Start here to learn the essentials. This section covers how to log in, navigate the system, and find your pages, components, and assets with confidence.
Explore the building blocks of your site. This section includes descriptions and setup tips for each CMS component used to add and format content.
Accessibility is essential. Every visitor should be able to understand, navigate, and interact with your website, no matter their ability.
Get familiar with uploading and managing files. This section explains how to organize images and documents in the DAM for use across your site.
CSS Classes enable the styling of content on a webpage by changing the colors, spacing, and even fonts themselves. CSS Classes offer additional styling options for your website.
Following web best practices helps ensure that every page on the OU website is accessible, user-friendly, and consistent with the university’s brand. When you follow guidelines for structure, image size, link text, and component use, you’re helping all visitors, including those using assistive technology, navigate and understand your content. Sticking to OU branding and accessibility standards also supports a unified experience across the site and reflects our commitment to clarity, inclusivity, and excellence.
When naming files for the web, such as documents or images, it's important to use lowercase letters only, with no spaces or special characters. Use hyphens to separate words. This format helps ensure that files are compatible across browsers and devices, reduces the risk of broken links in the CMS, and improves search engine optimization (SEO) by creating cleaner, more readable URLs. Consistent file naming also supports OU’s standards for accessible, well-organized, and professional web content.
DO
Use lowercase letters
Use hyphens to separate words
Keep names short but descriptive
Use only letters, numbers, and hyphens
Examples:
student-handbook-2025.pdf
faculty-directory-photo.jpg
event-flyer-fall2024.png
DON'T
Use capital letters
Use spaces between words
Use special characters like !, &, %, #, @
Include long or unclear names
Examples:
Student Handbook 2025.pdf
FacultyPhoto#1.JPG
flyer_final_V2(1).png
Using the right file size and format helps your web pages load quickly and display correctly across all devices. Large files can slow down your site and create access issues, especially for users on slower connections. Choosing appropriate formats also improves compatibility and ensures a better experience for everyone.
Recommended Image Dimensions:
Feature Images: 2000 × 750 pixels
Card Images: 900 × 600 pixels
Profile Card Photos: 600 × 600 pixels
Verticle Headshots or Accent Images: 600 × 900 pixels
Recommended File Formats:
Images: JPG, or PNG (optimized for web)
Documents: PDF (accessible and not tied to specific software)
DO
Use optimized file sizes for web
Resize images to the correct dimensions before uploading
Save documents as PDFs to ensure broad compatibility
Keep image files under 500 KB whenever possible
DON'T:
Upload high-resolution print files or multi-MB images
Use unnecessary file types (like PSD, TIFF, or Word DOCX files on pages)
Rely on large background images that slow down loading
Skip resizing or compression before uploading
