New campus intranet centralizes electronic resources

by TALLEY HENNING BROWN

Since its introduction in 1994 the university’s Web site has tried to be all things to all people. Internal users trying to access library resources, get information on benefits or download petty cash forms have been forced to wade through links designed for prospective students, journalists and collaborating scientists. This fall, however, the launch of a redesigned intranet — called Inside Rockefeller and available at inside.rockefeller.edu — has laid the groundwork for a separation of these two audiences that will, ideally, make life easier for both.

Phase one of the new site, developed by Communications and Public Affairs and Information Technology, was launched November 3 and will be followed this winter by a phase-two implementation with new features and enhancements.
In addition to security advantages — the separation of internal and external Web sites makes it possible to better protect critical resources behind a network firewall — Inside Rockefeller also makes for easy access to key university applications, like the tools that allow users to manage e-mail settings, send large files and book meeting rooms. An Announcements and Events section can be used to transmit campus-wide and department-specific announcements and also to communicate campus or city emergencies, transportation issues and other crucial, time-sensitive information. The site also contains several new tools including an interactive campus map linked to the campus directory; package tracking; and MyBookmarks, where users can bookmark their favorite Web sites.

A bare-bones intranet has been in place for several years and used by many IT employees, but development and design of Inside Rockefeller, geared toward the whole campus, began last summer. The effort was led by IT’s Web design and Web programming groups, based on graphic standards established by CPA, and done with input from administrative heads, faculty, postdocs and students. “In addition to the new design and user interface, a number of backend applications were built to support the functionality and features of Inside Rockefeller,” says Anthony Popowicz, director of IT.

Phase two, due this winter, will include further refinements to the design, as well as some new features including a classified ad area that will serve as a repository of for-sale and wanted notices in any of several categories from housing to event tickets. Users will be able to subscribe to the classifieds in order to receive e-mails when new notices are placed and, to help reduce unwanted messages, a new policy will be established regarding the use of all-campus e-mails for personal notices. “One of our biggest long-term goals with this tool is to reduce the amount of electronic clutter we’re all currently dealing with,” says Alyssa Gelbard, director of marketing communications and operations for CPA. “Our number one goal from the beginning has been to make Inside Rockefeller not just a useful tool, but an indispensable one.”