Health Services’ new website makes using UCF’s health offerings easier and more interactive.
“The best thing about the new site is that it has all of our updated information on it,” said Lorinda Clark, the new webmaster. “It’s a little bit more funky with the Flash and new navigation.”
According Erin Moya, the marketing director for Health Services, the resources to launch an updated website were available last May, after an on-site webmaster was brought in.
“There is various information and frequently asked questions for each department. If there’s a policy change or something changes, we can implement that change right away,” Moya said. “There are sections for faculty, staff and parents, which we didn’t have before.
Also, there are more interactive tools for students for health-related issues.”
In addition to the Health Services’ Facebook and Twitter pages, the new website features a blog with health news and a Google calendar updated with workshops and other events.
According to Moya, more interactive aspects, such as podcasts, will use techniques like controlled breathing to help students sleep better.
Other interactive aspects that will allow students to make online appointments are in the works for the future.
“We know sometimes students have difficulty sleeping, but they can’t come in right then. We want to know what’s keeping them from classes or interfering with their lives,” Moya said. “Maybe they’re depressed and can be led in the right direction through screening. But if they are being stretched too thin between classes or partying, a podcast isn’t going to help them. They will know to come to us, and we can deal with it.”
The podcasts and newer features are set to be added in January 2011 along with a second website called Healthy Knights 2020.
“It’s basically going to be a portal for all the various council centers and health organizations,” Clark said. “A portal into a graphic interface instead of text.”
“When I was a student at UCF, I had no idea what was available,” Clark said. “Hopefully, it will help us reach out to the students and show them all the resources that are available on campus.”
Clark said the new website will be a selling point to prospective and incoming students.
She said the site will accommodate concerns parents may have about how their students’ health will be taken care of.
“The website was customized according to the National Cause Health Assessment, a survey from the American College Heath Association, which Health Services administers to incoming freshmen,” Moya said.
She also said it was influenced by suggestions from current students.
The Student Health Advisory Council, which is made up of students from a variety of majors, acts as the voice that represents student opinions about what the Health Center is doing.
Sara Robison, a senior micro and molecular biology major, was happy to see the site’s improvements as a member of the council.
“I was actually on it the other day,” Robison said. “It looks good. I like that everything is color coded. There’s definitely a lot of information, and it’s easier to access.”