University Websites

University Website Management

To strengthen the University’s public image, MSU Denver’s Web sites exhibit a uniform and cohesive identity through the use of an approved Content Management System (CMS).

All MSU Denver department, office, center, school and college websites must adhere to the official University branding guidelines, web templates, digital content accessibility and appropriate use standards. The University provides an enterprise implementation of the WordPress content management system (CMS) to help meet these standards.

Website Authorization/Removal

• Creation and/or removal of University websites require the approval of the Office of University Communications and Marketing.

MSU Denver WordPress Training

Training Required

• Department, office or unit access to the University WCMS requires employee supervisor approval and completion of the University WordPress Overview training. Dates and times are listed below.

Web Author Resource SharePoint Site

The Web Author Resource SharePoint site contains tutorials, content best practices, step-by-step video and more for MSU Denver web authors who have access to the University WordPress web content management system.

Other Web Content Platforms

In addition to the WordPress content management system, the University provides enterprise  platforms and resources designed to help manage specific digital/web related content:

• Canvas: the University learning management platform.
• Office 365: for University email and calendars.
• Office 365 – SharePoint and OneDrive: document and media repository/management platform available to all student, faculty and staff
• sites.msudenver.edu: Personal faculty/staff academic computing environment. ITS provides the ability to develop and post a personal website, develop, compile and deploy programs for academic use, as well as many other services.
• MSU Denver Online Events Calendar: for University related events, trainings and workshops
• RoadrunnerLink: a service available to student organizations that allows them to publish organization information and schedule events.

Questions regarding these and other services can be directed to:
Information Technology Services Portal
303-352-7548

University Homepage Web Content

Definition

The Metropolitan State University of Denver homepage (msudenver.edu) is the official landing page for Metropolitan State University of Denver website.

Purpose

The purpose of the University homepage is to provide positive marketing messages to prospective students and parents, general information about what MSU Denver has to offer, and news about the University to the on- and off-campus community.

Targeted Audiences

The primary audience for the University home page is prospective students/decision makers. Other important audiences represented on the university website information architecture and global website menu include: current students, faculty and staff, alumni and visitors.

Content Policy

Messaging and promotional space on the homepage are strategic in nature.  As such, priorities are based on the size of the intended audience, support of University initiatives and recruitment goals.

Requests to place content on the homepage should be directed to the Office of University Communications and Marketing.

University brand feature sections:

The University brand feature section of the homepage contains messaging and promotions that are strategic in nature, often tied to University wide marketing campaigns and initiatives.  As such, brand feature images and associated landing pages must be MSU Denver specific. Priorities are based on the support of University recruitment goals and initiatives as well as size of the intended audience.

Run time for event-related promotions is one week. University initiative/recruitment events such as the Admissions Open House may run longer. Marketing and promotional messages may run longer as needed.

News channel:

News items on the University homepage are managed by the Associate Vice President of Communications.

Events channel:

All University departments may submit events for inclusion in the online MSU Denver Events Calendar using the public event submission form. Select event information will be published in the homepage events channel as the event date approaches. Only events posted to the events calendar have the opportunity to appear in the homepage events channel.

Priorities are based on the support of University recruitment goals and initiatives as well as size of the intended audience.

University Global Site menu:

Homepage site navigation and associated sub-navigation reflect the primary information architecture for msudenver.edu. These navigation structures are managed by the Office of University of Communications and Marketing.

Footer:

The footer area contains University contact, copyright information, links required by the State of Colorado, as well as University social media links. The footer is managed by the Office of University of Communications and Marketing.

Link Policy

Link requests for the University homepage and top level gateway web pages should be directed to the Office of University of Communications and Marketing. Links are intended to provide general University information and direct users to needed subsites. Space may be limited and priorities are determined by the Office of Marketing and Communications.

Links from the homepage will not be provided to unsponsored or personal resources, defined as a website for which a department or office has not accepted responsibility or where content is not controlled by University administrators, faculty or staff. Websites that originate from a non-University host will not be directly linked to the University homepage or audience gateway webpages.