The Office of Government and Community Relations (GCR) at Syracuse University has redesigned its Web site, promising easier access and more user-friendly features than before.

The redesigned Web site focuses on each individual audience group that would use it. Students, faculty, community leaders and government officials now find navigation tabs easily leading to useful news and contact information.

The new design was needed for various reasons, said Diana Napolitano, government relations associate for GCR.

‘The old site had been around for a while and was very outdated,’ Napolitano said. ‘We wanted to make this one easier to use and also more dynamic.’

Napolitano said the new design and layout better serves the GCR mission.

‘GCR acts as the face of SU to the community,’ Napolitano said. ‘Government officials and community leaders look to us for support, and we maintain a very active role in their operations.’

The new Web site provides students with information on all levels of government and involvement tips not available on the older version, as well as guidelines for living in the university neighborhoods.

On the student page of the Web site, GCR provides information on the legislative process, internships with elected officials or agencies and links to city guidelines for students living in city neighborhoods.

Government officials will find a streamlined information section about SU and Central New York, in addition to links to multiple legislative resources.

The ‘Quick Links’ section is much improved. Access to government information on all levels is now available. Visitors can also find details about volunteering and other community involvement programs.

Beth Mahoney, Web specialist for the Division of Human Services and Government Relations, designed and built the Web site. Visitors will notice a new color scheme, SU-related photographs and a new Google search toolbar.

‘As the technology and Web site techniques change, we must be updating our [Web sites],’ Leslie Neal, senior administrator of human services and government relations, said. ‘We need to keep things fresh.’

‘We believe our Web site truly is new and improved,’ Napolitano said. ‘It is a better representation of what we do, how we do it and what you can do.’

The Office of Government and Community Relations’ Web site can be found at http://gcr.syr.edu.