Your computing department’s website is a crucial platform for engaging prospective and current students. Use this list to review key pages and consider how the website reflects the department’s approach to attracting and retaining a broad range of students.
These tips will help you create a website that showcases the impactful and versatile nature of computing, highlights your department’s strengths, and fosters a sense of belonging for all students.
While individual and departmental control over the website may vary, these practices can be implemented by collaborating effectively with campus partners (e.g., marketing, information technology, institutional research, etc.).
1. Help students understand what computing is and how it connects to their career goals.
Emphasize that computing:
- Helps people and changes the world
- Is collaborative and involves teamwork
- Overlaps with many fields and interests
- Offers rewarding career paths in numerous industries
2. Highlight computing’s connections to broad-appeal disciplines.
Emphasize connections to fields such as biology, psychology, health sciences, and digital arts. Publicize relevant interdisciplinary majors, tracks, or available minors for students pursuing studies in other departments. Check out NCWIT’s CS+Passion site for inspiration, or link to it.
3. Visually showcase the appeal of computing professions.
Images and videos should focus on people engaged in purposeful work, rather than facilities or machinery alone. Portray the full spectrum of individuals contributing to the field, emphasizing collaboration on applied projects.
4. Encourage prospective students to take action.
Use prominent, easy-to-locate links for key actions, such as “Apply Now,” “Schedule a Visit,” or “Contact an Advisor.” Design calls-to-action to guide the user seamlessly toward engaging with the department. Pay close attention to the pages that interested students are likely to land on, such as your department’s home page and pages for prospective students. Ensure these are mobile-first and responsive.
5. Use case studies and testimonials to help students see themselves in your department.
Feature a wide range of individuals (e.g., current students, alumni, and faculty from various backgrounds). Include personal information about the individual’s background, interests, and professional journey to highlight the varied paths and goals of successful technologists. Be sure to describe the potential applications and impact of their work. Check out NCWIT’s Aspirations in Computing Stories for examples, or link to them.
6. Use your website to help students navigate the department’s programs of study and student communities.
Consider the types of information that students will likely be seeking, such as course requirements, degree plans, advising appointments, and involvement opportunities. Details like course requirements should be easily accessible.
7. Publicize the department’s commitment to academic excellence and inclusion.
Provide clear information regarding departmental efforts to foster a supportive learning environment for all students, and its commitment to professional ethics and responsible innovation. Highlight departmental initiatives, student support programs, or affiliations with professional organizations that focus on broadening participation and improving student engagement and retention.
8. Avoid stereotypical language and niche imagery.
Avoid terminology that may lack broad appeal or reinforce outdated perceptions (e.g., “geek,” “nerd,” or overly narrow references to a single hobby like gaming). The website should present computing as a professional, modern, and universally relevant discipline. Learn more about the impact of “Geek Mythology” here.
9. Don’t advertise conditions that don’t exist in your department.
The website must present a truthful depiction of the department’s resources, culture, and opportunities. If conditions are not ideal, focus on what you do have and what you are doing to improve the situation.
10. Work with a website design expert to maximize usability and accessibility.
Make sure your website is appealing, easy to navigate, and adheres to modern WCAG accessibility standards. Consider conducting surveys or focus groups with your target audiences to evaluate whether the desired messages are effectively communicated.
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