Project Management | Web Con

Introduction to Redesigning Your University Website: A Strategic UX Approach

Speakers: Rashmi Tenneti, Maggie Evenson, Stacy Billman

Is your university website truly serving your students, prospective applicants, and other key stakeholders? This management-focused session provides a strategic roadmap for overseeing and directing a successful website redesign project using proven UX methodologies and data-driven decision making.

Duration: 60 minutes | Format: Strategy Workshop with Interactive Components

We’ll walk through the complete redesign process from strategy development to implementation planning, using our Work in Progress project, Illinois.edu as a case study. You’ll discover how to:

Interpret analytics data to make informed strategic decisions
Leverage search pattern analysis for content prioritization
Establish effective benchmarking processes against peer institutions
Organize and oversee user research initiatives like card sorting
Develop and implement SEO strategies specific to higher education
Build and manage cross-functional project teams for optimal results

Participants will receive a comprehensive project management worksheet template to guide their own redesign initiatives. Whether you’re planning a complete website overhaul or targeted improvements, you’ll leave with practical tools to lead a more engaging, accessible, and effective digital experience for your university community.

Ideal for: marketing managers, content strategists, marketing directors, and digital communications teams in higher education looking to lead website redesign projects. No technical web development knowledge required.

Back to Day 1 Sessions

Questions to ask before signing with a vendor for website design / development / maintenance / hosting

Time: April 3, 2:45 am – 3:45 pm

Speaker: Cordelia Geiken

This session will walk folks through the different kinds of questions you should have answers to before you sign with a vendor. We will cover topics like: Design, Accessibility, Search Engine Optimization, Content Imports and Exports, Which CMS to use, Security, Backups and Storage. Come with your own questions and we will endeavor to answer those as well.

Project Management Web Development

Back to Day 1 Sessions

How to Incorporate Accessibility into your Agile Sprints

Time: April 3, 9:45 am – 10:45 am

Speaker: Michael Harshbarger

Incorporating accessibility into Agile sprints is essential for creating inclusive digital experiences. Treat accessibility as technical debt, addressing it systematically to prevent long-term issues. Begin by recognizing accessibility gaps, then gradually implement improvements within your current sprints, focusing on steady progress rather than perfection. Prioritize accessibility tasks by role, ensuring that content providers, designers, developers, and QA teams contribute to the process. Regularly review and update your accessibility practices during sprint retrospectives to maintain consistent progress. By following these steps, your team can integrate accessibility effectively, making your products more user-friendly and inclusive. Every small improvement in accessibility can make a significant difference in the lives of your users, ultimately changing the world for the better.

Accessibility Project Management

Back to Day 1 Sessions