Quinnipiac is relaunching its flagship website, qu.edu, by Fall 2020.

“This project really starts with the website," Jim Ryan, associate vice president for the Office of Integrated Marketing and Communications, said. "What we’re really looking at is a strategy for full digital transformation. The website really is the keyhole into our university. From people on the outside looking in, it's the one place they can go to see exactly what the university has to offer.”

Currently, the website is designed exclusively with prospective students in mind. However, the plan for the future will include current students, prospective students, faculty, staff, alumni, local community members and more.

“Our strategy is changing," Ryan said. "We have a new president, we have a new strategic plan: the university of the future, and we need to make sure the site reflects the things that are important in that plan.”

The university plans on involving the whole campus and community, conducting one-on-one interviews, group interviews, focus groups and surveys with students, faculty and staff.

“We’re really excited about inviting people to be a part of it," Ryan said. "We want to make sure its delivering on the prioritized needs of the university. It shouldn't be a surprise, it should be a project where we’re bringing people along for the ride and we’re all on this ride together.”

The new website is currently in its discovery phase, and will continue into the design phase in winter, the build in spring, and the population in summer, and fall.

Ryan also plans to make changes to the university's other digital landscapes.

“If [the website] is the foundational piece, we want to look at MyQ next,” Ryan said. “We want to look at the digital signage around campus. How are we surrounding the community with a digital experience so it's a companion for how they interact with us and our university?”

While the specifics of the project are still vague, Ryan expects the project to feel modern and contemporary while still feeling fresh. When asked how Ryan plans to meet the ambitious year-long deadline, he jokingly responded “well, we just aren't going to go home.”