Illinois.edu got a new look!
When the university launched the updated illinois.edu this fall, it represented more than a fresh, on-brand design—it reflected a true cross-campus collaboration. Teams from Technology Services and the Center for Innovation in Teaching and Learning partnered with Strategic Communications and Marketing to strengthen the website’s digital presence.
The update wasn’t just a visual change. It was about building a more accessible, secure and user-friendly digital experience for everyone who visits illinois.edu. The new platform delivers on several strategic goals: improving usability and accessibility, driving recruitment and engagement, highlighting the university’s mission and research and ensuring Illinois’ online presence reflects the excellence of the institution itself.
Collaboration in action
StratCom was already well-equipped to handle content strategy and design for the site, but they reached out to Tech Services for help evaluating the hosting platform and content management system. When the ask for recommendations came to Tech Services’ Web Hosting team, Janet Jones, director of Enterprise Applications & Development Services, pulled together a group of people from different Tech Services teams to make a recommendation on how to proceed.
Julieanne Chapman, principal app services specialist on the Web Hosting team, Stephen Butler, lead infrastructure software Developer and Eric Frahm, manager of Internet Communications, joined forces to identify the best hosting and supporting solutions for the site. Chapman focused on developing the right recommendations, Butler handled much of the initial build and Frahm and his team built a support framework for long-term stability.
With reviews from others in Networking and Cybersecurity Operations & Engineering to ensure all aspects were covered, the collaboration led to a smooth and successful transition.
A better, safer website experience
The new illinois.edu is now built on the university’s most popular content management system and backed by top-tier infrastructure and cybersecurity. The move minimized downtime, improved update efficiency and strengthened reliability.
The redesigned illinois.edu site now runs on Managed Web Server, one of three hosting options offered by Tech Services (alongside cPanel and PIE). The Managed Web Server platform brings greater reliability, security and ease of use. Hosted on trusted cloud platforms like Microsoft Azure and AWS, Managed Web Server automatically handles updates, scaling and critical security fixes, minimizing downtime and maintenance.
Our commitment to innovation and collaboration
The refreshed illinois.edu embodies the university’s commitment to innovation and collaboration. With improved accessibility, user-tested navigation and a Search Engine Optimization and Answer Engine Optimization-first approach, the site offers a consistent, high-performing experience for visitors.
This project stands as an example of what’s possible when university units work together toward a shared goal—combining technical expertise, design strategy and creative vision to deliver something that strengthens the Illinois community.
See it at illinois.edu.