Whether you’re creating a new website on UBC CMS or becoming an administrator on an existing site, here are some tips and resources to help get started.
- Review website guidelines. Visit the Digital & Web section on MedNet for resources to help set up and maintain your website, including the Faculty’s recommended guidelines and best practices for websites.
- Learn about the UBC CMS. The UBC CMS Manual is a great place to learn how to use the system.
- Learn about the UBC CLF. Browse the UBC Common Look and Feel (CLF) website to review the features, parts and design specifications of the theme. You will also find additional design and formatting features which you can apply to your site:
- Styles including buttons, circle images and icons
- Components including thumbnail grids, alert bars and progress bars
- Develop web-oriented content. UBC’s hosted WordPress service (UBC CMS) and the UBC CLF cover the technical backend and framework for the website, allowing you to focus on the content.
- Review the key considerations and project planning tips for strategies on developing and maintaining a website.
- Whether you’re writing new copy or revising existing copy for your website, review writing for the web tips to develop website-friendly copy.
- Invest in photography. Investing in high-quality photography can go a long way in elevating the overall look and feel of your website.
- Brand and Marketing offers the UBC community high quality photography at very reasonable rates. For booking details, advice, and current rates and fees, please download the Photography Booking Guide.
- If you are taking new photos for the website, review UBC’s photo guidelines and download the consent to use of image form available on the Photography page of the UBC Brand site.
- Existing photos are available on UBC’s photo library.
- Review accessibility standards. The UBC CLF is designed to meet web accessibility standards. Learn more about accessibility of the CLF including links to the Web Content Accessibility Guidelines (WCAG) 2.0, an internationally recognized standard for Web Accessibility. There is also an Accessibility link in the footer of all UBC CLF sites.
Online Training
- WordPress 5 Essential Training from LinkedIn Learning (UBC staff and faculty receive free access to LinkedIn Learning): Go more in depth into how to manage a WordPress site. This online course focuses on the Gutenberg block editor which you can enable on your UBC CMS site.
Faculty of Medicine Training
Support
- Drop-in Clinics: For one-on-one support to answer specific questions about your site, join a CTLT WordPress & Wiki Clinic which are offered weekly on Thursdays from 1:00 – 3:00 pm.
- General questions: For questions about the CMS service, please contact digitalcomms.med@ubc.ca.