About this site
Welcome to Oregon State University’s new central website. The goal of the redesign is to provide visitors, students, alumni, faculty, and staff with a fully accessible, easy-to-navigate, and content-rich site. You can read about the redesign process.
Features of the enhanced website include:
Consistent navigation structure
The navigation structure gives viewers multiple ways to find the information they are seeking, depending on their experience and preferences. Directed searching and casual browsing are both supported. The primary navigation options include:
- Audience links: Prospective Students, Current Students, Faculty & Staff, Alumni & Friends, Visitors
- Primary topic links: About OSU, Admissions, Academics, OSU-Cascades Campus, Distance Education, International Programs, Research, Extension & Outreach
- Secondary topic links: Athletics, Diversity, Library, OSU Foundation, Student Online Services
- Utilities: Calendar, Find Someone directory, Maps, Site Index (A-Z index)
- Quick Links
- Search
The basic navigation structure and information hierarchy are consistent throughout the central pages so that the viewer can remain oriented. A standard blue color is used to identify links in the content area. Dead-end or outdated links have been removed and replaced with active sites wherever possible.
Improved search capabilities
A new flexible and scalable web search tool is in place. The search engine is based on the popular technology that runs the commercial site google.com, and is continually updated and customized to meet OSU's needs.
Dynamic content is a window into OSU
Fresh, relevant stories are added daily, linked to headline news briefs and featured events for the week . Feature stories have been added, that reflect OSU’s strengths and priorities in the areas of research, teaching, learning, and outreach. The stories focus on excellence within five thematic areas: (1) natural resources; (2) atmosphere, earth, and ocean systems; (3) engineering, business, and technology; (4) arts, sciences, and education; and (5) biosciences and health.
- About OSU
- Diversity
- Extension and Outreach (an expansion of the former "Extension" link)
- Athletics (a replacement for the old "Beaver Spirit page)
Stronger university identity
Consistent use of the OSU wordmark and tagline (Open minds. Open doors™), a defined color palette, use of Myriad and Verdana fonts in graphical text, and images that focus on people and community all work to strengthen Oregon State’s identity and create a cohesive, integrated web presence. Flexible templates that extend the central page system will be available for use by all OSU units in February 2003.
Best practices in web design
The new central pages are fast-loading, fully accessible, fluid, and viewable in multiple browsers and platforms. Expandable pages accommodate viewer preferences for window size and font size. The color palette meets industry standards for legibility. Section 508, ADA, and W3C approved. For more information about accessibility at OSU, visit the Technology Access Program website.
We welcome your questions and comments about the new site.
The development of this site has been a collaborative effort led by University Advancement and Information Services. Design and content of the OSU central website are managed by University Publications. All other OSU websites are created and maintained by individual colleges, departments, and units. Infrastructure support, web hosting, and website help are provided by Central Web Services.
