RIT Website Named ‘Best of the Web’

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Rochester Institute of Technology’s Web site is tops in the education category of this year’s “Best of the Web” contest sponsored by the Rochester Business Journal.

The RIT site averages about 361,000 page views per day. RIT.edu was redesigned and launched with a fresh look in November 2009.

RBJ readers submitted hundreds of nominations for the 2010 competition. Judges evaluated the finalist sites based on navigability, usability, functionality, content, artist and visual design and standards compliance.

The biggest changes to the RIT site include the use of high-definition video and sound featuring university success stories in the Web banner area, allowing visitors to “experience” RIT. This includes project work by students, faculty and staff. RIT has also organized and enhanced dozens of social media channels, including Facebook, Twitter and YouTube.

The redesign has a cleaner look and simplified navigation for RIT’s multiple audiences, says Dan Shelley, co-chair of the web committee and assistant vice president and director of undergraduate admissions. “As we move forward, we will be introducing more interactive options for visitors to become involved and further experience RIT,” he adds.

RIT’s Web Advisory Committee consists of nearly 25 members who represent each division of the university and guide the work done by a technical team.

“The evolving momentum of RIT’s Web site and infrastructure technologies is only half of the story,” says Shelley. “The other part of that story relates to the people behind the scenes who are creating that momentum. There is no design and development firm working with RIT ... The success of RIT’s Web site advances is due primarily to the dedication of numerous RIT staff and faculty who, aside from their primary institutional responsibilities, collaborate, solve challenges, and help to align Web site development with RIT brand identity and strategic initiatives across campus. These staff dedicate time on a weekly basis in development work, keeping the RIT Web site constantly moving forward. It’s actually a somewhat hidden success story at RIT and the staff and faculty members of this effort deserve recognition for this award.”

The recent update to the RIT site was the first major upgrade since 2006.

“In the coming year, we will make continuous improvements to the site, particularly in the arena of a robust content management system,” adds David Hostetter, co-chair of the web committee and director of customer support services for Information Technology Services at RIT.

Comments from RBJ judges about RIT’s site included: “Beautiful site … well-designed with colors and layouts. Nice typography and use of colors. Well written. Great carousel feature on the home page with links to other pages, videos, etc. Great photography.”