The Core Report | January 2026 |
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The Core Report | | The Core Report provides URochester WordPress administrators with news and resources every month. You’re receiving this because you have administrative access to a University WordPress site, or serve on the University’s Web Governance Council. |
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Letter from the editor | Where wonder begins |
If you work on University websites, you already know that curiosity is part of the job. Every page edit, every content decision, every small refinement starts with a question: how might this be clearer, more useful, and more human for the people who land here? |
Consider this your invitation to stay curious, keep asking better questions, and make things even better, one thoughtful improvement at a time. We’re excited to share the updates below and to begin a year shaped by intention, care, and a renewed sense of possibility. |
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Phil Sennett
Director, Web Solutions + UX University Marketing and Communications | University of Rochester |
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| | Rochester Core theme updates | Rochester Core is the University’s WordPress theme. Explore features that have been released and what's coming next. |
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Introducing Rochester Mantle |
Rochester Mantle is a new layer built on top of Rochester Core that supports new structured and dynamic content types. We’re partnering with Administration and Finance to build it over the coming weeks, after completion, it will be available for University-wide use. |
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| | Update to forms |
If your site uses Rochester Core, it uses Gravity Forms for form creation and management. We’ve made updates to form styles to improve the overall user experience, including refinements to typography, spacing, and focus states for better clarity and accessibility. |
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| | 404 page |
Our old 404 page was bare bones. We’ve replaced it with a calmer, more helpful experience that offers clear next steps and useful resources, helping ease a moment of frustration and get visitors back on track. Check it out (this points to a 404 page!) |
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| | Rochester Core in action |
Rochester Core runs on 100+ University WordPress sites, serving a wide variety of audience needs and business goals. |
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Office of Counsel |
The Office of Counsel website provides a clear, centralized destination for University faculty and staff seeking legal guidance and support. Built with Rochester Core, the site emphasizes clarity and ease of navigation, helping users quickly understand when to engage counsel, access key resources, and connect with the right contacts. |
| Visit the site » |
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| | Building better with URochester resources |
Access tools and guidance to create work that reflects the excellence and identity of the University of Rochester. |
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| Resource |
Meeting new accessibility requirements |
A major DOJ accessibility deadline is approaching for public entities, and expectations across higher education are rising. This is a moment to refocus on digital accessibility—starting by reducing outdated PDFs, replacing what you can with accessible web pages, and planning remediation. |
| Read the article » |
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Resource |
Using Yoast with Rochester Core | If your site uses Rochester Core, the Yoast SEO plugin is already available to site administrators. Yoast provides guidance on page titles, descriptions, readability, and SEO best practices as you write and update content. |
| Learn how to use Yoast » |
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training guide |
Organizing content with tabs | The tabs component allows visitors to move between related sections of content within the same space. It helps organize information, reduce visual clutter, and improve navigation while keeping pages focused and easier to use. |
| Explore the guide » |
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training session |
Digital accessibility for purchasers | đź“Ś Virtual Session
🗓️ Monday, February 12, 2 p.m. Join us for a session on purchasing accessible digital products and services. Learn core accessibility concepts, how to evaluate vendors, ask the right questions, review documentation, and know when to seek additional support. |
| Sign up to attend » |
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resource |
Branded Powerpoint templates | These templates provide ready-made, on-brand solutions for common presentation needs. They help you work more efficiently while maintaining consistency with the University’s visual identity and accessibility standards. |
| Explore resources » |
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| University News |
Leadership updates | These recent leadership changes may require updates on some University sites. Review any pages that reference these roles and update them if needed. |
Dean of the School of Arts & Sciences
Sam Thomas will begin as dean on January 1, 2026. Dean of the Warner School of Education and Human Development
Following her service as interim dean, Melissa Sturge-Apple ’92 began serving as permanent dean on January 1, 2026. Dean of the University of Rochester Libraries
Timothy McGeary has been named University Librarian and the Andrew H. and Janet Dayton Neilly Dean of the University of Rochester Libraries. He will begin his role on March 1, 2026. |
| Need help? Contact our team » |
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Have a great month, URochester |
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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, or serve on the University’s Web Governance Council. |
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