Your computing department’s website is a crucial platform for informing and engaging prospective students. These strategies will help you create a website that showcases the impactful and versatile nature of computing, highlights your department’s strengths, and fosters a sense of belonging for all students.
1. Help prospective students understand what computing is and how it connects to their career goals.
Emphasize that computing:
- Helps people and changes the world
- Is collaborative and involves teamwork
- Overlaps with many fields and interests
- Provides good quality, high paying, and abundant jobs in many industries
2. Visually showcase the appeal of computing professions.
Images should focus on people engaged in purposeful work, rather than facilities or machinery alone. Ensure the visuals professionally and accurately portray the full spectrum of individuals contributing to the field, emphasizing collaboration on applied projects.
3. Use case studies and testimonials to help prospective students see themselves in your department.
Feature a wide range of individuals (e.g., current students, alumni, and faculty). Include personal information about the individual’s background, interests, and professional journey to highlight the varied paths and goals of successful technologists. Be sure to describe the potential applications and impact of their work.
4. Highlight computing’s connections with broad-appeal disciplines.
Emphasize connections to fields such as biology, psychology, health sciences, and digital arts. Publicize relevant interdisciplinary majors, tracks, or available minors for students pursuing studies in other departments.
5. Publicize the department’s commitment to academic excellence and inclusion.
Provide clear information regarding departmental efforts to foster a supportive learning environment for all students, and its commitment to professional ethics and responsible innovation. Highlight departmental initiatives, student support programs, or affiliations with professional organizations that focus on broadening participation and improving student engagement and retention.
6. Avoid stereotypical language and niche imagery
Avoid terminology (e.g., “geek,” “nerd,” or overly narrow references to a single hobby like gaming) that may lack broad appeal or reinforce outdated perceptions. The website should present computing as a professional, modern, and universally relevant discipline.
7. Be truthful. Don’t advertise conditions that don’t exist in your department.
The website must present a truthful depiction of the department’s resources, culture, and opportunities. If conditions are not ideal, focus on what you do have and what you are doing to improve the situation.
8. Use your website to promote computing and to advertise your department.
Pay close attention to the pages that interested students are likely to land on, such as your department’s home page and pages for prospective students. Ensure these are mobile-first and responsive. Details like course requirements should be easily accessible, but not front and center.
9. Encourage prospective students to take action.
Use prominent, easy-to-locate links for key actions, such as “Apply Now,” “Schedule a Visit,” or “Contact an Advisor.” Design calls-to-action to be intuitive and guide the user seamlessly toward engaging with the department.
10. Work with a website design expert to maximize usability and accessibility.
Make sure your website is appealing, easy to navigate, and adheres to modern WCAG accessibility standards. Consider conducting surveys or focus groups with your target audiences to evaluate whether the desired messages are effectively communicated.
