South Puget Sound Community College (SPSCC) proudly announces that it has won a Gold award for the college’s website (spscc.edu) at the National Council for Marketing and Public Relations (NCMPR) District 7 Medallion Awards. This recognition underscores SPSCC's commitment to accessibility, mobile responsiveness, and inclusion, emphasizing the importance of making college information simple and readily available to all website users.
The college’s previous website was nearly ten years old and built on Drupal 7, a web content management system that was nearing its ‘end-of-life’. Additionally, the COVID-19 pandemic elevated the need for a website that would meet the evolving expectations of students as many shifted to fully online learning.
SPSCC's website overhaul was a college-wide endeavor that began in Feb. 2021. The college’s Public Relations team, along with external web design and UX partners, met with students and multiple departments to understand their priorities. That research was aligned with an innovative visual design and menu, unlike other sites found in the education space, based on the college’s “Success Amplified” brand.
Campus-wide participation was integral in fine-tuning the website to meet the diverse needs of the college community. After rigorous testing with staff, faculty, and students, the new SPSCC website was officially launched on March 22, 2023.
The website has received overwhelmingly positive feedback for its clean design, user-friendly navigation, simplified copy, and selection of authentic imagery representative of the college’s diverse student body. The website's dedication to prospective students was also recognized, with key enrollment information readily accessible, including important dates and costs.
SPSCC continues to monitor how the site is being used and make improvements for its users; this fall, they are hosting focus groups and usability testing with diverse users to move toward its next round of enhancements. The college plans to submit the website for additional awards and feedback, including the NCMPR Paragons to compete with colleges nationwide.
In addition to the Gold website award, SPSCC was awarded three more Golds in: Promotional Video – Short Form; Original Photography – Manipulated; and Government or Community Relations Campaign categories; and a Silver award in the Booklet category. SPSCC is honored to be recognized by NCMPR for its innovative and effective marketing strategies.
