Fairfield University
The Challenge
Fairfield University, a Jesuit, Catholic institution with a commitment to holistic education, was seeing returns on its recent initiatives—growing enrollment, a competitive student body, and expanded academic offerings in new fields and online modalities. However, its website, designed over a decade ago, had some catching up to do with the institution’s contemporary brand as a “modern Jesuit, Catholic university.” So, they put their faith in idfive, and we got to work.
The Solution
Our research confirmed that Fairfield had everything it needed to recruit beyond its traditional northeast region and to position Fairfield as a Jesuit, Catholic university of national prominence by instantiating academic excellence, fostering achievement, and advancing access. There was a lot more to Fairfield’s values, academic strengths, holistic approach to living and learning, and elevating the graduate portfolio of programs that they needed the website to elevate. The solution hinged on three core priorities: user-focused design, impactful storytelling, and sustainable functionality.
Search-First Architecture and Interactive Features
To improve user navigation, we implemented a “search-first” architecture, optimizing the site for intuitive use by prospective students and families, alumni, and graduate applicants alike. Interactive features and clear calls-to-action now guide visitors to important information, including degree programs, housing options, and student support services, while integrating testimonials and narratives from current students and alumni.
Impactful Storytelling
Fairfield’s commitment to radical hospitality and caring for the whole person was the thread woven throughout new content strategies. Immersive imagery capturing Fairfield’s stunning location, campus, and vibrant student life also illustrated the Jesuit values and commitment to building community across faith traditions and diverse backgrounds.
Sustainable Functionality
We also developed a content management framework to facilitate seamless updates, helping Fairfield keep information timely and accurate for all users. Finally, we invested in updating and improving Fairfield’s SEO, accessibility, and KPI tracking to ensure the site’s ongoing effectiveness and value.
The Outcomes
Along with winning a 2025 AAF Baltimore Gold ADDY for best website (love that), idfive has fulfilled the main objective. Prospective students and families, faculty, staff, and alumni all report a significantly enhanced user experience, reflected in increased site engagement, longer session durations, and a marked reduction in bounce rates. Stakeholder feedback highlights the site’s success in portraying Fairfield as both a serious academic institution and a vibrant, thriving community.
For Fairfield’s marketing and communications team, the streamlined content management tools provide a long-term solution to website maintenance, ensuring the site remains a valuable, up-to-date resource.
We’re excited to see what their team can do now with an award-winning site that is firing on all cylinders, empowered to showcase Fairfield’s mission and values, fostering a new generation of “Stags Forever.”
Up Next
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