Case Study: OIRA
Office of Institutional Research & Assessment
When we were hired to create a new Web site for the UNC-Chapel Hill Office of Institutional Research and Assessment (OIRA), we started by asking questions and getting to know OIRA. We found that the this project was unique in its magnitude and complexity, with more than 200 pages of tabular data buried deep within the site.
Creating Consistency
Web Services redesigned the look and feel of the site, creating a template with consistent navigation and attractive design to make it easy for site visitors to find information. To improve the site’s structure, Web Services reorganized the content and migrated it into a content management system (CMS) called Joomla. The CMS facilitated maintenance of the site’s content by making it easy for OIRA staff to edit and post content within a consistent framework.
Making Information Available
One of Web Services’ biggest contributions was making the information in the OIRA site accessible. The OIRA Web site is all about facts, and the restructured flow of information provided by the CMS made it easier for users to find data on the OIRA site. In many cases, information that used to require four clicks to reach now requires only two. In addition, the site now uses the campus Google search appliance, making it easier for users to search the information in OIRA’s tables and Web pages.
Preparing for the Future
Once the Web site was complete, Web Services tested it and moved it to an active server and a new user-friendly URL. The project manager trained OIRA staff on how to use the CMS, and Web Services’ quality assurance analyst worked with OIRA on other best practices, including accessibility and usability. In addition to personal support, Web Services gave OIRA documentation to refer to when maintaining their site. Moving forward, Web Services will continue to provide support by answering technical questions as they arise, advising on extended functionality and alerting OIRA when major CMS upgrades are warranted.
