USF students design students gain "real world" experience
University of St. Francis students recently had the opportunity to design the web site for the Peace and Social Justice Ministry of the Catholic Diocese of Joliet as part of a web site design class.
"The students worked in groups for their ‘client’, and managed the project themselves," said Terre Rosner, chair of USF’s mass communication department. "They presented to the client, Tom Garlitz, director of the Peace and Social Justice Ministry, and he chose the winning designs. It was an invaluable ‘real world’ experience."
The web site design class students included senior Darrell Hacker of Highland, Ind., senior Keri Harvey of East Dundee, Ill., senior Justin Helin of Shorewood, junior Jose Murillo of Chicago, freshman Larry Newberry of Plainfield, senior Nick Pucel of Shorewood, senior Brian Stoiber of Crest Hill and senior Melvin Williams of Chicago.
"The students worked very hard to reorganize and redesign our web site," said Garlitz. "They were great to work with and did a truly professional job. Lucky is the company that hires any of these students!"
Garlitz explained that even though it was a class project, the students approached it as a "real world" business and conducted themselves as professionals who wanted to earn his business.
"And the fact of the matter is," said Garlitz, "my office had a real need and they met it. I would encourage other businesses and non-profit organizations in the Joliet area to find ways to interact with the university. This experience provided a learning opportunity for both the students and for me."
The Peace and Social Justice Ministry of the Catholic Diocese of Joliet is a non-profit organization that seeks to promote the gospel of peace and social justice through its programs and ministries, locally, nationally and globally. The web site allows the organization to spread its ongoing mission, and work together to truly make a difference in the lives of others.
To view the website, go to www.paxjoliet.org/welcome.htm.
The University of St. Francis is at 500 Wilcox St. in Joliet. USF serves more than 4,300 students nationwide with more than 60 areas of undergraduate study in arts and sciences, business, education, nursing and social work. Eleven graduate programs in health care, business and education are offered.