Get started

This guide will help you navigate the process of creating or transitioning a UCSC websites, from finding the best web tools for your needs to requesting a site to developing a strategy and planning a site launch. Scroll the steps below to pick up in the best spot for your needs.

1. Confirm whether a WordPress site is best

UCSC offers a variety of web tools to fit your web use cases, whether you’re looking for an official site for your department, a site to showcase your research, or an internal website for your staff. Find what might fit your needs by answering the question below.

What kind of website do you need?

An official website for my division, department, or unit

An internal (or intranet) site

A personal faculty website

A personal researcher website

A personal student website

A student organization website

I’m not sure, help me decide.

We recommend:

Official website for my department, division, or unit

In almost all cases we’re recommending the new UCSC WordPress website service, which is replacing the current WCMS, also known as Cascade.

It’s a great choice for departments, divisions, schools, colleges and units across campus because of its flexibility, ease of use to create, and the to ability maintain great website content.

Before you make the request, it’s a good time to:

Review website standards.
Determine if you need help.
Start (or continue) developing your content strategy, which includes the process involved in getting your site from good to great.
Work with your Website Liaison to confirm your domain name doesn’t have any conflicts.
Consider usability in your domain name.
Take the required training.

Intranets

An intranet is a great choice to share content with your team or department, including things like internal processes and procedures. Review guidance on Creating an intranet.

Before you make the request, it’s a good time to:

Review website standards.
Determine if you need help.
Start (or continue) developing your content strategy, which includes the process involved in getting your site from good to great.
Work with your Website Liaison to confirm your domain name doesn’t have any conflicts.
Consider usability in your domain name.
Take the required training.

Faculty, researcher, or graduate student website

There are a couple options you can choose from:

Faculty and Researchers
Faculty, graduate students, and research staff can use WordPress to create websites to highlight professional, research, and other scholarly activities.

Students
SlugSites provides any UC Santa Cruz student an easy-to-use web publishing tool to create a personal website with WordPress.

Before you make the request, it’s a good time to:

Review website standards.
Determine if you need help.
Start (or continue) developing your content strategy, which includes the process involved in getting your site from good to great.
Work with your Website Liaison to confirm your domain name doesn’t have any conflicts.
Consider usability in your domain name.
Take the required training.

Student organization website

Google sites is the recommended tool for student organization websites. It has several benefits including:

You can get started building your website right away.
Simple to use interface.
Easy to edit, update, and personalize your website.
Fully responsive and optimized for mobile screens.
Real time collaboration.

You won’t need to request your Google Site, you can just login and get started. It’s still a good time to:

Review website standards.
Determine if you need help.
Start (or continue) developing your content strategy, which includes the process involved in getting your site from good to great.
Work with your Website Liaison to confirm your domain name doesn’t have any conflicts.
Consider usability in your domain name.
Take the required training.

I’m not sure, guide me

There are a couple options you can choose from which are based on your role at UCSC.

Review our website options and if you’d like more personalized help, please submit a ticket via SlugHub and we’ll reach out to you and help.

If you are human, leave this field blank.

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2. Request a WordPress website

Once you’ve selected the best tools for your needs, fill out a website request form in SlugHub. The Web Services Team will be in contact within seven to ten days to address any questions and update the status of your request, including when you can start working.

Learn how to request a website

3. Develop a strategy

Develop a plan for how to create and maintain an effective website, including understanding the needs of site visitors and how to develop content and experiences to meet their needs.

Use the Website Redesign Toolkit
Guide: Develop a content strategy
Explore UCSC’s design showcase for inspiration

4. Transition a site

If you are transitioning a website from WCMS (Cascade) or another platform to the new UCSC WordPress service, get a sense for what to expect and how to approach the process.

Guide: Transition a website

5. Explore ways to iterate

Check out some of the opportunities to keep learning and improving your website, from attending a training or open lab to exploring guides on topics like search optimization and accessibility.