Websites at ACC are composed of different content types for different audiences. Table 1 outlines accountability and responsibility for each content type within the public-facing website.
- The accountable area is ultimately accountable for each content type. They own the outcome or result of the webpage’s purpose.
- The responsible area is responsible for creating and maintaining instances of available content types, regardless of their location within the ACC web information structure, or who may be designated as the website’s owner or content manager(s).
Table 1. Public-Facing Content Governance Table
| CONTENT TYPE | PRIMARY AUDIENCE | ACCOUNTABLE AREA | RESPONSIBLE AREA |
|---|---|---|---|
| About ACC | General Public | OCRM | OCRM |
| Promotions (all types) | Prospective Students | OCRM | OCRM |
| Schools/Programs | Prospective Students | OCRM | OCRM |
| Division of High School Programs | Prospective Students | OCRM | HSP |
| School of Community Education | Prospective Students | OCRM | CE |
| School of College Readiness | Prospective Students | OCRM | CR |
| Institutional Information | General Public | OCRM | OCRM |
| Admissions/Aid | Prospective Students | OCRM | Student Affairs |
| Support Services | Prospective Students | OCRM | Support Services |
| Campus Information | General Public | OCRM | OCRM |
| Business & Community | Community/Partners | OCRM | OCRM |
| Events at ACC | General Public | OCRM | OCRM |
| Giving/Foundation | Business & Community | OCRM | Advancement |
| Jobs at ACC | Community | OCRM | Human Resources |
| Incubators & Centers | General Public | OCRM | Incubators/Centers |
| Academic Departments | Current Students/ Faculty | OCRM | Academic Affairs |
| ACC Police | General Public | OCRM | ACCPD |
| Administrative Offices | Business & Community | OCRM | Administrative Offices |
| Chancellor’s Office | General Public | OCRM | OCRM |
Audience & Guiding Principles
Primary Audience
The primary audience for ACC’s public-facing website is prospective students. In particular, the homepage and most visible navigation lead prospective students to discover what makes ACC unique, encourage them to enroll, and help them start strong.
Secondary Audiences
Pages deeper in the site also serve other audiences, including
- Current students (eventually guiding them to their portal for access to personalized information),
- Business and community members
- Alumni and donors
For every page, web content personnel must consider the primary audience (see Table 1) for each page they develop and edit.
Guiding Principles
Web content personnel should follow these guiding principles when developing and editing content.
- User-first. Our visitors come first. The design should prioritize the needs of users, such as prospective students, current students, and community members.
- Brand-forward. We are consistent with our brand. The Austin Community College brand is who we are and should be reflected in our website’s structure, language, visuals, and calls to action.
- Accessible. ACC is for everyone. We will go above and beyond to exceed compliance standards and guarantee all visitors can access the information they need.
- Simple and clear. The UX and visual design should be clean with a simple, intuitive structure. Content should be clear, consistent, and easy for the audience to understand.
- Easy navigation. Implement logical categories, clear headings, a prominent search function, and consistent menu placement to help users find information easily.
- Responsive and mobile-friendly. Ensure the website works well on all devices and screen sizes.
- Agile. Our site is always improving. We are committed to using data-based analysis to ensure our website is improving to meet the users’ needs and the College’s goals.