Web Managers Roundtable Discussion

I'm not sure how well I'll be able to keep up with all Q & A during this session, but will do my best. :-)

Right now just some introductions.

UPDATE 2:12 PM

Panel still introducing selves. might be taking up too much time. :-(

UPDATE 2:18 PM

Ok. now we're getting to Qs.

Q: who manages web policies at your school?
A: Bob: meetings, arguments about policies and web links. They "slog through it". They view the web as community property so they argue about links etc.
A: Rachel: independent authors so it's hodge-podge
A: Luke: they use their mission and fact that are a christian school, they use those as guidelines. seems to be a self-policing situation...don't use "hammer" approach. don't squash all that comes along.
A: Sri: marketing team sets the style and what goes on public web site. They are having the portal vs web site debate.
A: Doug: "our policies stink" {LOL} They don't have anyone to turn to in order to write policies or anyone driving the effort on their campus.
A: moderator: policies control what people can do and what's acceptable. style guide is a little different.

Q: how are you addressing social media?
A: Doug: they built their own social network for accepted students. only for admissions and recruitment strategies. nothing for current students.
A: Luke: no written policy as to how to use for admissions, but in PR he's picked up a twitter acct and a flikr account. They're hands off...more grass-roots. He did get a uni page for them on facebook. They're holding b/c if they get all these networks, who will manage it? They're getting mixed reviews: students=stay away from facebook; alumni=yeah, this is pretty good.
A: Bob: they're looking into some open source platforms to build several social networks from student to almnus.

Q: pros and cons of adopting google apps
A: Bob:
A: rachel: using google analytics at uni of iowa. that's all for now
A: Luke: some students in pilot program using gmail.
A: Sri: no longer using lotus notes and one option was google and gmail, but they chose microsoft in the end.
A: moderator: had some switch, but having probs with gmail switch for students. they're not getting all emails.

Q: are any of the panel involved in e-communication--newsletters for example.
A: Doug: his office creates templates for e-newsletters and emails for alumni office, admissions,etc. all use template created by web services office. His office sends out a quarterly e-newsletter.
A: Luke: they run a listerv and have several newsletters on campus. they send plain text emails with link to newsletters
A: Rachel: they use constant contact for newsletters. some set newsletters and some adhoc, such as homecoming.
A: Bob: fac/staff newspaper was redesigned in WordPress.

Q: use of video? what are the demands from depts? do you have the infrastructure?
A: Bob: they had a $10 million donation from a microsoft principle that should help with quality video and pushing it out.
A: Luke: youtube, google video that school pushes out, some are produced by students, but how can it be used? lots on facebook and all that but do you want others to see it? some have great content, but poor quality b/c are put out by students or are in bad file format for web. They're working on 2 minute videos.

Now discussing iTunesU. Bob says his overall data transfer went up 4x after being on iTunesU. Doug says on ning they have a place for students to upload own video. Is very popular on campus. Was done cheaply and low quality, but those were some of the best ones. Alumni liked b/c saw what students are doing on campus.

UPDATE 2:40 PM

Q: what is your web team structure? how do you handle rogue depts?
A: Bob: need more people, but those with the money need to be on board. rogue depts? he non-chalantly says he'll have to let the higher ups know about their "rogue-ness". New Q: do you have students work on the web? Bob says they try to use students for web 2.0 things, not so much for web developement.
A: Karen: have about a dozen people that contribute. used to be 70% communication 30% IT, now it's mostly IT b/c of budgeting, but she works with communication. They've hired a student that can use Dreamweaver. "we won't use contribute anymore."
A: Luke: They report to advancement office. has a coworker with a journalism background. need more developers, hoping for new position in web services. Does have a student worker. Says that students have a lot to bring.
A: Sri: they just went under a re-org. says content collaboration has taken a hit. they're working to address it. They do have student workers, even a programmer student worker.
A: Doug: reports to the CIO. grown from 2 to 10 people in the web office. the marketing people on their campus are trying to get them in their office.
A: moderator: Doug has done a good job of getting more dollars and more positions in the office. He makes a good business case for it and then delivers when he gets more resources. Doug: you have to make the case afterward as well.
moderator: Don't think about students as programmers. Content is king. Says can find good student writers.