Students everywhere live in a digital age, and Grossmont students are no exception. Most people looking for information on Grossmont events or academics will look towards the college’s website.
Many students, however, face an obstacle: Outdated info. Those looking for the most up-to-date versions of documents like the course catalog or general education requirements might struggle to find them. Additionally, it may not always be clear to students when or where an upcoming campus event is taking place.
These concerns are the top priority for the Grossmont staff in charge of online affairs. “Right now, my primary focus is getting things up and running for our students,” said Deanna Thompson, who manages Grossmont’s website.
Thompson explained the college webpage is currently in the process of receiving an overhaul, with the end goal being to remove outdated links and information, as well as a more intuitive front page.
Besides the main website, many students also use social media as a source of information about their school. Grossmont has an established social media presence on platforms like Instagram.
The major challenge faced by Grossmont’s social media and website alike is controlling the flow of information so students are informed without being overwhelmed. With dozens of events and deadlines every week, staff must make informed decisions about what students see.
One of the social media department’s goals is to steer away from a “bulletin board” format, according to Ernesto Rivera, who oversees Grossmont’s social media. “More messages might get lost, so we don’t think that serves students,” Riviera added.
Student feedback plays a major role in the changes to Grossmont’s online presence. Grossmont social media intern Lialla Rivers-Sass encouraged fellow students to interact with Grossmont’s social media pages.
“We’re always going to try to be really engaging with our content, so always comment, we’re always reading everything,” Rivers-Sass said.
Maintaining and updating Grossmont’s sources of information may not be as simple as one might think. Staff members are continuing to work with students to meet the online needs of the Grossmont community, with progress being made every day.
Speaking of the future of the Grossmont website, Thompson said students can look forward to a reduction in clutter and a more uniform design across departments.
The new Fall 2023 Course Catalog can now be found on the Grossmont website.
