The Student Support Services(SSS) is a new program that needs a web presence on the college campus. In order for any organization to be noticed, they need a portal to reach their target audience. For SSS, their Web site will be that portal. The Creative Web Group (CWG) is a cohesive team of dedicated members with knowledge of the necessary web technologies to accomplish a common goal. Our goal is to provide a Web site that will satisfy the needs of our clients. We believe that creating a Web site requires more than just technical skills. Our members can empathize with the students that are the target audience. We are determined to deliver the SSS the best site out of all the groups.

Statement of Need:
The main problem that the Student Support Services is facing right now is that they do not have a presence on the Montgomery College campus. The SSS is not well known in the college and currently does not have an advertised personality attached to its cause. Because there are many programs set up in the college, SSS's identity quickly dissolves itself in confusion with numerous other programs.

We, the Creative Web Group are determined to create a personality that will distinguish the SSS from other programs that are offered on the college campus. Because SSS has a very concrete audience, we are determined to reach that audience through our Web site and bring recognition to the program and its founders. The target audience includes students with low income, students with disabilities, and first generation students. The Web site will develop a web presence for the SSS, and create a personality that will appeal to its applicable students of Montgomery College.

Project description:
Our proposed SSS Web site will accomplish three goals. The first is to inform the audience about the program, second is to direct people toward the organization, and third is to give a positive impression of SSS. The main issue of the site should definitely be on readability and loading time. This is important because it directly affects our target audience. The Web site should be easy to read with large fonts, simple and clearly written text, use few images, and easy to download. Your audience will most likely own the basic connection of a telephone modem. We will have the prototype ready by April 5, 2002. At this stage, you can test and make changes. The final version will be complete on April 19, 2002. The user guide will be ready on April 25, 2002.

It is important to carry over the Montgomery College look and feel of the site for easy identification. Ms. Jackson had mentioned the need for a logo that will make SSS unique. We propose a simple and professional logo that will represent SSS using red and black color preference that matches the TRIO logo. The main page will be a template set up for all the other pages on the site. Centered at the top is the Montgomery College banner, to the left of it we plan to put the SSS logo, and to the right of it is the TRIO logo. Underneath the banner, we will put a large heading identifying the Student Support Services. Underneath the heading will be the content area of the site. Right of the content area will be for the proverb statement.

In the content area, there will be a picture of the Campus Center building where SSS is located. This photo will automatically identify the location of the program. Wrapping around the picture we will have the description of SSS and its purpose. Left from the description we will have buttons with local links to navigate the Web site. You will have ten links. These links will include all your services, a link to MC department, and a link to outside resources. When a user of the Web site will enter one of these local pages, the SSS logo and buttons will stay the same only the content area will change. At the bottom right corner of the welcome page, we will also have a thumbnail (small picture) of the map that shows how to get to the location with contact information. The site will be designed to keep the viewer on the site as long as possible.

Summary:
The Student Support Services Web site should be a recognizable, simple, and well-designed site that appeals more on the content than the look of images or animation. Realism is very important in order for students to react to the program itself, instead of flashy pictures. Most importantly, the site would be readable for students with disabilities as well as appealing to the eye. Fast loading time is critical, and that is one of the reasons we will put a text version up as well as the one with graphics. The design and layout will give identity and a face to a not yet well known but good intentional program.