Content Management and Training

Approach

UXWS provides general web-related support for the University. This includes web consultation and other web management services. More information about the services we provide can be found on our services page.

While the UXWS team maintains the back end of all of the sites it hosts, it does not manage site content. A unit is expected to maintain at least one trained content editor for this purpose.

In order to facilitate the maintenance of trained content editors, UXWS provides training and training resources for maintaining Howard websites in Drupal.

Our web content training process is outlined below.

Training Process

First, a given website’s unit owner must select a representative staff member of a site’s owning office to be trained by UXWS and receive approval from unit leadership to go forward with training. Knowledge of coding languages is not required.

The staff member will then schedule a training session with a UXWS representative over Microsoft Teams. This training will address the following:

  • Logging into Drupal sites
  • Navigating the Drupal content management system
    • Content types and their uses
  • Building webpages with widgets in Drupal
  • Best practices for websites:
    • Maintaining site security
    • Respecting and protecting user data
    • Upholding Howard’s brand and reputation
    • Maintaining accurate and appropriate content
    • Maintaining content management capability
    • Maintaining accessible content

Once training is complete, the UXWS representative will assign site editor access to the newly-trained staff member and provide access to instructional materials for future reference, including a recording of the training session and internal documentation containing explanations of our site building widgets and when/how to use them.

In the near future, more instructional materials will be available, such as a training course that can serve as a substitute for training sessions.

After receiving web content training, content editors should update their site frequently in order to reinforce their training and to maintain a dynamic and up-to-date web presence.

Some site functions, such as building header menus, are only available to administrators. In cases where a trained site editor does not have the administrative permissions to make a needed update, please put in a request using the UXWS request form and we will be happy to assist.