UpDate - Vol. 15, No. 9, Page 3
October 26, 1995
CRPs see special preview of UD's new Web pages

     The premier showing of the University's new Web home pages took
place at the third annual Computer Resource Person (CRP) day.
     CRPs-those at the front-line helping their colleagues with
computing questions and issues-were the first group on campus to view
the new Web pages, which were presented by Richard Gordon, user
services, during the day's luncheon.
     "New graphics give our Web pages a fresh, new look, and a new
structure and organization make it easier for you to go directly to
the information you seek," Gordon explained.
     As more and more units on campus consider adding information to
the Web, CRPs will be one of the first groups who need to understand
the implications for putting information online. "You don't have to be
fancy to be effective," Gordon said. "The important things are to use
a good design and appropriate graphics.
     "You, as the author, can update and maintain the information
yourself; it's cost effective, and possibly, may free you from
answering the same questions again and again," Gordon said.
     One major advantage of the Web is that it allows your information
to be used interactively. For example, the University's admissions
office processes online applications.
     "Web information is being looked at by people around the world.
Anything we can do to get information out about our programs, our
departments, our colleges, our University is good-and this is an
effective way to do that," he said.
     The goal of the reconstruction was to make the Web pages easier
for users to find information and to make them more attractive and
consistent. "So far, reaction has been very good. People have some
suggestions, to be sure, but so far all mail to www@udel.edu and
comments made to staff at CRP day have been overwhelmingly positive,"
Gordon said.
     The messages have all contained a similar sentiment: "We like
it!"
     "I like the new look. Good job!"
     "I noticed today that the UD home page has a new layout. I like
it."
     "Great WWW page! I am impressed and feel even more proud to be a
UD student."
     Web pages are under constant construction. "Although the Web
provides a wonderful opportunity to publish timely information for the
world to see, along with that opportunity comes the responsibility to
maintain that information," Gordon said.
     "One caveat," he added, "is that the most important thing to keep
in mind when you create a Web page is that someone must be responsible
for updating the information regularly. You want to maintain a 'web
site' not a 'cobweb site.' "
     Take a tour of the new UD Web pages by pointing your Web browser
at http://www.udel.edu/
     "Let us know what you think," Gordon said. "Send comments, via
e-mail, to www@udel.edu."