The UVicInfo co-ordinating committee thanks everyone who has provided feedback on the new university Website. The reception has been quite positive, and Webmaster Joe Sparrow reports that since the newly designed site went live in late August, there's been a decrease in the number of people-including prospective students-who report that they can't find what they're looking for on the site. One of the objectives in restructuring the site was to make it easier for visitors unfamiliar with the university to find the information they need.
The UVic Language Centre has a spiffy new Website packed with information useful to language students and faculty members interested in electronic resources for language training. It's a good example of user-friendly site design, with major sections devoted to resources for students and faculty members.
The student resources section lists the language centre's extensive holdings of audio, video, and computer materials in a wide range of languages. It includes a schedule of satellite downloads of television news programs from more than a dozen countries. As well, it lists departmental reading rooms with resources available for student use, and contains a page of useful links to Websites at UVic and elsewhere.
The professional resources section contains information on the centre's impressive research and development activities. The list of current projects includes the development of a wide range of courseware and updating of language department Websites. The centre's R&D team has also written award-winning software packages. And watch the site for an announcement of the Mouse Awards for most outstanding use of software in education. There are also pages of useful links, information on language centre facilities and hours of operation, descriptions of staff and how to contact them, and a site map.
This Website was developed by Stuart Arneil, co-ordinator of research and development, specialist instructor and fourth-year Russian student Kat Tancock, who was responsible for content, and Hilary Street, who did the graphics and html.
The Website of the vice president academic and provost (VPAC) contains a wealth of information on academic matters at the university. It includes an organizational chart of the VPAC's office and those reporting to her, and details their responsibilities. It provides: electronic copies of the faculty handbook and useful information for sessionals; selected policies, procedures and forms; lists of current deans, associate deans, chairs and directors; postings of important deadlines, events and news; and a list of frequently asked questions pertaining to the administration of academic units.
The site was developed by Andrew Nuttall and Michelle Peterson.
The UVic strategic plan is now available on the Web at the above location.
There's also a link to it from the top of the UVicInfo "Admin &
Services" page.