Before you can edit the website, you must be trained. Training ensures that every site contributor understands not only how to use the CMS but also the standards that keep our website accurate and on brand.
The good news is our course can be completed in about sixty minutes. So once you've received the go-ahead from the content owner, just request access to start the process. Once training is complete, your account will be activated with the correct permissions.
Steps to Become a CMS User
- Speak to your department about their role in managing web content and if there is a need for a contributor.
- Is yes, submit the CMS Access Request Form (student workers should not fill out this form. Supervisors should submit the form for ths student).
- Complete the CMS training.
- Sign the Website Contributor Agreement.
- Receive CMS credentials with the correct role and access (Editor or Publisher).
What You’ll Learn in Training
- How to log in and navigate the CMS dashboard.
- Editing text, links, images, and video.
- Using components to design pages.
- Respecting copyright and use of official digital assets.
- Accessibility essentials: headings, alt text, link text.
- Web governance: editor vs. publisher roles, workflow, approvals.
Who Can Be Trained
- Faculty and staff are eligible to request CMS access with permission from content owners.
- Student workers may be trained if a department requests access on their behalf. Student access must be approved by both the department head and the Marketing Office.
Format
- Since August 2024, Marketing & Communications has trained over a hundred faculty and staff in large groups and small, in person and over Zoom.
- In fall 2025, we moved training to a self-paced course on Canvas. The class takes about one hour, and is best taken in a quiet environment on a desktop computer with speakers or headphones.