Site Admin Users Guide

The approved content strategy for the site is included here. To best maintain the integrity of the intended user experience, we recommend that edits to the site be predominantly text and image updates or adding events and people.

For instructions on how to make updates, refer to the tutorials for each page and how to use posts or the Training Video library.

Creating new pages should be avoided. Other than text edits to on page content, posts are the best way to accommodate new material. On the rare occasion that a new page is warranted, consider under which of the five main nav sections it belongs—knowing that it will appear in the side nav of that section. Do not make orphan pages.

If page layouts need to be adjusted or if a site admin feels a new page might need to be created, please contact Digital Support in MarComm for guidance.

Site Goals

  • A dynamic ecosystem for WashU environmental research
    • “By integrating climate change, biodiversity, planetary health and environmental justice, we envision important synergies and discoveries can emerge,” Iannotti said.
  • Collaboration Hub
  • Research Accelerator
  • Signal Booster

Key Audiences

Internal Audiences

  • University leadership
  • Faculty
  • Graduate students
  • Undergraduate students
  • MarComm

External Audiences

  • Peer institutions
  • Prospective faculty, staff, students
  • Donors
  • Collaborators
  • Community partners
  • Media

IA (site structure) Best Practices

  • Main Nav
    • Functional use
    • Messaging signposts
    • Limited number to 5-7
  • Home page content
    • Engages broadest audience
  • Landing pages
    • Organizes content into “buckets” for users
    • Engages audience segments who are looking for something more specific

Approved IA

Content Strategy

Through the site’s content structure and taxonomy, we aim to communicate that…

“The center can be a catalyst for attracting new students and faculty to WashU who will enrich our ecosystem of environmental research.” – Daniel Giammar

Main Navigation

Designed around what audience segments (researchers) are looking for:

  • About
  • Research
  • Scholars
  • Programs
  • Connect

Use the home page content to establish our narrative, featuring:

  • Hero image (randomized between four images on load)
  • By the numbers block that can link to a Progress & Milestone page (forthcoming) for more details
  • WashU Ecosystem
  • Featured research and stories section
    • Leverage great video storytelling
  • In the news
  • Upcoming events with link to all events
  • Research themes

Structure/taxonomy mirrors an actual physical ecosystem

  • Facilitating connections among other university offices and centers
    • Emphasizing/differentiating the center’s programs
  • Providing users with ease of navigation
    • Cross-linking between sections
    • Using categories and filters for people and research, research stories/news

Mechanics

  • System provides flexibility to link off to content that is not owned/managed by the center
    • Full faculty bios
    • Stories on Source or external news sites
  • Local (non-Happenings) events can be featured on the site