First Nations University of Canada wanted to update their website, to reimagine the FNUniv web experience from the ground up. They asked Engineered Code to take the journey with them and create a content-managed site that would grow along with the FNUniv community.
FNUniv is a unique Canadian institution that specializes in Indigenous knowledge, providing post-secondary education for Indigenous and non-Indigenous students within a culturally supportive environment. As Canada’s only Indigenous owned post-secondary institution, FNUniv aspires to have an ongoing transformative impact by bridging ceremonies, knowledge keepers, languages and traditions with the delivery of high-quality education.
From the beginning, FNUniv has taken a hands-on approach to their website content. The university’s communication team works across departments to generate relevant content for a growing and diverse user base of students, faculty, alumni and stakeholders.
Engineered Code had an established relationship with FNUniv before they asked us to lead their website redevelopment. As a Metis-owned company, we understand the value of being a good partner, a good listener, a good collaborator. Our experienced team of engineers and consultants has produced dozens of content-managed websites, and we used this experience to project manage FNUniv’s website redevelopment.
Engineered Code led the discovery phase—an intense but rewarding collaboration with FNUniv to develop a deep understanding of the institution’s goals, expectations and needs. We worked together to determine site hierarchy and identify templates. A dynamic home page slider, for example, gives FNUniv the ability to upload breaking news while also linking users to key services and programs. We subcontracted a local company, DC Design Works, to create a visually engaging design.
FNUniv took charge of their own content, rewriting and updating several hundred pages, which we uploaded. We leveraged WordPress, a tool FNUniv was already familiar with, and provided training to enable them to confidently manage their own content going forward, from news and events, to program changes, to alumni and board announcements. The result is a seamless, easy-to-use content managed system that provides users across the institution a consistent experience.
The updated FNUniv website launched in 2020 at fnuiv.ca.
