- Campuses :
- Twin Cities
- Crookston
- Duluth
- Morris
- Rochester
- Other Locations
The Web templates are designed in sections that allow you to easily customize pages based on your unit's needs. A 'fully loaded' template has all template sections, including:
Head : Coding comments Wordmark and unit ID for print : Coding comments Campus links and jump links : Coding comments U of M template header and search: Coding comments Horizontal navigation : Coding comments Unit header graphic Page content : Coding comments Left navigation : Coding comments Unit footer : Coding comments U of M template footer : Coding comments
The image on the left (click for larger version) illustrates the sections that make up the Web template.
Read the section descriptions below for more information.
Links to all U of M campuses are featured at the top of the templates. These links will quickly show our visitors that we have more than one campus and, as the U templates spread systemwide, will tie our sites together and, ideally, improve navigation between campuses.
Current template users who have been using parent links in this area are encouraged to rethink the necessity of those links. Using links based on University hierarchy is not helpful to visitors outside the U. Alternative areas where these links can be added include your unit's home page header (see template examples), an 'About Us' section on your site, under 'Related Links' in the left navigation, or possibly in the optional unit footer.
The template header includes the block M, wordmark, Driven to Discover, button links to myU and One Stop, and the search bar.
Links to myU and One Stop are recommended either with or without the buttons. Exceptions can be made for sites that have audiences who would not need or be able to use the myU and One Stop sites.
The header must use a maroon background. The block M and wordmark combinations with or without Driven to Discover must be used as is; they cannot be reduced or enlarged in size.
The search field must be included in the header. The default behavior for the search will return tabbed results for sites on the Twin Cities campus, blogs, and for people. The search can be customized to also include your unit's search results. See more about the search.
The optional horizontal navigation below the template header should only be used as a supplement to the standard left navigation.
University Web site visitors should be able to navigate between University sites without having to figure out a new navigation scheme each time they move from one site to another. It is recommended that units maintain systemwide consistency with a left navigation and add the horizontal navigation as an additional alternative.
For example, the U's home site uses a standard left navigation for topic-based navigating. The horizontal navigation enhances the topic-based navigation for visitors who may feel more comfortable finding their content through an audience-based approach.
The template download comes with a series of designs in Photoshop documents that can be used to create your unit's header. These designs are suggestions only - units can use any design they like in this space. Consider using an HTML header rather than a graphic to keep you page size down.
Typically, the unit header on the home page is larger than the headers on subsequent pages. The design of the header should remain consistent throughout your site. This will help visitors know they are still on the same site. Headers that change design from one page to the next within the same site are confusing to users.
The body of the template pages are the place where the grid system really comes in to play. To understand how the grid system works, see the 960.gs and the information on our Using the 960 grid system page.
The styles that will help you use the grid system are marked in the template.css file.
The left-hand navigation area should be used as a site's primary navigation. It is a standard for University Web pages and, used consistently, will help our visitors navigate throughout our system's pages.
This optional footer can be used to provide unit-specific information throughout your site, such as a site map, a link to your building's map, unit contact information, and so on.
The template footer now includes links to 'Parking & Transportation,' 'Maps & Directions,' and 'Directories.' These links should go to central resources for consistency across University site. Units should use the optional unit footer to provide unit-specific information rather than changing these links.
The 2009 Web template update is part of an initiative to better brand the University's many Web sites. New policy for University Web identity is on the horizon—all site redesigns should be planned using the new templates.
Most University Web sites should be using, at the least, the new header and footer—either 760 or 960 pixels wide—by the end of 2010.
Units that have application sites or other special circumstances that make it difficult to update their header and footer within that timeframe should contact University Relations.