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K-State Research and Extension
123 Umberger Hall
Manhattan, KS 66506-3401
785-532-5820
extadmin@ksu.edu

December 10, 2019

University Website Changes and Impact on KSRE Sites

Submitted by Jason Ellis

Recently the Division of Communications and Marketing (DCM) unveiled a set of new website design templates that will be implemented across the university sites. These templates provide a more contemporary design and also are mobile-device responsive for visitors not using a computer. In addition, new functionality has been added to the content management system to improve usability and ease of content posting. The initial focus of the website overhaul initiative, which also includes recreating site content for a better user experience, is to improve the university’s web presence for engagement with prospective students and related audiences. The phase-in plan for these templates begins with the websites of academic colleges, followed by other academic units, such as departments, the library and such.

The Department of Communications and Agricultural Education staff is working with DCM and KSRE leadership to determine the timing and process for updating the primary K-State Research and Extension site, https://ksre.ksu.edu, and subsequent sites, which include county, district, area, station and other sites. Watch for additional information in future Tuesday Letter articles.

Communications and Agricultural Education has already been working with Extension leadership and a web development company to rebuild the KSRE Bookstore site, https://bookstore.ksre.ksu.edu. This project will replace the aging technology of the existing site, will provide better publication tracking and site use analytics, and will be mobile responsive. The bookstore overhaul is Phase 1 of a bigger digital Extension project that will modernize the KSRE site experience for state constituents. Phase 2 will integrate multiple online information sources from across the KSRE system into a central, searchable, predictive web environment designed to provide answers to Kansans when they need them and where they are searching for them.