Hot off the Press! This month's edition of The Core Report. The Core Report provides Rochester WordPress administrators with helpful news, updates, and resources every month. You're receiving this email because you have WordPress administrator access to a University of Rochester website.

The Core Report

The Core Report provides Rochester WordPress administrators with news and resources every month. You’re receiving this because you have administrative access to a University of Rochester WordPress site.
A vibrant yellow and blue banner prominently displaying the letter "R" in the center.

Better digital experiences 

November’s here, and with it, a fresh opportunity to elevate the University's digital experiences!


As stewards of University websites, each of us have the power to create digital experiences that truly reflect the University’s spirit. We can make a huge difference by helping our website visitors connect, engage, and thrive. Let’s make this month about going the extra mile—refining and organizing our content and crafting sites that feel as welcoming as our physical campuses.

In this edition:

Rochester Core theme updates

Check out what's new and what's coming up next.
A laptop displaying an article titled "ICE HUMANITIES" about glaciers, with two photos of people in icy landscapes.

Now available

Image gallery component

We’ve developed a brand-new image gallery component built to showcase 5 to 20 images, including options for captions and image sizes.
Check out the new image gallery component »
Laptop displaying a webpage about Total Rewards package benefits with a yoga image and a list of topics.

Coming soon

Table of contents component

We’re developing a brand-new table of contents component built to automatically create a headings-based jump link menu pointing to specific sections on a page.
Preview the new table of contents component »

submit ideas

Input wanted: Sidebar page template

The next enhancement on our roadmap is the Sidebar page template. We plan to enhance the front-end user experience of the sidebar menu. Have ideas or suggestions? We'd love to hear them!
Share your feedback »
University of Rochester Undergraduate Admissions webpage with a banner image of a person in virtual reality goggles and text about the university's curriculum.

Spotlight

Rochester Core in action

Explore how the Undergraduate Admissions site uses components to help connect with prospective Yellowjackets.
Explore admissions »

Letters from the WordPress editors

"With a robust library of resources, the Rochester Core theme is the source of truth for building an accessible, on-brand digital experience that strengthens the University's brand. There's constantly something new to learn! I eagerly await the monthly Core Report newsletter."


Trinh Le
Digital Content Strategist, Office of Human Resources
A woman wearing glasses and a cozy sweater smiles warmly, radiating joy and positivity.

Rochester Core powers  92  University sites, 
which account for  22,166  pages.

Rochester Core is the parent theme for 51% of all published University WordPress sites. If you’re interested in using the theme, contact University Marketing and Communications.

Industry insights

This month's industry insights are all about information architecture—organizing content in a way that makes it easy for users to find and understand.
A man wearing a yellow shirt is engaged with his smartphone, focused on the screen in a casual setting.

Nielsen Norman Group

Information architecture study guide
A woman with glasses focused on her computer screen, engaged in work or study.

UX Bulletin

Wrangle your messy website into shape

A woman sits on a couch with a laptop, while a cat gazes out the window, creating a cozy indoor scene.

Smashing Magazine

Easy-to-use information architecture
Asian woman focused on a tablet computer while seated at her office desk, surrounded by a professional environment.

MRW Web

Your menu shouldn’t match your org chart

Quick tip

Simplicity is key!

Use clear, intuitive labels for your navigation menu. Make sure users can easily understand where each link will take them without having to guess. Pretend you're a member of your audience and go to your sit— could you easily find what you need?

Training resources and opportunities

Sharpen your skills with these professional development resources.

Core office hours: Sidebar page template

đź“Ś  Virtual Session

🗓️ Tuesday, November 20, 2 p.m.

Join members of the University and Marketing Communications team for a casual session on the current functions of the Rochester Core sidebar template and discuss enhancements we're planning on making.
Sign up to attend »

Social media accessibility

đź“Ś  Virtual Session

🗓️ Tuesday, January 7, 2 p.m.

This session will cover essential principles of accessibility for social media and offer practical tips for creating content that's inclusive on various platforms.
Register and learn more »

New!

Rochester Core documentation library

In addition to the Rochester Core MyPath training, we've created how-to guides and execution examples for the component library. Explore guides, overview of options, and example use cases 
Check out the on-demand guides »

Digital accessibility for content creators

đź“Ś MyPath

In this course, you'll learn the importance of digital accessibility and gain the essential knowledge to make your digital content accessible. This training is designed for anyone involved in contributing to University of Rochester websites, regardless of their role. This includes developing, editing, or publishing digital content. The training can be found by searching for 'Digital Accessibility for Content Creators' in MyPath.
Access the training on MyPath »

Rochester Core training

đź“Ś MyPath

A WordPress administration course is available to all University staff members in MyPath. The course includes 21 chapters on best practices and how to use components in the Rochester Core WordPress theme. The training can be found by searching for 'WordPress' in MyPath.
Access the training on MyPath »

Editorial style guide

This guide helps the University community ensure accuracy, clarity, and consistency for writing across all publications—including websites.
Review the style guide »

Have a great month, Rochester.

You’ll receive the next edition of The Core Report in December.

The Core Report is produced monthly by University Marketing and Communications. You’re receiving this because you have administrative access to a University of Rochester WordPress site.