The University of Rhode Island Department of Communications and Marketing wants you to take a look at the University’s new and improved home page.

“We feel strongly that the proposed new page is much more dynamic and welcoming than what you see now,” said Linda A. Acciardo, director of communications and marketing. “The new home page better meets our internal production capacity, and allows us to showcase many more examples of URI excellence on our website’s front page.”

The changes we’ve made were based on several key factors, including input from users and web publishers at URI and beyond, web analytics, industry best practices and new technologies, Acciardo said. Kerri Hicks, web communications manager in Communications and Marketing, led the project, with the invaluable assistance of Andrew Clemente ’12.

The new page’s content features three main components: large rotating colorful banner images in place of the current video carousel, a Big Thinker image profile, and a video. In the center, the home page will showcase links to four days of URI Today stories.

The large banner images – called “Big Stories” – will feature a branded headline and link to a brief narrative of research, discovery, innovation, recognition, performance, teaching, outreach or scholarly work, with impacts that rise above the usual or expected, and that tie directly to the president’s strategic priorities and the University’s brand differentiators. During the preview period, the Big Stories will not change, but once the home page is activated, one of the three banner images/stories will be retired and a new one added every week.

The “Big Thinker” profile, which will also change weekly after the preview period, features the story of a URI student, faculty, staff member or alumnus who has done or is doing work that has the potential to change the lives of individuals or communities around the globe. Each profile also links to an archive page of more Big Thinkers.

“Now Playing” is a video showing various aspects of big thinking at URI in action, and it will change every two weeks.

As the University’s primary marketing tool for prospective students, their families, teachers and friends, the home page features stories identified and selected by an editorial team in the Division of University Advancement, based upon the University’s key marketing messages, recruitment goals and branding objectives as they relate to the president’s strategic priorities. The team is led by Cindy Sabato, coordinator of marketing and advertising in the Department of Communications and Marketing, along with Jhodi Redlich, Nicki Toler and Betty-Jo Cugini.

Please take a sneak peek at our new home page at http://ww2.uri.edu/.