College and university websites are a critical gateway for students, parents, faculty, and alumni. But content creators, whether they’re marketing professionals or academic staff, often juggle multiple roles, and web content can end up being an afterthought. That’s why giving contributors effective prompts that are clear, strategic questions or cues can help you keep your web content compelling and relevant.
At Hannon Hill, we believe that with the proper guidance, every contributor can create informative, engaging, and action-oriented content. Here are a few smart prompts to improve content creation across your higher ed website.
Prompts help contributors focus on what matters most: the needs of their audience. They also reduce internal jargon, clarify structure, and align content with strategic goals like recruitment, retention, and fundraising.
When used thoughtfully, prompts can streamline the writing process, saving time for both contributors and web teams.
Important Reminder: Always follow your institution’s AI policy. AI-generated content should be reviewed for tone, accuracy, accessibility, and alignment with your brand voice before publishing.
Goal: Write a compelling intro for a degree page that attracts prospective students.
Prompt to ChatGPT:
"Write a 2-paragraph overview of the undergraduate biology program at a liberal arts college. Use clear, student-friendly language and an encouraging tone. Start with what students can expect in the program. Include hands-on learning, faculty mentorship, and interdisciplinary experiences. In the second paragraph, describe possible career outcomes and post-grad paths, such as med school, biotech, or research. Make it appealing to both students and their parents."
Sample Output:
Our Biology program combines hands-on research with a strong foundation in the life sciences. Students learn in small lab-based courses starting their first year and can participate in faculty-led research projects, field studies, and internships in healthcare, environmental science, and biotechnology.
Whether you're aiming for medical school or a career in conservation, our dedicated faculty will guide you every step of the way. Recent graduates have gone on to become lab researchers, wildlife biologists, and public health advocates.
Goal: Improve clarity and actionability on an undergraduate admissions landing page.
Prompt to ChatGPT:
"Write a clear and motivating call to action for the bottom of an undergraduate admissions webpage. The audience is high school seniors who may be uncertain about applying. Use warm, inclusive language. Encourage them to apply, schedule a campus tour, or reach out with questions. Keep it short, 1–2 sentences max."
Sample Output:
Ready to take the next step toward your future? Apply now or schedule a campus visit to see what it’s like to be part of our community. Our admissions counselors are here to help every step of the way.
Goal: Make student services feel approachable and easy to navigate.
Prompt to ChatGPT:
"Write homepage content for a university Career Center website aimed at current undergraduate students. Use a friendly, upbeat tone. Begin with a sentence that assures students that the center is there to support their career journey. Highlight key services such as resume building, job and internship search, mock interviews, and career fairs. End with a clear call to action to book an appointment or visit the job portal."
Sample Output:
Looking for a job or internship? Need help polishing your resume or prepping for an interview? The Career Center has your back. From one-on-one coaching to career fairs and employer meetups, we’ll help you launch confidently into your next chapter. Book an appointment or check out our job board today.
Goal: Humanize faculty profiles and highlight student-faculty connection.
Prompt to ChatGPT:
"Write a short (2–3 sentence) faculty bio for Dr. Samantha Mendez to be used on a department webpage. The audience is prospective and current students. Use friendly, accessible language. Mention what she teaches (economics), her research focus (income inequality), and her passion for mentoring first-gen students. Highlight her as approachable and supportive."
Sample Output:
Dr. Samantha Mendez teaches economics with a focus on making complex ideas accessible. Her research explores income inequality and policy solutions that support underrepresented communities. A proud first-gen college grad herself, Dr. Mendez mentors students navigating college for the first time.
Goal: Simplify dense content and improve readability.
Prompt to ChatGPT:
"Rewrite the following paragraph at an 8th-grade reading level, using plain, conversational English. The audience is prospective students unfamiliar with college terminology. Avoid jargon and aim for clarity."
[Insert paragraph]
Sample Output:
Our college helps you learn in different ways by combining ideas from many subjects. You'll get to look at big questions from more than one point of view and learn how to solve real-world problems.
Goal: Improve accessibility and inclusive language.
Prompt to ChatGPT:
"Check this text for accessibility and plain language. Make it more inclusive."
Text: 'Handicapped students should contact the Office for Special Needs Services for accommodations.'
Sample Output:
Students with disabilities should contact the Accessibility Services Office to request accommodations or support.
Goal: Reduce calls to admissions or student services.
Prompt to ChatGPT:
"Write 3 frequently asked questions and answers for the financial aid section of a university website. The audience is parents of first-year students. Use reassuring, helpful language. Keep answers under 40 words and focus on common concerns: FAFSA deadlines, award notification timing, and payment plan options."
Sample Output:
Q: Do we need to complete the FAFSA every year?
Yes, students should renew the FAFSA each academic year to remain eligible for aid.
Q: When will we receive our financial aid award?
Award notifications are typically sent in early spring for incoming students.
Q: Can we speak with someone about payment plans?
Absolutely! Our financial aid counselors are available by phone, email, or in person to walk you through your options.
AI tools like ChatGPT can help even the busiest content contributors write better, faster, and more strategically. But success depends on the prompts you give and how you review the results.
By training your team with effective prompts and building those into your CMS or content request forms, you can elevate the quality of content across your institution without burning out your web team.
Publish Sets and Scheduled Publishing are two quietly powerful features that can have an outsized impact on your team's work. Whether managing daily content updates or orchestrating major launches, these tools help keep your content strategy streamlined, efficient, and stress-free.
To learn more about how Cascade CMS and Clive Web Personalization can help your institution reach more students than ever before, reach out to our team.
Last Updated: Oct 29, 2025 9:00 AM
