All Updates

Accessibility and inclusion: Transitioning from Monsido to Dubbot in September

This month, we share more information about a new tool for accessibility compliance. Monsido to be available until September 30 Many of you have utilized the Monsido tool to identify broken links, misspelled words, and accessibility issues with your website. This tool will continue to be available through the summer while the new system is […]

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Google Analytics: less than 40 days until switchover

Google will be shutting down its older web analytics product (Universal Analytics) on June 30, 2023. Digital Communications enabled Google Analytics 4 for all web sites at the start of this year, but we have found that in many instances existing users do not have access to the newer “GA4” profiles. If you make use […]

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Gutenberg training and roadmap update

With invaluable help from UMS IT resources, Digital Communications continues to make progress toward adopting the updated “Gutenberg” page editor. Work underway this month includes: Identifying the specific features (called blocks) we will make available to all users Creating ready-made design elements (called patterns) that can be dropped onto pages Consulting with early adopters of […]

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Summer website considerations

Spring semester is behind us, and many students have graduated and moved on. Now is a great time to review your website user list, and alert us to anyone who no longer needs access to your sites. Important: everyone should have their own account It can be tempting to share your user account login with […]

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Accessibility and inclusion: Improved accessibility tool coming soon

This month, we share exciting news of a new tool for accessibility compliance. Coming next semester: DubBot Many of you have utilized the Monsido tool to identify broken links, misspelled words, and accessibility issues with your website. Accessibility compliance tools are improving every year, and in late 2022 the University of Maine System put out a Request […]

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April 18 WordPress updates

UMaine and UMaine Machias websites operate in a common WordPress environment, and this software is routinely updated to add new features and fix security vulnerabilities. Beginning this month, we are adhering to a quarterly schedule of updates to this software with the guidance and support of UMS IT’s Web Technologies team. WordPress updating to version […]

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Accessibility and inclusion: Training requirements for all users

Web accessibility has always been a requirement for UMaine websites, and ensuring your content is accessible is part of an inclusive communication strategy. This month, we share new requirements that will be expected of all users in the coming academic year. July 1: UMS Academy training will be required of all new WordPress users Effective […]

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Accessing “under construction” websites will soon require VPN

When new websites are first created, they are typically given an address that begins with “new.umaine.” The site is hidden from search engines to ensure it is not prematurely indexed, and a “restricted access” feature may be turned on to restrict access so only your content editor logins may view the website. In most cases […]

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Menu content block and mobile device display

The menu content block can be a handy page element to display a list of links in a button or list format, and is especially useful when that same set of links needs to be maintained across multiple pages. There is a known display issue with the menu content block’s “Blue horizontal buttons” display option […]

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QR codes and importance of mobile pages

Are you using QR codes to send visitors to your web pages? While these two-dimensional “matrix” barcodes have been around for decades, in 2023 most mobile phone cameras can identify a QR code and understand the information it contains. Digital Communications has received numerous requests and inquiries regarding QR codes in the last year, and […]

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