Charles R. Drew University: Website Enhancements & Strategic Digital Marketing

Charles R. Drew University (CDU), a private historically Black graduate institution in Los Angeles, partnered with Media Genesis to improve its digital presence and expand outreach through marketing, content strategy, and ongoing website support. The goal was to elevate CDU’s online visibility, modernize its site design, streamline communication, and strengthen its brand presence as a leader in medical and health education.

Challenges and Opportunities

As CDU sought to strengthen its digital footprint, Media Genesis worked collaboratively to address several core challenges:

• Outdated Design & User Experience: CDU’s homepage needed a visual refresh to improve navigation, highlight key initiatives, and deliver a stronger first impression to prospective students and community partners.
• Marketing & Enrollment Support: With ongoing recruitment campaigns and new program launches, CDU required marketing strategy, media planning, and data-informed digital campaigns to drive awareness and engagement.
• Search Engine Optimization (SEO) and Analytics Improvements: The university needed enhanced SEO, tracking, and analytics to better understand site performance and user behavior.
• Website Maintenance and Content Support: CDU required regular updates to pages, documents, and features, ensuring their website stayed current and functional.
• Accessibility and Compliance: The website needed auditing and updates to meet ADA compliance and modern development standards.

Solutions by Media Genesis

Media Genesis delivered a full range of web and marketing services to support CDU’s growth and visibility:

• Homepage Redesign and Development: Media Genesis led the design and implementation of an updated homepage, providing wireframes, full-page mockups, and staging site development. The refreshed layout improved key calls to action, enhanced site structure and navigation, and introduced a more modern visual design, all built within CDU’s existing Drupal CMS environment hosted on Acquia.
• Ongoing Maintenance and Content Updates: Throughout the partnership, MG completed over 100 website update requests, ranging from content edits and PDF uploads to new page builds (e.g., Commencement, Faculty and Staff, LCME Accreditation). MG also provided regular Drupal and PHP updates to maintain site security and performance.
• Strategic Marketing Campaigns: MG launched and managed multiple marketing campaigns, including:
  • President’s Day Campaign
  • MSN Program Campaigns
  • Brand Awareness, Leadership Summit, and Transactional Campaigns

Each campaign included setup of tracking pixels, audience targeting, budget monitoring, and reporting.

Analytics, SEO & Technical Optimization

MG implemented tracking through Google Tag Manager, Google Analytics, and Microsoft Clarity. A comprehensive SEO crawl was conducted, with optimizations made to the top 100 pages for greater visibility and search engine performance.

Accessibility and Compliance

MG conducted an ADA audit to identify and address Level A, AA, and AAA accessibility issues, supporting CDU’s efforts to meet WCAG guidelines.

Results and Impact

• Website Enhancements: Media Genesis supported CDU with consistent site updates and technical improvements to maintain functionality and accuracy. A newly designed homepage was also developed to improve usability and structure.
• Streamlined Updates & Maintenance: With bi-weekly check-ins and a clear ticketing process, CDU saw quicker turnaround times for website changes and greater responsiveness across departments.
• Stronger Campaign Performance: The digital marketing initiatives supported enrollment and event participation, with custom dashboards offering CDU real-time insights.
• Technical Strengthening: From SEO to ADA compliance, the CDU site improved across key digital benchmarks, helping ensure a more stable and effective web platform.

Conclusion

Media Genesis delivered a comprehensive solution that modernized CDU’s web presence and enhanced its digital marketing capabilities. This collaborative partnership supported CDU’s mission while laying the foundation for future digital growth.

Looking to strengthen your university’s online experience and marketing impact? Contact Media Genesis to start your next higher education project.