Why did the University create a new look and feel?
University of South Carolina Web pages are accessed by prospective students, current students, faculty, staff, alumni, visitors, and researchers. These pages are often the first contact that these audiences have with the University. Others return again and again for information, research, and entertainment.
There are more than 500,000 currently active Web pages at USC. Most of these had very little in common. Not only did sites differ visually, but almost all sites had their own custom navigation and information architecture. Some USC pages misused the University logo, or, perhaps worse, did not include any reference to USC or the USC homepage on their pages. Since search engines make it simple for Web users to go directly to a page deep inside a site, those users may not have had any indication that the page they were visiting was directly related to USC. This lack of consistency between University pages was the primary motivating factor for initiating the Web Presence project.
Therefore, a goal of this project was to provide a common "look and feel" across most University-sponsored pages (personal Web sites are not in the scope of this project). The "look" of a page applies to its visual nature, including graphics, colors, fonts, and layouts. The "feel" applies to the organization of the page, including navigation, editing style, and content. This goal is being achieved via a set of standard templates and documentation to assist the University's Web masters.

Who initiated the redesign of the University's Web Presence?
The USC Board of Trustees provided the impetus for a review of the University's existing Web site with an expressed desire for a more robust Web Presence. Following this directive, USC's chief information officer (CIO), Dr. Bill Hogue, formed an ad hoc group comprised of representatives from Computer Services and University Publications to develop a plan to establish a common visual identity and navigation system for USC Web sites.

Who was involved in the redesign project?
University Publications and Computer Services (now University Technology Services) collaborated from the outset, since the design influenced the technical requirements of the site and the information architecture had a bearing on the design. University Web masters began using the template system in summer 2002 and worked with the appropriate review committees to ensure that sites were in compliance with the intent of the project.

What is the history of this project?
In the fall of 2001, the ad hoc group from Computer Services and University Publications began work on the preliminary stages of the design and strategy for implementation of the new Web Presence. In early 2002, Dr. Hogue presented an initial concept to the President's Administrative Council, the Dean's Council, and the Board of Trustees and received an enthusiastic approval.
During the early spring of 2002, work progressed on a redesign of the University's main portal pages. Internal feedback was solicited from various groups around the University.
In May 2002, a link to the prototype redesign was added to the University's existing portal (www.sc.edu). A period of public review was established during which comments and suggestions on the new site were solicited. Interested parties from on and off campus offered feedback, and adjustments were made to the site based on these suggestions.
The original portal page linked to 11 directory pages and three "information" sites from its top and left navigation menu bars. All of these new pages were designed in the new style. Four additional links to important University sites (Directory, Map, Events, and VIP) were positioned in a bottom navigation menu bar. The middle portion, or content area, of the new page showcased campus photos pulled randomly from a newly established library of images, and also linked to news stories and featured sites.
The new site went live in June 2002. Templates were created from the portal design and were distributed to a small pilot group of USC colleges and schools, administrative units, news groups, and student support services. The Web Presence Team provided design and technical assistance to this group as they worked with the templates in revising their sites. By the end of 2002, more than 70 sites were complete and live thanks to the efforts of scores of University faculty and staff.
An updated home page was implemented in December 2005. The page slightly modified the original template, introducing a "fade" effect in the left navigation bar.

History of the implementation?
The University of South Carolina Web Presence Project originally was implemented in four phases. In phases I through III, Web masters worked closely with the Web Presence Team from University Publications and Computer Services through all phases of the planning, design, and implementation of their sites. After more sites were posted and the University community became more familiar with the new look and feel, phase IV was initiated with the template system and support materials supplied via this Web Presence Project site and regularly scheduled orientation sessions conducted by Computer Services IT Training and Support.

Phase I.	Concept, planning, and creation of USC portal pages (Fall 2001 through Spring 2002)
	• University Publications and Computer Services team defined
	• initial concepts approved
	• site tested and reviewed (internal and external)
	• portal launched
	• template system designed
	• orientation systems planned
	• review systems defined
Phase II.	Pilot group of sites defined and created (Spring 2002 through Fall 2002)
	• templates and documentation distributed for testing
	• orientation scheduled, attended, and refined
	• groups work with University Publications and Computer Services team
	• sites reviewed, adjusted, and approved
	• sites deployed
Phase III.	Additional sites added (Fall 2002 through Spring 2003)
	• sites added based on timing and interest in working with new system
	• orientation scheduled and attended
	• templates and documentation distributed
	• groups work with University Publications and Computer Services team
	• sites reviewed, adjusted, and approved
	• sites deployed
	• Web Presence Guidelines site planned and implemented
Phase IV.	General distribution of the template system (Spring 2003)
	• sites defined based on interest/need
	• orientation scheduled and attended
	• templates and documentation distributed via Web site requests
	• sites reviewed, adjusted, and approved
	• sites deployed