All Updates

Listing events on your web pages: the shortcode explained

As mentioned in our August newsletter, our existing Event List Content Block has become unreliable, and we have discontinued its use. The new method of listing events uses a text “shortcode” — instructions for the website you can add in the page editor that will trigger features in the published pages. We have used these […]

Read more

Accessibility and inclusion: Using accessibility checkers

This month, we discuss accessibility checkers. WebAIM WAVE Accessibility Checker WebAIM (Web Accessibility In Mind) has provided comprehensive web accessibility solutions since 1999, and their free online service is available to anyone for free use to evaluate a web page. Simply navigate to the WAVE web accessibility evaluation tool website, and enter your web page address. […]

Read more

Past WPCampus conference recordings available

WPCampus is an annual conference focused on the use of WordPress in higher education. This year’s event was held in mid-July, and recordings of the sessions will be made available soon in their Learning Library. This resource offers a convenient filter to view sessions from 2016–20 on topics from Accessibility to Writing, all with the […]

Read more

Gutenberg training in August

In late June we conducted our “beta test” of Gutenberg training, and the results of that session are informing what will become our official Gutenberg training. We will continue to offer our existing “basics” training (now called content blocks basics), and all three of these trainings (Gutenberg basics, Content Blocks basics, and Beyond the basics) […]

Read more

July 24 WordPress updates

The University of Maine websites benefit from great support by the University of Maine System IT department, and part of this involves a quarterly schedule of updates to keep the technologies we work with current. Updates to add-on software (plug-ins) Features such as our events calendar and web forms use add-on software that WordPress refers […]

Read more

Accessibility and inclusion: Sessions from WPCampus 2023

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 upcoming online sessions from the online 2023 WPCampus conference. Accessibility and inclusion sessions at WPCampus 2023 Everyone interested is encouraged to register online for these sessions. Note: while […]

Read more

WPCampus 2023 online conference

WPCampus is a non-profit three-day conference focused on the use of WordPress in higher education. In addition to the in-person event, WPCampus will be streaming their events to everyone who registers online for their free online access to this hybrid event. Digital Communications team members will be attending this conference, and we encourage anyone interested […]

Read more

July 1 changes – Google Analytics, Accessibility training requrements

There are two important changes coming for website content managers on July 1, which we have announced in earlier newsletters. Google Analytics: Older analytics shutting down end of June, version 4 only July 1 As we have announced over the last year, Google Analytics is shutting off their original Google Analytics product on June 30, […]

Read more

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 […]

Read more

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 […]

Read more