Overhauled Penn Web site will make debut next month

In response to an on-line survey last November in which more than two-thirds of respondents said the University's World Wide Web site needed a change, a team of programmers has overhauled the entire operation. Beginning October 1, the site will reflect the most recent advancements in computer technology. "The current Web site was created 2 1/2 years ago to emphasize the diversity of the University and move away from the typical top-down view," Penn Web Program Manager Randall Couch said. "The new sight returns to a more conservative, rigid and rule-based structure." Most notably, the new site will give users four distinct ways to navigate through University information. The opening page of the site will consist of two topical menus, one relating to "Penn the Academy" and the other relating to "Penn the Community." The categories in each menu were rated most popular in the November survey. Penn Web users who are looking for a specific organization can make use of "Penn A-Z," a refined version of the current Penn Index. And "Penn Alta Vista," the site's new search tool, will allow users to access information on all of the University's Web servers. "The new search tool is a version of a product that can be bought and customized," said Associate Vice Provost of Information Systems and Computing Michael Eleey. "As Digital continues to update Alta Vista, our search engine will be able to improve." Another feature that will help Penn students and faculty is the new toolbar, Couch said. The toolbar will allow users to access the Penn Web's most popular features -- including Penn InTouch, a more comprehensive Penn Directory and a campus map -- with greater ease. "The campus map will be very helpful if there are visitors or guest speakers coming to campus," Eleey added. The new Penn Web will also include a greater variety of photographs. While the stationary image on the current site is changed every few weeks, the opening page will consist of three flashing pictures. Each time a visitor hits reload, a new set of three pictures will appear. The images will now represent the intellectual life and beauty of the campus rather than a specific event or time of year. Additional features that students may find helpful are links to such useful Web sites as movie listings and restaurant guides. The new pages can now be previewed from the current site at http://www.upenn.edu, and the programmers encourage users to express their opinions using the feedback option.