December 15, 2004 - Daniel Webster College’s website was deemed tops in the state and additionally placed 12th out of nearly 3,000 college websites from institutions across the country. The ratings were evaluated by the National Research Center for College & University Admissions and over 3,000 different college-bound high school students. Fordham University ranked number one.

The website, which was launched last year, took a cue from the college’s colorful undergraduate and graduate marketing material. It was designed by Daniel Webster graduate Ryan Keough ’01 and developed to bring cohesiveness to the institution, which serves numerous constituencies, including traditional undergraduate students and their families, and adults learners, as well as alumni, prospective students and their families, friends, and trustees of the college and the general public. Kudos to everyone involved in the redesign and reconfiguration of the site; it was a monumental task that involved literally dozens of individuals.

Because approximately half of Daniel Webster’s students are enrolled in distance education or evening programs at the college’s Nashua and Portsmouth campuses, it was especially important that the ease of use apply to the non-traditional students as well as the college’s traditional undergraduate population.

“Adult students have so many demands on their time, it is important that they’re provided with the necessary tools to efficiently manage their course work. This is especially true for our distance education students — the website is the “classroom” for them and they can access that classroom any time, any day, from any place in the world, said Assistant Professor Tom Anastasi, director of the MBA program.

Other steady users include the college’s 3,500 alumni. Alumni Council chair Daren Hudson ’88 said, “Through hard work and the efforts of the IT department, a wonderful staff, and concerned alumni/ae, the new site is a fantastic resource for students and alumni. To expand it, promote it, and use it are high priorities for the Alumni Council; our goal is for every alumnus/a to have it book marked. Links on the alumni portion of the site include our Alumni Forum, which is providing great networking avenues for all users, including up-to-date industry news, job postings, and other ‘insider information’ for Daniel Webster students and graduates.

Perhaps the website sees its most activity from the prospective student and his or her family. According to Dean of Admissions and Financial Assistance Sean Ryan, “Nearly 100% of the students and families who contact our office have checked us out first on the Internet. With so many colleges and university sites available on-line,  a website has to quickly and easily provide the information that is of most importance to our people — and their parents — using the least amount of clicks.”

But the website would not be fulfilling its job if it didn’t “work” for the students, faculty, and staff already enrolled or employed at Daniel Webster. It was important, therefore, that current students have “one-click” access to the areas that are important to them, such as the ability to check schedules or grades, use on-line campus directories, access the library’s numerous data bases and research guides, or check out upcoming campus events.