The Ivy Group is pleased to announce the launch of es.vccs.edu, the newly designed website for Eastern Shore Community College located in Melfa, Virginia.

The recent redesign is the fifth iteration of the website since ESCC first launched it in 2001. The Ivy Group has been privileged to work with the community college on both the site's fourth and fifth iterations.

The new website was programmed to be mobile responsive--like the newly designed Resort Hotel Association site, our own Ivy Group website and also the site recently launched for the Association of Social Work Boards--to keep up-to-date with the latest web-development trends and user needs.

The content management system is a highly customized WordPress installation. We integrated a Search Engine Optimization (SEO) tool to allow the ESCC web team to better manage its meta tags to affect page ranking.

Accessibility is very important to the Virginia Community College System (VCCS). Its policy, issued in 2012, requires that all new and updated content comply with Section 508 and WCAG 2.0 Success Criteria A. The Ivy Group developed the new website to pass all necessary technical accessibility requirements, and we will assist ESCC in addressing any content-related accessibility concerns, such as alt tags for non-text elements (images and videos), accessible PDFs and documents and the correct treatment of external links.

As part of the website redesign, the site's graphic designer Stephen Burden also refreshed the community college's logo, providing a modern face lift while still representing the college's coastal roots. Whereas logos are traditionally placed in the upper left-hand corner, the ESCC logo was placed front and center in the header for added visual engagement--just above a large photo slideshow.

"It is always exciting to work with community colleges as they develop and change," said Ivy Group Managing Partner Pam Fitzgerald, a former teacher. "We have thoroughly enjoyed partnering with ESCC over the past three years and look forward to working with them in the future as they continue to serve a growing population of students.”

The Ivy Group would like to thank the ESCC team for all of their hard work: Eve Belote, Jay Welch, Charlie Killmon, Laurie Swain, and Kim Grewe. We hope you enjoy your new website!

The new ESCC site was launched on October 28, 2013. See below for the full homepage design:

The Ivy Group previously redesigned the community college's website in 2008:

Here's a look at the college's very first website in 2001!

About Eastern Shore Community College

Eastern Shore Community College serves the Eastern Shore of Virginia by meeting educational and training needs, creating an environment for student success, and preparing students for citizenship in a global society. By providing access to a broad range of academic, workforce development and personal enrichment opportunities, ESCC empowers students to improve the quality of life for themselves and their communities. For more information, visit www.es.vccs.edu.