User:Andy Maloney/Notebook/Lab Notebook of Andy Maloney/2009/09/23/Websites to emulate

Steve says

Steve Koch 10:37, 25 September 2009 (EDT): Thanks, peeps! I'm going to look over this this morning and then prepare something to send the committee. This is a huge help, plus the faculty will weight it more heavily coming from the students' perspectives.

Websites

List the websites here that we like.

• UT Austin
  • SJK: "Academics" page. Actually wasn't immediately obvious that this was the page to go to. [graduate program page.
• Rice
• University of Houston
• UNM Optics program Yep, better than the physics one.
  • Anthony Salvagno:I find this to be HILARIOUS
• UW Madison Physics
• MIT Physics
  • Anthony Salvagno:I like this one a lot because it is nice and very simple (the main page). There are 4 main link (in the square) and then 3 other important links but not as important just outside it.

Things that every webpage (like this) should have

• Easy navigation
  • links either contained in a sidebar or on top of the web page
  • drop down menus that make sense
• Visually pleasing and simple
  • simple colors that don't distract
  • fonts sized appropriately and with nice fonts
• Main part could contain:
  • news items
  • application links

Things we dislike about UNM's site

• Way too overwhelming.
• It's structured horribly. Nothing on the page catches the eye to be drawn to the most important things about the department such as the academics or the subfields.
• The colors are disgusting and the back drop shouldn't be a picture of a mountain, it should be white or a light color with a gradation. Preferably white.
• Confusing drop down menus. Shouldn't programs really say "degree programs"? And academic information should be in the page for the graduate program/undergraduate program, not linked to in the "programs" button.
• The menus really are poorly organized.
• Font is too small.
• The research interests of faculty page is retarded. I like the idea of the page but they should have a link to professor's lab website or something. You can't go anywhere from this page. Also finding research topics at UNM is hard to do. I know i had a hard time finding it when i was a perspective student.
  • Anthony Salvagno:I agree. I remember not being able to find anything. It is way better now then back in the day, but it is still no great shakes.
• Not easy to find important information. possibly a link for perspective students, link for graduate student requirements. I guess it is a good idea to brainstorm the most important things. and then make a link directly there from the front page.