OSU Housing and Residential Life launches interactive website
Monday, October 24, 2011
Oklahoma State University’s Department of Housing and Residential Life has launched a retooled website designed by two OSU undergraduates. The website, which can be found at www.reslife.okstate.edu, also features 360 degree virtual tours.
The site was launched earlier this fall, following a year of committee work to completely reimagine and redesign the Department’s web presence. The committee began by setting goals for the site which included being more user friendly and interactive, providing relevant information for both current and prospective residents, and enhancing the image of Housing and Residential Life.
Tyler Kelting, a senior art major from Edmond, OK, is the web designer for the Department and developed the new look for the website. “He was able to take the committee’s brainstorms and develop them into a website that is both active and eye-catching,” said Shannon Baughman, Assistant Director for Marketing and Conferences for the Department.
Features of the new site include a housing finder, which allows the user to enter selection criteria, and the site will offer suggestions for housing options. Users can compare options, prices and amenities of the various housing choices. In addition, prospective students can apply for housing and select their future hall and room right on the web. Once they select their room, they can use the room dimension finder to see how big their room is, the size and number of windows, and view a floor plan.
“The Department offers so many choices and serves so many audiences, that it can quickly become overwhelming when trying to navigate the web,” said Mason Meyer, Marketing Coordinator for the Department and web team member. “We addressed the needs of everyone including current residents, future residents, international students, and parents.”
One of the most popular features of the new site is the 360 degree virtual tours, which allows users a unique look at the 25 residence halls and seven family and graduate housing neighborhoods available. “The addition of the virtual tours now allows users in any part of the world to tour OSU’s housing options,” explained Dr. Matthew Brown, Director of Housing and Residential Life. “This allows many of our out of state and international students to feel a sense of home and familiarity with their housing choice before they ever set foot on campus,”
Tyler Van Arsdale, a senior entrepreneurship major from Ponca City, OK and a resident of Stout Hall, developed the tours. In addition to the on-line tours, mobile versions of the tours are also available and are compatible with the iPhone, iPad, and Android devices.
“In the first two months, the tours have been viewed over 15,000 times. In the first month alone, there were 7,000 views from 61 countries on all seven continents,” boasts Baughman. “Over 17% of the views of the tours were on mobile devices. The reach that we are able to accomplish with the tours and the new site is just incredible.”
“We investigated hiring an outside production company to produce the tours, but we found the best designers right here on campus,” continues Dr. Brown. “We could not be more pleased with the results which the tours and new site have provided us. We are very proud of the fact that we were able to showcase the talents of our students and promote the talent and excellence that exists at OSU.”
OSU Housing and Residential Life houses more than 7,000 residents in twenty-five residences halls and seven family and graduate student housing neighborhoods. Three types of housing options are offered: community style halls, suites, and apartments. The department employs more than 50 full-time and 300 part-time workers, and offers more than 350 student leadership positions. The Department celebrated its Centennial in 2010.