The CAHNRS web team is working with leadership to improve the usability, accessibility, functionality, and design of all CAHNRS websites. That work includes migrating all websites to the WSU Web Design System. This is great news for all CAHNRS and Extension website editors and contributors, but more importantly for our external audiences.
Current projects include the WSU Extension website, the main Academics site and county websites. Those sites will undergo a redesign and update with migration to the WSU Web Design System. The update will connect our educational outreach and research projects in ways we have not been able to in the past. For example, educational outreach events can be easily posted on the CAHNRS events calendar, and research findings and news stories will be readily available to our audiences in several locations.
Successful migration and redesign require your help. To that end, we have developed an FAQs page for website owners and content contributors that outlines the areas where we need your support.
Frequently Asked Questions
- All CAHNRS websites including the WSU Extension site and WSU Extension County sites will need to be migrated to the WSU Web Design System. The new system has a new editor, called the Gutenberg Block Editor. This will require website owners and editors to learn a new editor.
- Recent experience indicates that learning the new editor is straightforward.
- There is a plethora of resources for learning listed below.
- Take the required WSU Web Accessibility Training. All web content contributors are required to take this training yearly.
- Make a list of all people who should have editing access to your website. Ensure they have completed the required WSU Web Accessibility Training
- Review all web pages and web content on your website.
- Make sure your content is up-to-date.
- Delete outdated content and pages. Review this resource page to help you get started. Specifically, review the content inventory, audit, and management page
- If you would like help checking links on your website, fill out the web support form and we will assist you.
- Open Lab with the CAHNRS web team every Wednesday at 11. Drop in and get help with your website.
- Regular scheduled training. Sign up for announcements from the CAHNRS Web Team to receive weekly updates.
- CAHNRS YouTube training Library – short videos on how to use the new editor.
- Open Lab with the Central Web Team every Friday from 9:30-11. This is open to all website owners/editors using the new WSU Web Design System. Subscribe to announcements from the Central Web Team
- WordPress Plugin training – training on common WordPress plugins (Gravity forms, Tablepress, Events Calendar, WSUWP Gutenberg Accessibility, etc.).
- Web Design System Training – training developed by the central web team. Review the Blocks training – developed by the central web team.
- Review the WSU Web Communication Resources page. This page contains information on how to check for broken links, review your website, perform a content audit, and more.
- Regular communication from the CAHNRS Web Team.
- Regular training opportunities and support from the CAHNRS Web Team.
The CAHNRS web team is working with leadership, program unit directors, web editors, and web content contributors to plan for each project.
- The timeline for the main Extension website is September 2023.
- County sites will follow. Not all county sites will be migrated at once. We will migrate county sites based on readiness, meaning those who have been thoroughly reviewed and updated will be migrated first.
- We will communicate timelines for county sites with county directors and site owners.
- CAHNRS supports 200+ websites. Approximately 50 of those sites have been migrated. We hope to have all websites migrated to the WSU Web Design System by the end of 2024.
- The timeline is dependent on several factors, including readiness to migrate, the amount of support needed from the web team, and the current project load of the CAHNRS web team. If you want to discuss migrating your website, please schedule a meeting with the web team to discuss the scope of your specific project.
- Fill out the web support form to set up a meeting with the CAHNRS web team.
- Make sure your site is ready to be migrated. Refer to the above information about preparing for a site migration.
Refer to the above information about available resources to help you prepare for a site migration.
The new editor is quite different from the classic editor, however, nearly all website owners and editors who have made the transition feel the Gutenburg Block Editor is significantly easier to use than the classic editor. We have many resources available to assist all website owners and editors
- Yes, many sites have been migrated so far. Here are a few:
- Fill out the CAHNRS Web Support Form.
- Attend Open Lab on Wednesdays at 11.
- Email the web team at cahnrs.web.support@wsu.edu.
- Submit your question