Work continues on the Web template revisions but it now looks like the earliest they will be available is mid-July. A large number of new site identifier and sidebar graphics have been created, the guidelines have been revised, and development on the new Template Designer and CSS is moving forward well.
We have been seeking ways to improve the delivery reliability of the central CSS, images, and JavaScript and have a solution in development. The solution involves a caching application that can reside on each unit’s local server. The central template components will automatically be cached from the central source to the local server. A unit’s Web sites can then point to the local server rather than the central server to obtain the central template components. Any downtime of the central server will not impact the display of a Web page as long as the cache on the local server is available. Central management of the central components is still maintained. We think it is a real win/win solution.
Real-world testing of the caching system will begin in late July. The plan is to release it before classes begin in August. If you would like more details regarding the caching application, contact Ed Sala in University Publishing at sala@wsu.edu or 335-3518.
You can choose to implement the new templates as soon as they are available without the caching application or wait until the caching system is available to update your sites. Once the caching application is installed on your local server, you will only need to change a URL in your pages’ code to point to your local server rather than the central server.
Just a random question, but I feel like others here might agree with me:
Why is it with all of the template redesign going on that myWSU still lives in the ’90′s look? It is probably one of the most trafficked websites at the university yet it still bears the old color scheme, odd angled/tinted marketing photo banner, and does not even match the current template design. With this update can we finally expect myWSU to reach the level of the rest of the university websites? Why does it not meet the design standards? Thanks…
Quinn,
I presented your question to the myWSU leadership and here is their reply:
Thank you for taking time to note to us that the look and feel of myWSU is dated. We want to let you know that we certainly are aware of the situation, and a solution is coming eventually.
The myWSU leadership did seek approval for spending IT resources to update the look and feel of myWSU. However, the Information Technology Services leadership felt that efforts to update said look and feel would not be effort well spent because new technology is coming. In the relative future, the current portal will be replaced by one provided through the new Student Systems ERP. Look and feel will be addressed at that time.
Again, thank you for sharing your thoughts with us. We appreciate receiving student’s opinions.
Stacy Combs and Barb Petura
On behalf of the myWSU Coordinators