Announcement for Site Owners and Web Content Managers:
In our effort to continuously improve our systems and streamline our website management, we are excited to announce that we are moving to a new centralized content-management model for official CAES and UGA Extension websites. This includes all websites for departments, units, centers, commodities, and official programs/initiatives. Starting in Summer 2025, we will begin the phased transition of migrating all CAES sites to this new model. Let’s talk about what that means.
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What is a centralized content-management model?
A content-management model is a clear set of roles, responsibilities, standards, and guidelines which concern how and by whom web content is produced, published, updated, and retired.
The new CAES centralized content-management model refers to a system where a single team (CAES Web Team) will be responsible for updating all web content across CAES and UGA Extension sites and subsites. In our current model, content managers are tasked with handling the website updates for their own sites. Moving forward, content managers will fill out an update request form and our CAES Web Team will review the request and update the site.
Designated website content managers and subject matter experts will continue to produce and provide quality web content for publishing.
Why the update?
We have consistently received feedback from web content managers that they feel unable to keep up with timely website updates, changes in technology, and that adhering to ADA rules is an undue burden. We have listened to this feedback carefully and have determined that centralizing the responsibility for website updates in OIT will reduce the burden on CAES units as well as increase the overall quality and consistency of our sites.
This new model will lighten the load for our content managers and will allow CAES to better adhere to the new federal rule on digital accessibility. This change will also ensure consistency in branding, quality, and user experience across all sites.
When does this go into effect?
To ensure a smooth transition to the new model, we will be moving our content managers to the new model in phases. The phases of this transition are as follows:
PHASE 1 – CAES Main, including Students, Research, Alumni & Giving; Tifton Campus; UGA Extension Main – July/August, 2025
PHASE 2 – Departments – October/November, 2025
PHASE 3 – Centers, Food PIC, RECs, Business Services, OLOD – December 2025 / January 2026
Additional phases will be announced as determined.
Please note that before your site transitions to the centralized content management model, it is still your responsibility to ensure your site updates are ADA compliant. You can review the current Content Management Handbook.
What will the new process look like?
As of the date provided to you in your email, you will no longer have access to edit or publish web pages using Adobe Experience Manager (AEM). All website updates will need to be requested using OIT’s online intake form.
Our office commits to the completion of regular website updates within 3-5 business days. Complex or extensive change requests that require a meeting or additional planning will be scheduled as project work, and we will follow up with you for additional needs to determine the full scope of the project and outline a project timeline.
Individuals who produce, collect and/or submit content for official CAES or UGA Extension websites will need to review the Digital Accessibility Handbook and complete any required self-paced training.
This process is fully outlined in the Web Liaison Handbook. Please take some time to familiarize yourself with this new system using this resource.
Thank you for your service as a web content manager! The OIT team is committed to making this transition as smooth as possible, and we are excited about how this new model will simplify things for you as our content partners.
Help and resources
If you have any questions, please contact the CAES Web Team at caesweb@uga.edu.
