/Marketing and Communications
CMS Web Support

Getting Started with Your stonybrook.edu Website


Welcome

Welcome to Stony Brook's Modern Campus CMS.

As a web editor, your department is responsible for the content, accuracy, accessibility, and ongoing maintenance of your website. This includes keeping information up to date, reviewing content regularly, and ensuring your site meets university policies and standards.

The Office of Marketing and Communications (MARCOM) manages the Modern Campus CMS platform, provides system updates and enhancements, establishes web standards and best practices, and offers training and support resources. While we maintain the underlying system, individual departments are responsible for maintaining their own website content.

This guide will help you plan, request, build, and launch your new website.

 

Step 1: Identify Your Website Managers

Before requesting a website, determine who will be responsible for managing and maintaining it.

Your web editors should ideally have experience with:

  • Website management
  • Graphic design or visual communication
  • Copywriting and content creation
  • Accessibility best practices
  • Basic digital marketing or user experience principles
  • Most importantly, web editors should have the time and commitment to maintain the site over the long term

Anyone who will edit your website must complete a required online Modern Campus CMS training before being granted access to the system.

 

Step 2: Plan Your Website

Before submitting a request, take time to organize your content and site structure.

You should have:

  • Department leadership approval
  • A proposed website name and URL
  • A sitemap or outline of your pages and navigation
  • An inventory of content that will be created
  • Identified web editors who will maintain the site

Request your site only when you are ready to begin building.

 

Step 3: Request Your Website

Submit a website request form to create your new Modern Campus CMS site. The MARCOM web services team will then build out your "site shell" based on your supplied sitemap/website outline.

 

Step 4: Log In and Explore the CMS

After receiving access:

  • Log in to Modern Campus CMS.
  • Review your homepage and navigation structure.
  • Explore the available snippets and components.
  • Confirm that all assigned web editors can access the site.
  • If you are new to the platform, review the available support resources and training materials on this site before and while creating content.

 

Step 5: Build Your Site

All pages should be built using the university's approved templates, snippets, and components.

Common components include:

Using approved components helps ensure consistency, accessibility, and compatibility with future system updates.

Keep accessibility in mind

All Stony Brook websites must meet WCAG AA 2.2 accessibility requirements.

As you build your site:

Building accessibility into your workflow from the beginning will save time and create a better experience for all users.

 

Step 6: Review and Test Your Website

Before launching, review your site carefully.

Be sure to:

  • Test all links and navigation
  • Review your site on desktop and mobile devices
  • Check spelling, grammar, and content accuracy
  • Run accessibility scans using Silktide
  • Verify that images and media display correctly
  • Confirm that page titles and metadata are complete

Having someone outside your department review the site can also help identify usability issues.

 

Step 7: Launch Your Website

Once your site is complete, submit a launch request.

MARCOM will review the request, coordinate any necessary technical steps, and make your website publicly available.

 

Additional Resources

The following resources may help you get started:

If you need assistance, submit a support request or attend one of our regular office hours sessions.