The P.C. Rossin College of Engineering and Applied Science has launched a new Web site, raising the visibility of its highly rated academic programs and cutting-edge research.
“In redesigning the site, we set out to capture the diversity and the excitement of the engineering experience at Lehigh,” says Stephen P. DeWeerth, professor and dean of the Rossin College. “The site puts special focus on the engineering program’s key differentiators, experiential learning and interdisciplinary research. Its eye-catching visuals and bold look convey the College’s focus on scholarship and learning, and communicate the passion our faculty and students share for driving innovation and solving problems that matter.”
The new design also serves up a strong focus on the latest news from across the College, key to the College’s digital marketing strategy. DeWeerth credits Chris Larkin, the College’s director of communications and marketing, with positioning the engineering program for growth by adapting to shifts in the digital landscape of higher education.
“We see an opportunity to build greater awareness of Lehigh’s engineering program through a stronger news presence,” says Larkin. “The exploits of current faculty and students resonate with those who would follow in their footsteps. So we are launching these stories from our digital shores and using them to find those corners of the Internet where our audiences live, in order to lead them back to us.”
Prospective students, particularly those at the graduate level, will find that the new site makes it easy to connect with engineering faculty specializing in their particular area of interest through a searchable database, and to locate specific information from Lehigh’s Course Catalog regarding courses and programs. Department-specific event listings have been synchronized with the university-wide events calendar.
The new multi-site framework, built on the Drupal platform through a close collaboration between the Rossin College and the Web and Mobile Services team within Lehigh’s Library and Technology Services group, provides a visually consistent user experience and features responsive design for ease of use on any device.
“I can’t say enough about the effort and dedication shown by Ashley Ryan and Tom Donahue in LTS over the course of this project,” says Marc Rosenberg, Web content manager and the College’s point person on the site’s development. “The group was hit with unforeseen personnel changes, and fielded myriad requests from College and department leadership, up until the very last minute. These are two young professionals serving a crucial role in building and maintaining Lehigh’s digital presence, and the successful completion of this project is a testament to their work ethic and skill.” Rosenberg mentions that it is especially fitting that Ryan, an alumna of Lehigh's Computer Science and Business program, helped lead the way.
In the end, says DeWeerth, it’s all about building and supporting a vibrant and dynamic scholarly community.
“The Rossin College community of problem solvers extends far beyond the boundaries of Lehigh’s campus,” he says, “and tomorrow’s innovators are out there, seeking their path forward. Our online presence is key to enriching that community and communicating Lehigh’s pursuit of excellence in engineering scholarship and research to a global audience.”
About the P.C. Rossin College of Engineering and Applied Science
Lehigh University’s P.C. Rossin College of Engineering and Applied Science follows a holistic approach in educating well-rounded problem solvers and addressing some of society’s key challenges. With eight academic departments and 140 full-time faculty, the Rossin College enables students to study across disciplines and learn through real-world experiences. Lehigh engineering graduates and faculty contribute to society in ways that defy and expand the boundaries of their discipline. For more information, visit engineering.lehigh.edu.
