New and improved University Calendar debuts

By Karen Cochrane

Nearly three months in development, the new University Calendar features a cleaner design and more user-friendly options than its predecessor, something designers made a priority in the redesign.

“At the end of the day, it’s about creating something that is useful to everyone,” says Fabian Alcantara, Web designer. “We made a conscious effort to make it easier for people from around the university to post calendar events, and we’ve worked to present the information in a format that is easier and more pleasing to view. The entire FIU community benefits from this redesign.”

The calendar features six categories — academics, alumni and community, arts and entertainment, athletic events, lectures and conferences, student life, and faculty and staff life. In addition to posting an event on the main calendar, contributing departments can create their own calendars. Everyone can add events on the University Calendar to their Outlook or iCal personal calendars.

The calendar is accessible currently from a button on the News@FIU home page and by visiting the calendar directly. Daily events from the calendar will soon appear on the university’s home page.

The University Calendar was created by Matt Herzberger, director of Web communications; Andre Oliveira, Web developer; and Fabian Alcantara, Web Designer.

Prior to its launch, the calendar went through extensive testing and numerous modifications were made to the original design based upon feedback the team received during this phase.

Says Herzberger, “We built the software, so we can take it wherever it needs to go.”