Contact: Maridith Geuder
A Mississippi State web site for alumni and friends is among the nation's best, according to a current ranking of more than 1,400 universities.
MSU is one of only eight earning the maximum four-star rating in a comprehensive list maintained by California State University, Fresno. Harvard, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Cornell, Dartmouth, Clemson, Arizona State, and St. Olaf College are the others.
The MSU alumni web site address is http://msuinfo.ur.msstate.edu/friends.
CSUF reviewers say four-star sites--those deemed "exceptional"--could be expected to appear in the top 100 of all those represented on the World Wide Web. Rankings are based on outreach component, interactivity, content, navigation and design, and general appearance.
Designed and maintained by MSU's Office of University Relations, the web site includes on-line alumni magazines, songs, class notes, chat rooms, alumni homepage addresses, an electronic post card, electronic pledge and funds transfer forms, and other information.
The university's primary web site (http://www.msstate.edu) was the first in Mississippi and among the first 150 in the world. It also "is believed to be among the 50 largest web sites in the world," said Bennet George, assistant director of university relations.
"Since our primary web site was first designed in 1993, we've attempted to include as much information as possible of interest to alumni and friends," George said. "We're honored to be included in this major ranking."
Among others offerings, the primary site provides access to event calendars, enrollment applications, publications, student organizations, research centers, and campus maps.