Project Overview

Austin Community College is one college. The goal of phase 1 is to create one brand-forward website with a consistent, seamless web experience designed for the end-users. 

Primary Goal : To generate new student leads and grow community support/ambassadors.

Intended Audience: Prospective students, families, and the community (partners, alumni/donors, future employees, taxpayers, and media).

Steps

• Solicitation for Request for Proposals (RFP #1 – Phases 1 & 2): Hire the best web U/X and U/I design firm to partner with college experts in developing the public-facing, top two tiers of the website.
• Establish Working Team(s): Key stakeholders, including web experts, subject matter experts, and end-users (target audience).
• Discovery, Research & Planning: Web audit, market and audience research, stakeholder engagement, goals, scope of work, timeline, and key performance indicators.
• Content Strategy and Optimization: Information architecture, wireframes, voice, messages, journeys, key design elements (visual language), and content placement. 
• Design and Development:Website build to ensure accessibility, functionality, and search engine optimization.
• Testing: User testing, feedback, and adjustments..
• Templates & Training: Create standards, guidelines, and templates to assist ACC’s web teams.
• Launch & Monitor: As web improvements are made, they will go live, we will monitor performance and make necessary adjustments

The redesign of the second tier happens simultaneously with the top tier. Working in tandem with our Theory of Change Design Teams and subject matter experts,  the purpose is to improve ease of access to ACC information and resources by designing a centralized, convenient hub for the user (our students) while laying the foundation for a future student portal..

Primary Goal: To increase student engagement, persistence, and completions.

Intended Audience: Current ACC students.

Steps: See above.

For our website to function properly, we must separate public- and private/internal-facing information and design a centralized website. The purpose is to develop an effective student portal system that aligns seamlessly with the student information system (SIS)— a single sign-on point for easy access to personalized information, notifications, and resources. By moving student-related information, resources, and documents to a portal system that requires authentication, we can improve the user experience, tighten security, and build a more effective public-facing website.

Primary Goal: To improve student communication, engagement, and ultimately completion.  

Intended Audience: Current ACC Students

Steps: 

• Solicitation for Request for Proposals (RFP #2): Hire the best web development firm to partner with college experts in developing the student portal in alignment with the SIS project. TBD

The vision is to develop an intranet, a private/secure to align with and enhance Workday (our ERP) to better facilitate internal communication, collaboration, and information sharing among employees. By moving employee-related information, resources, and documents to a centralized hub that requires authentication, we can improve the user experience, tighten security, and build a more effective public-facing website.

Primary Goal: To improve employee productivity and satisfaction. 

Intended Audience: ACC employees

Steps: 

• Solicitation for Requests for Proposals (RFP #3): Hire the best web development firm to partner with college experts in developing the employee intranet and enhancing the Workday ERP.
• TBD

For ACC to design, develop, and maintain an improved web presence will require updated policies, clear roles and responsibilities, and an inclusive/transparent approval process. Phase 5 will establish a web services and governance structure to ensure collaboration, accountability, and alignment with collegewide priorities.

Primary Goal: Establish an effective web services and governance structure.

Intended Audience: ACC stakeholders

Steps:

• Establish the FY25 Web Advisory Committee 
• Approve Committee Charge
• Monthly Meetings to Guide Web Redesign Project
• Web Redesign Project Microsite 
• Consult with Internal Auditor (McConnell Jones)
  • Operations Gaps Analysis
  • College Web Services Recommendations
  • Web policies (Administrative Rules)
  • Cabinet Approval
• Standards & Guidelines