Washington and Lee University Web Services (WLWS) provides strategic planning, systems administration, programming, application development, content development and training in support of Washington and Lee’s Web initiatives. The WLWS responsibilities focus on the availability and support of Web applications and services linked to from www.wlu.edu.
Web Services is a joint initiative between the Office of Communications and University Computing. The team is currently comprised of seven core members in consultation with members of the Publications, Administrative Systems, Network & Systems Administration and other groups on an as-needed basis.
Web Services holds a regular weekly meeting for the core team to discuss current and future projects. Additionally, we make every effort to keep the University community at large well-informed of our activities, beginning with this Web site, which will document our priorities, projects and policies and offer regular opportunities for feedback.
In the coming months, Web Services will begin offering luncheon seminars to brainstorm new content and features to be implemented on the University’s Web site. These seminars will focus on trends in higher education Web services/marketing as they relate to specific offices and/or audiences for Web content. These seminars may also be devoted to an ongoing assessment of the University’s Web site which will help direct future Web development work by the WLWS, including usability assessments, surveys, focus groups, etc.
W&L Web Services is responsible for the ongoing oversight of the University's public Web presence and for ensuring that the W&L Web site serves its various constituencies effectively, while conveying our brand identity to visitors. W&L Web sites are representations of the University and require the same level of accuracy and presentation as all University publications, as well as the same technical sophistication, accessibility and ease-of-use offered by today’s leading commercial and higher education sites.
In order to accomplish these objectives, WLWS must become an integral part of all Web initiatives related to the University’s Web presence. The team provides four major areas of service to the University community:
• APPLICATION DEVELOPMENT AND SUPPORT: Including the selection, implementation and support of a new University-wide content management system, support for all official University Web sites, development and implementation of the UPortal project, support for Blackboard and other applications that relate to the University’s Web presence.
• CONSULTING: Including the review, approval and purchase of all third-party applications to be used in conjunction with wlu.edu, as well as general Web service consulting for all official University Web sties and other projects related to them.
• CONTENT CREATION/EDITING: Writing, editing and design services for sites within wlu.edu..
• RICH MEDIA DESIGN/PRODUCTION: Design and production services for rich media features, including streaming media, e-cards, flash features, the virtual tour, etc.
The Team