First redesign in 3 years is launched

Kent State’s official Web site, www.kent.edu, will have a new look for the first time in three years.

Starting today, the university’s home page and admissions page will have a new design.

“It’s a whole new look to freshen up the site and strengthen the university brand,” said Thomas Neumann, associate vice president of university communications and marketing.

As part of the new design, the FlashLine login, phone directory and maps utilities will now be found at the top of the Web site.

The administration section will be moved under the new “About” tab, while additional information can be found under the new “Student Life” and “Research” tabs.

Success story images and articles will have a more prominent place on the Web site, and visitors to kent.edu will find access to the university’s Facebook and YouTube accounts on the homepage.

Neumann said a lot of the same functions will remain on kent.edu, but one problem with the previous site was navigation.

The university tested the new site with students, faculty, staff and incoming students before its release.

Neumann said the goal was to make the Web site more user-friendly.

Phase two of the redesign will begin tomorrow and be completed in February 2010.

“It’s going to have a whole new look to it,” Neumann said. “It’s going to look great.”

Contact technology reporter Kristyn Soltis at [email protected].