Web Hosting and CMS Resources

Ektron Resources Ektron Training If you are a faculty or staff member who is responsible, or would like to be responsible, for updating or adding content to the Stritch.edu site, you can get basic training on the CMS. Training is held quarterly and is available for both beginner and advanced users of the CMS. In add

Ektron Resources

Ektron Training

If you are a faculty or staff member who is responsible, or would like to be responsible, for updating or adding content to the Stritch.edu site, you can get basic training on the CMS. Training is held quarterly and is available for both beginner and advanced users of the CMS. In addition, specialized topics related to web content authoring will be held throughout the year.

To suggest a topic for training, please contact Nick Bragg at njbragg@stritch.edu or (414) 410-4209.

Upcoming Training Dates

September 22-28, 2013
Basic Training: 8 a.m. - 11 a.m., BH 038
Approver/Administrator Training: 2 p.m. - 3:30 p.m., BH 038

*Schedule subject to change.

Ektron Documentation

Full product documentation can be found on Ektron's product documentation website.

Microsites/Hosting

Cardinal Stritch University is proud of the accomplishments of its students, faculty, and staff—and we encourage you to celebrate your successes, promote your programs and events, and share news online.

Most updates can be posted on the official University Website. However, if you are seeking to create a separate online project, please contact the Web Communications team to discuss proper guidelines and for assistance.

To inquire about hosting through the University, contact the Office of Information Services (OIS); decisions will be made on a case-by-case basis. Once your project is approved, please follow the branding/visual style guidelines, editorial style guide, and all other policies and procedures in this document in order to maintain consistency across Stritch's Web presences.

All material hosted by Stritch, including materials not hosted under the Stritch.edu domain, should follow these guidelines. Materials hosted outside of Stritch.edu should not, however, use official logos of the University, unless Communications and Marketing approves it. Sites that don't comply with these policies and procedures may be edited or, in rare cases, taken down by Communications and Marketing or OIS.

Hosted sites must:

  • Be broadcast on OIS-approved servers.
  • Make an effort to comply with accessibility guidelines, including Section 508 accessibility standards, the Americans with Disabilities Act, HIPAA, FERPA, etc. Section 508 Accessibility Information can be found at http://www.section508.gov. Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) Information can be found at http://www.ada.gov. You can learn more about accessibility guidelines here: http://www.w3.org/WAI/ You can check your site for accessibility here: http://validator.w3.org/
  • Comply with Stritch policies and procedures, including branding/visual style guidelines and content style guidelines.
  • Use the design templates provided by Web Communications. (If you wish to create your own design template, be sure that it complies with the branding/visual style guidelines and that it has been approved by Web Communications.)
  • Contain institutionally or professionally relevant content.
  • Be managed by an individual or committee designated by the appropriate University official (vice president, dean, department chair, committee chair, director, etc.). This person must also provide a clearly defined workflow and editorial calendar that ensures accuracy and timeliness.
  • Include the designated logo and masthead with navigation (see branding/visual style guidelines) in the header of the site that links back to Stritch.edu's homepage (it's not enough to just include the words "Cardinal Stritch University").
  • Include the date of the last page update and contact information for those responsible for the content and production of the page/site.
  • Inform the Director of Web Communications of the site's existence and updates.

Officially Hosted Sites

All departments and other units of the University must use the University's domain, Stritch.edu, for their Websites.

  • Programs that are formally joint activities with an outside entity (e.g., another university, state agency, local government) may be permitted to use an alternate address, subject to approval by Web Communications. Any affiliated corporation or other activity determined by the Web Communications team to be sufficiently independent of the University by the nature of its mission may also be permitted to obtain an alternate address. If a situation should arise where a site must be hosted by an outside entity, Web Communications may approve the acquisition of an alternate address which includes "Stritch" in its name.
  • Internal-facing Websites are not subject to review by Web Communications.

Home page Guidelines/Content

Good Web design is about the basics: clarity, communication, consistency, and branding. The Stritch Website strives to maintain these standards throughout the site, starting with the home page. The home page of Stritch.edu is geared toward a specific group of target audiences, and special attention has been paid to the way in which the site speaks to these audiences. The home page is not a bulletin board for the University, nor does it need to give equal emphasis to every constituency at Stritch. The reality is that prospective students will view a Website very differently than an internal audience or a specific group (alumni, faculty, community, etc.). The site must cater to this prospective audience group in compelling ways, while also providing quick and easy access to the information other groups are seeking. The overall goal is to serve Stritch's marketing goals while also providing a professional, organized, and compelling experience to all visitors.

If you have a specific item you feel meets the guidelines designated for the home page and would like to see it promoted there, please contact the Web Communications team to discuss next steps.

The home page content should remain fresh, timely, and consistent. It should help support the University's mission and brand, but not come across as "marketing-esque" or generic. Features on the home page should be specific and engaging, and should provide additional areas for exploration, such as links into sections of the site.

The home page must be well balanced, provide easy access for all audiences to access information, and create a sense of individuality and authenticity.

Architecture and Navigation

The design of the Cardinal Stritch University site is approved by the administration and must be kept intact on any page under ownership or maintenance of Cardinal Stritch University. Additionally, the main and consistent navigation of the site must also be kept intact, including both main navigation relating to the University as a whole and consistent navigation that can be found on each page, such as the Quick Links and consistent footer navigation. Only approved font sizes, types, and colors set by the administration can be used in the navigation.