Using programs like Dreamweaver and HTML is like breathing for some Web authors, but for nontechnical support employees charged with making changes to their department’s website, the use of such Web tools can be complex and time-consuming. For those authors, a new Web Content Management System (WCMS) will make life easier.

The Office of College Communications, in collaboration with Information Technology, is spearheading the WCMS, the largest Rightsizing with Technology project, which aims to provide a campus-wide and consistent method for website design, template creation and site maintenance.

A representative from every campus division has been invited to be a part of the WCMS project kick-off meeting on Oct.6, where they will be formally charged by co-sponsors Cathy Lucas, associate vice president of communications and advancement, and Steve Beaty, chief information officer and chief technology officer. Area representatives are assigned to one of two teams, the Project Working Team or the Stakeholders Advisory Group.

“This is something the College has had on its radar for a while,” Beaty says. “I’m excited that we’ve started the process of making the use of technology much easier for our employees charged with keeping websites updated for their departments.”

Lucas adds, “This system will directly impact how common information, such as the academic calendar, campus directories, events calendars and press releases, can be updated. The process will be more efficient and easier as well.”

Other benefits to using WCMS include:

• ability to schedule content publication or deletion ahead of time
• integrated tools to allow easier publishing of photos, video content, post and share documents
• streamline hand-off of web author responsibilities as departments experience turnover/reassignment
•  publish once, view via multiple modes (i.e., web and mobile)

Project Manager Yvonne Flood says, “We’ve got a lot of exciting work ahead of us, and I look forward to finding the right tools for the College to use.” Flood, who retired from Metro State last year as associate vice president for information technology, has been contracted by the College to manage the WCMS project.

Director of Web Communications Chris Mancuso, the project lead, says, “An important outcome for the project is that nontechnical support authors will be able to update their site from any modern browser. The benefit of placing control with Web authors in the departments is that it will free up technical teams to work on more strategic processes and initiatives.”

Beaty adds, “Faculty will not be affected by this. They can continue to use whatever Web platform they have been using. They will of course have access to the WCMS if they so choose.”