Ann Arbor, MI — January 31, 2005 — The University of Michigan School of Dentistry unveiled a newly redesigned Web site today (www.dent.umich.edu) that makes it easier for individuals to find information that’s important to them.

Under the direction of Dr. Lynn Johnson, director of Dental Informatics and Information Technology and an associate professor of dentistry, and Sarah Brittain, the School’s Web manager, a task force of nearly 30 individuals reviewed the previous site and suggested numerous improvements.

Major Enhancements

“Whether someone is an external or internal visitor to our Web site, they will find the new site easier to use.  It has a cleaner look, is less cluttered, and is less confusing,” Johnson said. 

Major enhancements, Brittain said, are focused in four major areas – site organization, navigation, accessibility, and esthetics.  In particular:

• Site organization.  The new site focuses on the School’s major audiences – students (current and prospective), researchers, patients, alumni, and faculty and staff.
  
  
• Navigation.  Individuals can find the page(s) of interest to them in three clicks or less after arriving at the home page.  A submenu of each section’s contents appears on the homepage.
  
  
• Navigation.  All pages contain a standard set of links.  Links at the top of the page include: “Home, “U-M Home,” “Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ),” “Resources,” “Sitemap,” and “Search UMSD.”  At the bottom of the page are standard site links including “Intranet,” “Contact,” and “About this Website.”
  
  
• Accessibility.  The redesigned site complies with standards set by the Americans with Disabilities Act making it easier for visually impaired individuals to locate information.   The new site also meets and exceeds standards set by the World Wide Web Consortium’s Web Content Accessibility Guidelines for access by those internationally as well as those with visual impairments.
  
  
• Esthetics.  The new site has a professional look.  There is a balance of text and graphics.  Images load quickly.

“The Web site is the starting point for information gathering about all of the School’s activities, so it is critical in promoting the School to patients, prospective students, alumni, researchers, and others who want to know more about us,” said Dean Peter Polverini.  Noting that the Web site reflects the teaching, research, patient care, and outreach missions of the School, Polverini said the home page “also provides newsworthy information about the School and highlights some of the innovative activities taking place.”

The redesign of the Web site began a year ago.  A 10-member Redesign Task Force examined the previous site and focused on accessibility, content quality, and numerous other issues.  The group recommended improving accessibility, especially for the visually disabled, and creating a content management team that would update information on a regular basis.

A 15-member Content Team, some of whom were on the Redesign Task Force, reviewed all information on the former Web site, deleted pages with dead links, and suggested improvements.  A 6-member Technical Team worked with members of the Content Team and Redesign Task Force to program new capabilities, post new pages, new graphics, and the new design.

“Our new look is only the beginning,” Johnson said.  “In the future, I anticipate including many other resources being available on our site including publications and videos to name just two.”

The University of Michigan School of Dentistry is one of the nation’s leading dental schools engaged in oral health care education, research, patient care, and community service.  General dental care clinics and specialty clinics providing advanced treatment enable the School to offer dental services and programs to patients throughout Michigan.  Classroom and clinic instruction prepare future dentists, dental specialists, and dental hygienists for practice in private offices, hospitals, academia, and public agencies.  Research seeks to discover and apply new knowledge that can help patients worldwide.  For more information about the School of Dentistry, visit the Web at http://www.dent.umich.edu.

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