Guidelines for use of the Waterloo Content Management System (WCMS)

WCMS web forms

WCMS responsive sites

WCMS publication sites

WCMS conference sites

WCMS single-page sites

 

Guidelines for use of the WCMS

The WCMS supports websites for use by academic and academic support departments of the University within the following guidelines:

  • The website supports the administrative, research, teaching and learning objectives of the University.
  • A designated faculty member or regular staff person; (authorized by the department) must be assigned as website lead and Site Manager.
  • Requests for a new website from academic support units must be supported by the unit head.*
  • Requests for a new website from academic units must be supported by the Faculty Associate Dean of Computing or equivalent.*
  • For security reasons, access to development servers is restricted to WCMS staff. Units on campus can request access to the development server to work on projects that may be integrated into the central build.

* Unit heads/Associate Deans of Computing (or equivalent portfolio) may assign a website lead to approve new websites for a specific area.

Users of the WCMS must:

Approved by the Web Steering Committee September 18, 2012 (revisions approved May, 17, 2017).

WCMS web forms

The University of Waterloo collects personal information in accordance with its policies and the rules set out under the Freedom of Information and Protection of Privacy Act (FIPPA).

WCMS web forms must:

WCMS (FDSU) responsive sites

This mobile-first approach to responsive design provides site visitors with an optimal viewing experience; whether browsing from a desktop, tablet or smartphone device, site content is clean, simple, and easy to navigate.

A WCMS responsive site must:

  • Meet the Guidelines for use of the WCMS (as stated above).

WCMS publication sites

A WCMS publication site is a responsive template specifically designed for digital versions of University of Waterloo publications including newsletters, reports and magazines.

A WCMS publication site must:

  • Meet the Guidelines for use of the WCMS (as stated above).
  • Have multiple issues.
  • Be published at minimum once per annum.
  • Have a business objective.

WCMS conference sites 

A WCMS conference site is a responsive template specifically designed for conference attendees to quickly and easily check everything from event locations and speakers to session times and descriptions.

A WCMS conference site must:

  • Meet the Guidelines for use of the WCMS (as stated above).
  • Only be used for conferences hosted/co-hosted by University of Waterloo faculties, departments, schools, units, research centres and institutes, or affiliated and federated institutions.
  • Have a business objective. 

WCMS single page sites

A WCMS responsive template to support a marketing initiative or campaign, highlight initiatives, or be used for program promotion. Single page sites do not have a menu structure and are not meant to replace full WCMS sites.

A WCMS single page site must:

  • Meet the Guidelines for use of the WCMS (as stated above).
  • Support a marketing initiative or campaign, highlight initiatives, or be used for program promotion.
  • Have a business objective.

Other resources

There are other resources available on campus for those websites that don't meet the above guidelines for access to the WCMS.

Personal/Individual websites - UWaterloo Scholar offers self-serve personal websites for Waterloo faculty and researchers. These faculty and researcher sites are offered as Software as a Service (SaaS) and are built using the WatIAM of the faculty member or researcher. 
Student Projects/Clubs - The Waterloo Undergraduate Student Association (WUSA) offers website hosting. See the WUSA Club Manual.