Internal Resources for the School of Engineering and Applied Sciences
University at Buffalo (UB)
Web Services
The SEAS Office of Communications utilizes the university's content management system (UBCMS) to manage the web presence of our school, departments and many of our research centers.
Learn about access levels, training, and how to get started managing websites in the School of Engineering and Applied Sciences portfolio.
Get started with:
Questions about SEAS sites that are not in the UBCMS should be directed to Science and Engineering Node Services (SENS).
Overview of Web Communications and Services
The UBCMS is an effective tool in creating and maintaining web content in a way that is mobile friendly, promotes accessibility and is consistent with the UB brand.
Services
Our office creates and maintains websites for departments, centers and institutes or other unites with SEAS. Please reach out to our office for any of the following:
- Adding or updating content on an existing SEAS site.
- Reflecting personnel changes on the live website.
- Changing a site's layout, structure or navigation.
- Adding or updating faculty and staff profiles.
If you have a web service request not featured on this list, please reach out to SEAS communications.
Creating a new website
Are you looking to launch a site, or migrate an existing site? Please contact SEAS communications to find out if the the UBCMS might be an option for your unit, or learn about other tools for web hosting/management at UB.
Creating a profile for new faculty
Do you need to create an online profile for a new faculty member? Please submit a web service request or contact SEAS communications prior to the faculty member's arrival.
The following options are available for new faculty profiles:
Full profile
All new faculty members are eligible for a full profile on their official appointment start date or on the first day that the employee is required to report to work on campus, whichever date is earlier.
Contact-Only Profile
Only includes name, UB email, photo, title, department, research interests, and start date.
All new faculty members are eligible for a contact-only profile within three (3) months of their official appointment start date. Requirements: UB email and employee approval.
New faculty members are eligible for a contact-only profile within six (6) months of their official appointment start date if they have principal investigator (PI) status. Requirements: UB email, active volunteer appointment, and approval of chair, dean, and employee.
UB CMS Roles and Permissions
Below are the roles that users can gain permission to in the UBCMS. Any role above Viewer requires training before access will be given. If you are not comfortable in any of these roles, the SEAS Office of Communications is happy to make updates for you. Simply fill out the Request a CMS Website Change form.
Viewer
- The most basic role in the UBCMS
- Can view but cannot create or modify pages in the authoring environment
- Can see, but not modify page annotations
- Recommended for content proofreaders, reviewers and hands-off strategic leads
Author
- Does the lion's share in the UBCMS
- Can view, create, move or delete pages in the authoring environment
- Can modify most content, except the header, footer and related links
Publisher
- Can view and activate pages in the authoring environment
- Can deactivate pages, removing them from the public site
- Unless they also are Authors, they cannot create or delete pages, or modify content
Specialist
- Receives additional access to special features such as design mode and site configuration files
- Allows for manipulation of navigation, headers and footers
- Highly experienced CMS users and web developers only
The SEAS Office of Communications reserves the right to remove permissions from any user that does not abide by accessibility requirements, does not demonstrate adequate proficiency using the UBCMS, and/or requires additional training.
Training
New Users
New SEAS CMS users must complete UBCMS Self-Paced Training provided by University Communications before scheduling a SEAS-specific training. You may request access to the Training Server to complete the exercises as you go along.
Once basic university training has been completed, please contact the SEAS Office of Communications to schedule a 1-hour one-on-one training session. This session will provide a more in-depth look into how SEAS uses the UBCMS platform and how shared content is used at the department and school levels. You will also learn about the web accessibility requirements all UBCMS users must follow.
Existing Users
Looking to brush up on some of your CMS skills or learn some new tricks? Check out our collection of training videos specifically designed for SEAS CMS users.
SEAS Flex-UI Training Videos
Accessibility
Web accessibility refers to the inclusive practice of removing barriers that prevent interaction with, or access to websites by people with disabilities. The university follows state and federal mandates regarding universal accessibility and adheres to the Web Content Accessibility Guidelines (WCAG) in order to provide an inclusive web experience for all of our users. This includes content, video captioning, alternative text, electronic document accessibility and more. Our team works to ensure accessibility guidelines are followed through training and regular remediation.
Learn More About Web Accessibility
Questions and/or comments on web accessibility in SEAS may be directed to the school's Web Accessibility Liason, Sarah D'Iorio.
Getting or Changing Access
The SEAS Office of Communications manages CMS access for all SEAS-owned sites. Access to any sites outside of SEAS is managed by University Communications or the respective academic unit. If you are unsure who manages access to your site, contact the SEAS Office of Communications.
Once you have completed central and SEAS CMS training, you are ready to get started in the UBCMS. If you don't have access, use the Request to Modify SEAS Websites and User Permissions form to request it. You can also use this form to request updates to user permissions or remove permissions for those who no longer need access.
Before You Request Access
New users requesting access to SEAS-owned sites are first required to complete the Flex-UI training for any access levels above Viewer.