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Website Redesign Project:Frequently Asked Questions


Website Redesign FAQs


Content Management Questions

What Content Management System will be used?

Our new content management system (CMS) will be Drupal. Drupal is a growing CMS in the higher-education community with many institutions like Stanford, Duke, Arizona State, Oregon State, Harvard, Chicago, Yale, and Ohio State currently using it. The University Communications Digital Team and the ITS Web Support Team will be assisting each unit in planning their migration, constructing their site navigation, as well as training on how to use Drupal.

How will content maintenance be managed?

If a unit owns content today, they will continue to own, manage, and update the content in the future. The Web Redesign Project Core Team is working with content managers across campus to ensure that every current content manager will retain access to their content (i.e., login and edit their page as needed) and have access to training on how to use the new Drupal content management system.

If you have questions, please contact your web liaison or email webcomm@odu.edu or wsp@odu.edu

How will my team be able to access our content?

The content you and your unit own/update today, will be the content you and your unit will own and update on the new site.The Web Redesign Project Core Team is working with content managers across campus to ensure that every current content manager will retain access to their content (i.e., login and edit their page as needed) and have access to training on how to use the new Drupal content management system.

If you have questions, please contact your web liaison or email webcomm@odu.edu or wsp@odu.edu

Will I still be able to use the Photo Asset Upload Request form?

Yes-this process will not change with the launch of the new site. The Photo Asset Upload Request form & the Document Asset Upload form will be used the same way that they have always been. However, be aware that the requirements to upload a photo (size, orientation, resolution) will change with the specs of the new website. We are very proud of the new site, and we want to make sure that we are using the right assets to compliment it.


Timeframe & Content Migration

What is the timeframe for the project?

IMPORTANT UPDATE: Due to the size and functionality of ODU's website, our vendor needs additional time to complete the site delivery. In consultation with the WRP stakeholders, the WRP team has decided to delay the launch of Wave 1 until after the start of the fall semester

Website Redesign Project (WRP) launched in fall 2020 when ODU acquired Acquia Cloud and Aquia DAM as well as Drupal to replace our current content management system, Adobe Experience Manager (AEM). Wave 1 of the new website is scheduled to launch in 2022.

For more detailed information on each phase and wave of the WRP, visit Project Phases & Timeline.

Will the URL of my webpage change?

No - you will continue to use your current URL.

If you have questions, please contact your web liaison or email webcomm@odu.edu

When will my page (academic and/or administrative unit websites) launch?

The entire ODU website is undergoing a significant migration and redesign, and due to the sheer volume of the current ODU site, we will be migrating all content to the new site in waves.

The first wave is scheduled to launch in the Fall of 2022. The Web Redesign Project Core Team will be working with units across campus to identify which wave they will be a part of. As the waves are determined, they will be listed here: ODU Web Redesign Project Content Migration Schedule.

Web Redesign Project Core Team will work with campus partners to migrate all content from AEM to Drupal until the entire site is migrated (Summer 2023).

If you have questions, please contact your web liaison or email webcomm@odu.edu.

I see my my page (academic and/or administrative unit) listed in the 'Sites' column, what does that mean?

If you see your office/department/unit listed under the "Sites" column, this denotes your entire site and all of its child pages will be migrated.

I see my page (academic and/or administrative unit) listed in the 'Landing Page' column, what does that mean?

If you see your office/department/unit listed under the "Landing Pages" column, this denotes that only the landing page of you site will be migrated at this time, and any other pages associated with your office/department/unit will be migrated in a later wave.

  • E.g. The Life at ODU landing page (odu.edu/life) will be migrated to the new site in Wave 1, but the child pages of Life at ODU or other associated pages will not be migrated until a later wave.

I am a Content Manager, when will I be trained on how to use the new site?

The Web Redesign Project Core Team will be training all content managers on how to use our new content management system in accordance with when their unit or department's content is being migrated to the new site. If your unit or department is going to be migrated in the first wave of the content migration, you will be trained before the site launches in the Fall of 2022.

If you are in waves two or later, you will be notified when it is your turn to prepare your content for migration. You will also be contacted when it is your turn to be trained on how to use the Drupal content management system (CMS), so you can continue to edit your sites after they go live on the new platform.

For more detailed information on each phase and wave of the WRP, visit Project Phases & Timeline.


Site Design & Functionality

When can I see the what the website will look like?

Mockups of the new site can be viewed here.

When will a style guide be released?

The website style guide will be one of the last assets developed. As the designs move from idea to use, changes are expected and thus, the guide is best developed and delivered thereafter. Once complete, the style guide will be available on odu.edu/toolkit.

Will the new website look good on mobile?

Yes! Every page has been designed with mobile in mind and will feature an accessible and user-centric design. The new website has been designed with a heavy focus on optimal usability on mobile. you can view mockups of the new site and its mobile design here.

Will I still be able to access quick links (Outlook, Leo Online, Canvas, myODU, etc.) from the website?

Yes! Your favorite quick links will still be readily available on the new site, and in an even more convenient place. The new ODU site navigation menu has been improved to create an easier navigation to all the University's web pages, including all the links you look for on a day-to-day basis. You will be able to view mockups of the new site closer to the launch, and a test link will be shared to the campus community the week of the launch so that you can acclimate yourself to the new site before go-live.



Questions about the redesign project?

Visit the ODU Website Redesign Project FAQ page. If you don't see your question, please email webredesign@odu.edu.

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