Sneak Peek at the NEW USA WEBSITE!

Hi everyone! My name is Chris Weeks, project manager on the USA website redesign project. When I decided to run for Recording Secretary, I flagged a website redesign as something I thought was a high priority and a project I could lead as someone with web design experience. I believe a website is not just a collection of information – it should be an organizing tool that can help us build a more cohesive and powerful union. 

In early August, I approached the Communications Committee to form a Website subcommittee in charge of this project. I’d like to thank Comms Comm Coordinator Deborah Place for giving me the space and assistance to see this project to where it is today. I’d also like to thank Hannah Fiske for her web design and WordPress experience, the numerous E-Board and Rank and File members alike who submitted content to add to the new website, and the countless members who tested and offered their feedback along the way. Without the dozens of hours of volunteer collaboration, this site would certainly not be ready to show off this Wednesday, 10/29 from 12:00-12:30 on Zoom!

The Plan

In August, I laid out a plan containing 5 phases to complete this project:

  • 1a: Website audit
  • 1b: Website inspiration
  • 2a: Prep mockups
  • 2b: Write new content
  • 3: Soft Launch – This Wednesday!
  • 4: Review and Revise
  • 5: Official Launch

Current Website Audit

The first step of any redesign is to gather feedback from the people who interact with the site the most. We asked these types of questions to members who had served as Silent Bargaining Representatives in the past during our website audit:

  • What do you like about the current website?
  • What do you want to change about the current site?
  • What is missing from the current site?
  • What should be removed from the site?

Thank you to everyone who responded to this call! I will share in-depth responses to these questions at Wednesday’s reveal, but one thing we heard repeatedly is that our website must do a better job of showing interested Rank and File members how to get more involved in the union. I took this to heart, because it took me 5 years in USA to discover how to get more involved, and I wanted to help others find their place more quickly.

I will touch on the other phases of this plan on Wednesday. Until then, here are a few areas of the new site I’d like to show off.

Revamped Homepage

A quick look at the revised USA homepage
A quick look at the revised USA homepage

A homepage has so much opportunity to direct the visitor and draw them in. The current site had a nice introduction, but we heard from several folks that the teal header and beige background did not draw their attention or help them find what they were looking for. We wanted a homepage that is both attractive and easy to navigate.

The first element you see on the homepage is a slideshow that features articles that the Communications Committee wants to highlight right away, and these will be updated regularly. Next, links to the most requested content, followed by ways to take action and get more involved in USA.

Simplified Navigation

Navigation has also been streamlined.
Navigation has also been streamlined.

Simple navigation is one of the most critical and difficult aspects of a website redesign. Too many top nav items, and the menu spills onto a second line or the visitor does not know where to find what they are looking for. Too few, and you’re not sorting your content properly. We went over several iterations of our navigation before landing on the current form. We can’t wait to hear if you have any suggestions to further improve!

Committees & Councils

All USA committees and councils in one place, with information on how to join and monthly time commitments.
All USA committees and councils in one place, with information on how to join and monthly time commitments.

Keeping in the theme of membership involvement, we wanted to show off every USA committee, even those that are currently dormant. This page lists them all, and clicking into each accordion element shows a brief description of the work done in that committee, how to join, and general time commitment needed to join.

Events Calendar

One more screenshot to share with you today is the Events Calendar. We heard loud and clear that it can be very intimidating to find a place to get involved in unionism, so we wanted to show off as many of the meetings and events in one place. This calendar includes internal USA meetings (open-invite and private), meetings with other UMass unions, actions throughout Western Mass, as well as trainings and conferences. No matter your level of availability, there is a space for you in USA!

The Events Calendar shows a variety of union events, actions, and meetings, all in one place.
The Events Calendar shows a variety of union events, actions, and meetings, all in one place.

This calendar is featured on the homepage and on its own Events Calendar page. The upcoming week’s events are also shown in list view in the footer:

Note: Clicking “See more details” on any event will bring you to the Google Calendar for USA, but you must be logged into Google to view this calendar.

 

 

 

This is just a taste of the new site, and I can’t wait for you to explore it on your own. For more details on our rollout plan, to see the website in action, and learn how you can offer feedback and get involved in future Website Subcommittee work, please attend this Wednesday’s website reveal from 12-12:30 on Zoom. If you did not receive an invitation, you can email me at crweeks@umass.edu.