Strong economy or not, any university wants to maximize the effectiveness of its personnel. Because it is relatively new, the Web function is often misunderstood, understaffed, underfunded, and organizationally misaligned. Even though students and many parents already pay more attention to online rather than print and other traditional information sources, the university Web function, as implemented, may not match its strategic importance in the formal administrative structure.
We use the story of our web work group at Eastern Kentucky University to describe one way to strategically align the university web. Through the Web work group, we have engaged a larger cadre of Web contributors and secured explicit support from senior university administration. We describe a reasonably fast and efficient way of causing positive work culture change to support the strategic role of the university Web to engage stakeholders. Our story includes how we formed and self-selected across departmental boundaries; listened carefully; used the social web to concentrate and accelerate our efforts; carpooled and attended HighEdWeb 2008 to bond and confirm our direction; and acted with precise timing to gain senior administration support.
Ron is the Director of Web Communications at Eastern Kentucky University and has led EKU Web efforts since 1997. At EKU, he has worked in Information Technology, Printing Services, Public Relations, and Enrollment. He is most proud of his participation in the EKU Web Work Group because of its leadership in promoting positive university Web and work culture change. Bilingual and bicultural from his formative years in Honduras, Ron is looking for social media ways to engage students, faculty, staff, and alumni. Ron has a masters in mathematics.
Gary Kuhnhenn has been at Eastern Kentucky University since 1979 where he has served in several administrative roles that include graduate program coordinator, department chair, associate dean, dean, associate vice president and special assistant to the provost. Gary has earned the B.S., M.S. and Ph.D. degrees in geology and is a tenured professor of geology. He became interested in the Web by building his department’s first website and has continued to be fascinated with the power of this form of communication. One of his most rewarding accomplishments has been enabling the creation and development of the EKU Web Work Group.
Kathy Barr is in her ninth year as External Affairs Coordinator for the College of Business and Technology at Eastern Kentucky University. She brings to the table a wealth of administrative experience and marketing acumen. In her present role, she manages special projects and events for the college, including Web content, undergraduate recruitment, and inbound/outbound marketing. She returned to Eastern as a non-traditional student after 20+ years of administrative service in the private and non-profit sectors to earn both her BBA and MBA.
Tuesday, 3:30PM