digital marketing team to focus on the upgrades and avoid training requirements in the coming months, we are no longer adding new users to the existing site. Training sessions for the new platform will be scheduled, and unit contacts will be able to invite communicators from their unit to these trainings as appropriate.
Communications
In the coming months, unit leaders and web leads throughout the school will receive updates with information on timing and requested tasks to complete to ensure a smooth upgrade process.
FAQ documents and other reference materials are available in library below
