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Cooperative Extension Service unveils new platform-savvy website

Fast facts

  • Cooperative Extension Service launches revamped site
  • Features improved navigation, better search ability
  • Responsive to any device, phone, tablet, lap- or desktop
  • URL remains: www.uaex.uada.edu

 

(220 words)

(Newsrooms: With 0318Ark-Web-Box)

LITTLE ROCK – Find what you want to know faster and from any device on the newly launched University of Arkansas Cooperative Extension Service site, www.uaex.uada.edu. 

The revamped site debuted Feb. 26, with its public launch on Wednesday. It’s the first renovation of the site since 2006. The Cooperative Extension Service first went online in the mid-90s.

The URL sees millions of visits each month by clients seeking information from extension’s four core areas: agriculture, community and economic development, family and consumer science, and 4-H/youth development. In 2013, the site had more than 48 million hits.

“Wednesday’s launch was the culmination of months of research that included working with our clients to ensure that our online presence met their needs,” said Tony Windham, associate vice president-agriculture-extension for the University of Arkansas System Division of Agriculture.

The site features:

  • Improved navigation to the most heavily trafficked areas
  • A better search appliance for faster, deeper discoveries
  • Responsive design, so it can be read on desktops, laptops, tablets or phones

The site will also enable users to connect to extension social media channels including Twitter, Facebook, YouTube, Google Plus, Flickr and LinkedIn.  The site also retains old favorites such as Plant of the Week and various other plant libraries.

The effort to remake the site was spearheaded by Kyleen Prewett, extension’s associate director for Finance & Administration. Working in partnership with Prewett were Sam Boyster, extension’s director of IT, and Karen Ballard, director of extension’s Program and Staff Development department.

“Our goal was to create a presence that enabled our customers, clients and stakeholders to not only gain access our know-how and online services faster, but also gain access no matter what device they’re using,” Prewett said.

“We have to applaud Kyleen, Karen, Sam and the scores of other extension faculty and staff who had a hand in updating the look and feel, as well as the most-used material on the site,” Windham said. “Their efforts helped pare our sprawling 12,000-page site to a lean, info-rich 950 pages -- not including with newly organized encyclopedic content.”

For more information about the programs of the University of Arkansas Cooperative Extension Service, contact your county extension office or visit www.uaex.uada.edu.

The Cooperative Extension Service is part of the University of Arkansas System Division of Agriculture and offers its programs to all eligible persons regardless of race, color, national origin, religion, gender, age, disability, marital or veteran status, or any other legally protected status, and is an Affirmative Action/Equal Opportunity Employer.

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By Mary Hightower
The Cooperative Extension Service
U of A System Division of Agriculture

Media Contact: Mary Hightower
Extension Communications Specialist
U of A Division of Agriculture
Cooperative Extension Service
(501) 671-2126
mhightower@uada.edu

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