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Web Updates

This page contains recent changes to the technology driving our website and changes to content and navigation. It will be updated as new tools and useful features are introduced.

New: The University website has a new visual identity. Find out more about our new website…

Recent updates:

Hubs sub-site

Launched 24 April 2007
In conjunction with Student Services, the Web Team has developed a new sub-site for the Student Hubs. This website is designed to support the services offered at the four Hubs and contains contact details, location maps and opening hours, as well as links to essential information about student administration services.

View the new Hubs website

Changes to our website

Launched 2 April 2007
As you may have noticed, the homepage and top level of our website have a new design in line with the University's new visual identity (find out more about our new visual identity). The Web Team has also launched a new navigational structure for the top-level pages, which includes a "universal" horizontal menu based on audience type and local menus for each area. There will be ongoing changes to our website as the new visual identity and navigation is applied to other areas of the site in a staged approach. Thank you for your cooperation in this transitional phase.

CMS2 implementation

Launched 2 April 2007
In the culmination of a long-running project, the Web Team has now implemented the new technical framework for the University's website, CMS2. This has resulted in improved functionality, including the following benefits for users:

ability to re-use content, which reduces manual maintenance
simplified, logical navigation
access to view the entire CMS (editing will remain restricted)
instant updates when content is approved (no more 5 minute delay)

The top-level pages of our site have now been migrated into CMS2, with the rest of our website scheduled to follow in a staged approach over time.

New and improved Search

Launched 2 April 2007
On 2 April, a new version of Search was launched in conjunction with the changes to the top level of our website. Based on your feedback, we have been working hard on improving the results delivered by the University's search engine to make it easier for you to find information. Our new Search delivers better, more consistent results and provides additional functionality to align it more closely with best-practice search engines such as Google.

New sub-site for New Students

Launched 2 April 2007
A new sub-site has been developed to collate resources and information for students who are commencing study at the University of Newcastle. This site provides information about getting started, getting online, getting help and getting around campus, and is designed to provide new students with access to all the information they need to succeed in their first year at University.

View the New Students sub-site

New Floor Layout Finder

Launched 15 March 2007
Together with Facilities Management, the Web Team has launched a new Finder for Floor Layouts and Emergency Evacuation Plans. This will allow staff members and designated University contractors to access Floor Layouts for buildings on all of our campuses from a central repository in the CMS. Users can use drop-down menus to select a Campus and Building, and then simply download the relevant floor plan in PDF format.

The current Finder includes Floor Layouts only, with Emergency Evacuation Plans to be added later in April.

View the new Floor Layout and Emergency Evacuation Plan Finder

New Student Support Services homepage design

Launched on 24 January 2007
View the new Student Support Services homepage.

Upgraded Staff Directory

Launched on 7 December 2006
As part of our ongoing improvements to the University website, and after receiving feedback from staff, the web team has recently overhauled the staff directory.

The staff directory will still contain search engine functionality but will look more like a phone directory. Search results will now display an alphabetical listing and users will be able to edit their personal records. The staff directory also has a new design.

New Singapore sub-site

Launched on 30 November
A new sub-site for the University of Newcastle Campuses in Singapore was launched on 30 November. The new sub-site contains information on programs, teaching staff and alumni, and features the recent Singapore Graduation ceremony photographs. The sub-site is linked from the University homepage. View the new Singapore sub-site.

Preview release of CMS 2

Launched on 16 November 2006
The University homepage and future students page are preview pages for the release of the CMS 2 implementation. These pages now have a fixed width, which provides a consistent look across all browsers. The search bar on the homepage has a drop-down menu, giving users a choice of search tools. The future students page has a prominent marketing focus and incorporates the recently launched FAQ tool and Program Finder tool. Both pages also have a fresh, new design.

Broken Links update

13 November 2006
The web team is pleased to report a significant reduction in the number of broken links on the University website. The website has around 300,000 links and 20,000 pages in total. Following the continuous tracking and restoration of broken links over the past six months, the number of broken links has been reduced from approximately 17,000 to 200.

Corporate Information website

Launched on 11 November 2006
This new website incorporates the content of the three teams within the Corporate Information unit: Records Management, Corporate Performance Reporting, and the Web Team. View the Corporate Information website.

Glossary Tool

Launched on 9 November 2006
The new glossary tool defines some of the common terminology related to the University of Newcastle. It should serve as a valuable reference tool for all members of our online community. This tool is a work-in-progress and will continue to grow.
View the Glossary Tool.

Web Analytics report - October edition

The October edition of the Web Analytics report, which is newly reformatted and includes individual program statistics, is now available. Other statistics featured in the report include:

Top 10 viewed Programs
Top 10 viewed news articles
Top 10 most viewed staff members
Geographic location of users accessing the University's website

View the Web Analytics report for October 2006.

Staff Directory Search improvement

Effective from late October 2006
The staff directory tool has recently been upgraded and has a refined search function. Users will see an improvement in the relevance and display of search returns.

FAQ Finder tool

Launched on 25 October 2006
This search and display tool, which will be primarily used by the student hubs, enables users to access a central database of frequently asked questions. View the FAQ finder.

Program Finder tool

Launched on 3 October 2006
Using the technology behind the new Policy Library, the Program Finder tool provides a single access point for all University Programs and Courses. Users can search for a Program by level of study, field of study, location and by keyword search. View the Program Finder tool.

Bachelor of Laws website

Launched on 13 September 2006
The Bachelor of Laws marketing campaign was launched recently, with Web Team copywriters, designers and developers assisting to create a site for the campaign. Supplementing upcoming print advertisements, this site provides an overview of the undergraduate and graduate options offered by the School of Law as well as providing data capture templates. View the Bachelor of Laws website.

Faculty of Business and Law

Launched on 13 September 2006
The homepage for the Faculty of Business and Law has a fresh new look, with the inclusion of faculty highlights and a news and events section. The Web Team has also provided support to the recently launched Get Down to Business campaign, creating a dynamic Flash animation on the Faculty homepage.

Contract Management and Travel website

Launched on 7 September 2006
Phase one of the new Contract Management and Travel website update is now live. Phase one involved the addition of content and design of new homepages, as well as the development of an online Motor Vehicle Purchase Order form. Phase two will deliver a refined navigational structure and streamlined content.

University homepage

Launched on 21 August 2006
The University has a newly designed homepage which includes a dynamic Flash item, additional News articles, a highlights section as well as further promotional items.

Advanced Search engine capabilities

Launched on 18 August 2006
As a result of significant technical work, the University search engine now produces more relevant results for query searches, including single word searches. The search engine also displays promotional links (the most commonly queried results) at the top of the results list. Any documents without a title will now display the filename (previously the document was displayed as "Untitled Document".) Note: This will not apply to any documents specifically labelled "Untitled Document". These updates are an interim solution until version 2 of the search engine is launched.

Future Students website

Launched on 8 August 2006
A new website for future students has now been launched as a result of consultation with staff and students. The website contains student-friendly content and includes student and graduate profiles, student FAQs, and information for parents.

Policy Library

Launched on 4 August 2006
The new Policy Library provides a single access point for all University policies. New features include a drop-down menu, allowing you to search for policies by categories. The streamlined Policy Library also presents consistently formatted and readable search results. View the new Policy Library.

Ourimbah website

The new Ourimbah website has been launched. The web team have undertaken significant content migration, designed a unique look for Ourimbah and revised the site navigation.

Direct links

Turnitin has been added to the direct links drop-down menu, which is located at the top right hand corner of each web page.

VisualPreview bar enabled within TeamSite

VisualPreview is now enabled within TeamSite on the production server. A new toolbar will appear when previewing HTML (and other non-DCR files). This toolbar provides additional functionality such as; editing pages on the spot, checking the performance of links, meta-tagging and much more.
Users can login to TeamSite, click on an html document and navigate around the site in-context within TeamSite, editing pages as necessary.
The outline of features available to users is context sensitive and will change according to the type of content being edited.

New site layout

Recently our website has undergone a makeover, resulting in the current layout. This update has introduced a large number of new features and tools accessible to visitors; including complete compliance with web standards as defined by the W3C, both from an XHTML perspective and a CSS perspective.

Library homepage

Recently, the library homepage was updated with a new design, Flash image and Library specific advertising links.

Faculty sites

The faculty home pages now have personalised colours and imagery, as well as specific advertising, news and events.

Faculty of Health

The Bachelor of Podiatry 2007 Ourimbah campaign was launched recently, with assistance from the web team copywriter, designer and web developer. An appealing Flash image was designed and strategically positioned across the University website. Data capture templates were also designed and implemented to assist in reaching the target audience.

Student sites

Both the future and current students pages have been updated with links, recent news, and events targeted to their needs, as well as an attractive new design.

Quick Search Bar

You may have noticed changes to the quick search field at the top of each page. This field searches our site by default, however you can change its behaviour by clicking on the icon next to the field. From the drop-down menu that appears, you can select to search:

our website
our staff directory
the entire web using Google

Staff Directory

A new Staff Directory has been developed which contains contact details of almost all staff members. This new directory allows you to search for individuals based on their name, position, division/faculty or location/campus. Each staff member has an individual vCard; an electronic business card that can be downloaded to your address book or attached to email messages.

Coming soon:

News Tool

Development phase
The Web Team is currently developing a news tool designed to enhance the internal process of communicating newsworthy items. Staff members will be able to use the tool to propose a University-related news item. The news item will be considered for publication, and if approved, will be edited and published to the relevant web page or pages. This tool will also offer units a new way to manage email newsletters.

Priority Research Centre sub-sites

Development phase
The Web Team is currently implementing a new web sub-site development system, LiveSite (more information about LiveSite available here).

The first areas to utilise the new system will be the Priority Research Centres. We are designing a set of customisable templates that will provide a consistent look and navigation for each sub-site, as well as strengthen the online presence of the Centres.

New UNISS website

Due to be launched 15 May 2007
The Web Team is working with staff from the University of Newcastle Industry Scholarship Scheme (UNISS) to develop a new website for UNISS. The website will combine updates on the changes to UNISS with student testimonials and detailed information about eligibility and application, and will be delivered in the University's new visual identity.

If you have any specific comments or questions relating to any of the above tools or updates, please email feedback@newcastle.edu.au.