Visitors to the Holy Cross home page will notice a new look.
Larger, more dynamic campus photographs are immediately apparent, and the home page is slightly wider. Along with access to new videos and audio slide shows, the home page features a "virtual tour" with students offering candid commentary on life at Holy Cross.
"Our website is the front door to everyone looking to find out more about Holy Cross — particularly prospective students and their families," said Ellen Ryder, director of public affairs. "Nothing compares to an actual campus visit, but we wanted to use the best digital tools to present the distinctive community, beauty, and 'magic' that our students, faculty, and staff experience every day."
A revitalized Admissions website provided the platform for the new Holy Cross home page and “tweaks” throughout the site. The new look did not incorporate a campus-wide site redesign, nor are there major changes to the overall architecture or navigation paths. Among the changes benefiting all users:
- New header and footer elements available on every page
- Improved access to specific resources, including "Libraries" and "Employment"
- Revised content on top-level pages
- More visible paths to services offered to constituent groups such as "Alumni & Friends" and "Parents & Families"
- Ability to update with more frequency and currency
For the past 18 months, as part of the College’s 5-Year Strategic Plan to enhance marketing efforts to prospective students nationally, the offices of Admissions and Public Affairs have developed the digital recruitment material, along with a new suite of print publications. The design and sharpened messaging in this material was informed by quantitative and qualitative research findings.
"One of the things distinguishing the new material is that print publications and the website changes were conceptualized and developed simultaneously," said Ann McDermott ’79, director of admissions. "They are designed to work together so that prospective students can move between media: viewing traditional print brochures and then going to specific College websites for exclusive content and richer detail about Holy Cross faculty, academic departments, programs, and cocurricular offerings.”
In both print publications and on the website—through concise text , social media, photography, multimedia, and other features— students and faculty tell stories about their Holy Cross experiences, sharing exceptional academic and learning opportunities as well as how they explore faith and fundamental questions, compete athletically, connect with the Holy Cross alumni network, and lay the foundation for a variety of careers.
