Resources for Web Editors

The Communications & Marketing team is working to ensure that this website is more accessible for users and complies with New York State and federal digital accessibility standards. 

The new standards apply to webpages, images, PDF, Word, Excel, Google Slides and video files uploaded to the site AND linked to from other sites or platforms (like Dropbox or Google Drive). 

We audited the site, and the web team is addressing issues that can be fixed on the back-end. We need content owners' help addressing front-end content issues: to meet these requirements, every webpage and file must be reviewed and remediated as needed. 

See #2 below to register for an introduction to the site review process.
See #3 below for info on the site review process.
See #4 below for info on creating accessible materials.
See #20 & #21 below for info on the new process for uploading/linking to files.

Please send your questions to Kira Poplowski, chief communications officer, at kpoplowski@jjay.cuny.edu.

User Guide

Orientation sessions share how to start reviewing, editing and updating your content. You will receive login information after you attend an orientation session.

2026

February 11, 11-11:45am
Register

March 25, 11-11:45am
Register

May 6, 11-11:45am
Register

The Communications & Marketing team is working to ensure that this website is more accessible for users and complies with New York State and federal digital accessibility standards.

The new standards apply to webpages, images, PDF, Word, Excel, Google Slides and video files on the site AND linked to from other sites or platforms (like Dropbox or Google Drive)*. We audited the site, and the web team is addressing issues that can be fixed on the back-end. 

We need content owners' help addressing front-end content issues: to meet these requirements, every webpage and file must be reviewed and remediated as needed. This orientation outlines the process we are using to complete that work. 

*The sessions do not include information on how to make PDF, Word, video, Excel, etc. files accessible. Learn how to create accessible materials.

March 11, 10:30-11:15am
Register

March 12, 10:30-11:15am
Register

March 18, 10:30-11:15am
Register

March 19, 1:45-2:30pm
Register

March 25, 10:30-11:15am
Register

March 26, 1:45-2:30pm
Register

The Communications & Marketing team is working to ensure that this website is more accessible for users and complies with New York State and federal digital accessibility standards.

The new standards apply to webpages, images, hyperlinks, PDF, Word, Excel, Google Slides and video files on the site AND linked to from other sites or platforms (like Dropbox or Google Drive).

The web team is addressing issues that can be fixed on the back-end. This work should be completed by the April 24, 2026 federal deadline. 

We need content owners' help addressing front-end content issues: to meet these requirements, every webpage and file must be reviewed and remediated as needed. The web team will facilitate this review through February 26, 2027. Register for an introduction to the process at #2 above.

Here's a step-by-step guide:

  1. Web editors were emailed a spreadsheet inventory that includes URLs and the hyperlinks, PDFs, Word, Excel, Google Slides and video files on the site. If you did not receive the spreadsheet, please email Aaron Fineman at afineman@jjay.cuny.edu. 

    Using the search function (click “Edit” then “Find & Replace) or the tabs on the bottom, find the URLs of the pages you edit.

    Email Aaron Fineman (afineman@jjay.cuny.edu) the number(s) of the tab(s) on which your URLs appear. He'll give you access. Once you have access, add your name to column A.
     
  2. Login to the website.
     
  3. Click the URL of the page you edit. The accessibility checker installed on the site should automatically flag inaccessible content on the page and suggest solutions.
    1. A red exclamation point indicates an issue to resolve. Click on it. A pop-up window will identify the issue(s) and provide options for addressing it.
    2. A yellow question mark indicates an issue to check manually.
    3. Additionally, a red box on the bottom right corner of the page lists all the issues identified on the page. Click on it to open the list and click on each issue to see options for resolving it.

4. Address accessibility issues as needed:

In some cases, you may be able to copy and paste the content in a document into a web
page instead of making it accessible retroactively. You can find info on creating/editing a 
webpage at #9 & #10 below.

5. Save your work by scrolling to the top of the page and clicking “Save Layout.” If an alert still appears on the page, it was not addressed successfully. Troubleshoot using the info below. 

If you need assistance, please email Aaron Fineman at afineman@jjay.cuny.edu. 

6. When the issue has been addressed, use the drop-down options in column F to indicate if you

  • re-wrote hyperlink text
  • re-wrote ALT-text
  • identified image as "decorative"
  • deleted an inaccessible file & replaced with a webpage
  • deleted an inaccessible file & replaced with an accessible file
  • deleted an inaccessible file/link & did not replace it
  • file/link is accessible - no action needed

 7. Enter new 

  • hyperlink text in column H
  • ALT-text in column  J
  • webpage URL in column K

8. Add your notes or questions in column L.

This is a significant, institution-wide effort and new territory for most of us. Our goal is to be careful and methodical, and we’re grateful for your patience and collaboration. Please send your questions to Aaron Fineman at afineman@jjay.cuny.edu.

Here's some info on creating accessible materials:

In some cases, you may be able to copy and paste the content in a document into a web
page instead of making it accessible retroactively. You can find info on creating/editing a 
webpage at #9 & #10 below.

We updated our content management system and editing the site changed in four ways.

1. Toolbar

  • The “paste from Word” button was removed due to redundancy.
  • “Add link” and “remove link” were merged into a single button. 
    Both options appear when the button is clicked.

(Old toolbar)

Drupal 9 Toolbar

(New toolbar)

Drupal 10 Toolbar

 

2. Add, edit and remove links

Old process - Click "link" on the toolbar, insert the URL into the dialog box that appears and click "Save."

To view or edit the link in the dialog box, click the link then the "Link" button. To remove the link, click the link then the "Unlink" button.

Drupal 9 add link

New process - Click "link" on the toolbar and a panel with a green check and red cross mark will appear. Add a link by populating the link field and clicking the green check. To remove, edit or view the link, click on the link. On the panel that appears, click "edit," "unlink" or “open link in a new tab.”

Drupal 10 add link

 

3. Add and edit alternative text

Old process - When you add an image from your computer, type the alternative text into the dialog box that appears. (Alternative text, or ALT text, is a description of an image for those who cannot see the image. It is critical for people who use screen readers, an assistive technology, to access information about the image.)

To edit the ALT text, click on the image then the "Image" button. Change the ALT text in the dialog box that appears. When you add an image from the Media Library, click "Edit media" and type the alternative text into the dialog box that appears.

Drupal 9 media example

 

New process - When you add an image from your computer, a panel with a green check and red cross will appear. Type the ALT text and click the green check. To edit the ALT text if the image was uploaded from your computer, click "Change image alternative text." To change the ALT text if the image was added from the Media Library, click "Override media image alternative text."

Decorative images - ALT text is not necessary for images that are purely decorative and do not convey information necessary for the user to understand page content. To indicate that an image is decorative only, toggle the “Decorative image” button to the right.  

Drupal 10 add image example
Drupal 10 Decorative Image example

 

4. Adjusting multimedia

Old process - editors were not able to adjust embedded media.

New process - A dedicated media toolbar appears when you add an item or click on an item that was already added. You can adjust the ALT text; align it left, right or center; wrap or break the text; add a caption or link; or resize.

The Communications & Marketing team is working to ensure that this website is more accessible for users and complies with New York State and federal digital accessibility standards.

The new standards apply to webpages, images, PDF, Word, Excel, Google Slides and video files uploaded to the site AND linked to from other sites or platforms (like Dropbox or Google Drive). 

We audited the site, and the web team is addressing issues that can be fixed on the back-end. We need content owners' help addressing front-end content issues: to meet these requirements, every webpage and file must be reviewed and remediated as needed. 

See #2 above to register for an introduction to the site review process.
See #3 above for info on the site review process.
See #4 above for info on creating accessible materials.
See #20 & #21 below for info on the new process for uploading/linking to files.

Please send your questions to Kira Poplowski, chief communications officer, at kpoplowski@jjay.cuny.edu.

We can collaborate with you on assessing, deleting, adapting and creating content for your section[s] of the site. Please email Kira Poplowski, chief communications officer, at kpoplowski@jjay.cuny.edu to schedule.

Please note that we do not have a copyeditor and are unable to copyedit your text. To ensure accuracy, please use a free platform like Grammarly to check your text.

You can also use AI, like ChatGPT, to create web-friendly copy. Try a prompt like "Redraft this copy so it's more web-friendly and concise, using bullets and lists where appropriate," then copy and paste your text into the chatbot and hit enter. (See an example of using AI to redraft copy.) AI makes mistakes so please review and edit the content carefully before adding it to the site.

Here's a Q&A designed to help you think about your content:

1. What are my goals?
What do you want your content to accomplish? Is it to encourage an action, such as submitting an application, registering for an event or making a donation? Is it to share information, such as tuition, scholarship deadlines or faculty publications?

Clarifying your goals will help you review/adapt/create content that serves a specific purpose.

2. Who is my main audience?

John Jay has several audiences: prospective students, current students, alums, etc. Who is the primary audience for your section[s] of the site? Keep their perspective in mind as you review/adapt/create your content.

3. What are my audience's goals?

What you believe your audience needs to know may not be what they want to know.

Create a persona of your typical audience member and develop/organize content that’s most relevant for them (here's an example of how AI can help), and link off to more detailed information. Users typically visit a website or page to find information and/or complete a task. Organize your page layouts and hierarchies so that the information users look for the most is also the most prominent. (It's probably not your mission statement.) We can share analytics that indicate how users have interacted with your content, which may provide insight. 

4. What are my content needs?

Based on 1-4 above, what current site content can be reused, updated/adapted or created? It may be helpful to organize your content development along these lines to determine where you need to focus.

5. How do I write for the web?

People approach digital content differently from print. 

Users spend an average of about 15 seconds on a webpage, even less on mobile, and they scan information instead of reading it. They search for things that stand out, like bullet points or lists. Keep it brief so readers can absorb it quickly. 

Millions of other options are only a click or two away. To maintain interest, ensure that the information most pertinent to your audience is also the most prominent. Try using AI, like ChatGPT, to optimize your copy for the web.

6. Should I use ALL-CAPS to emphasize something?

No. Never use all-caps on a digital platform unless you're yelling at your audience. That is how all-caps are interpreted online. Instead of relying on all-caps, think about how your content could be rewritten or reorganized to make your point more clearly. 

If all-caps are used, the web team will fix it.

7. What if I'm responsible for a department and/or degree program landing page?

Your department/degree program landing page is the "front door" to your section of the website and is likely to have much more traffic than your other pages. Your main audiences are prospective students and current students, so it's an opportunity to "advertise" as well as share information. 

Both prospective students and current students will look for information that's relevant to them: content on what's distinctive about your program, what they might learn/do if it's their major/minor or grad degree and the careers or more advanced degrees associated with it. 

Current students will also visit your landing page to complete a task, such as finding advisement resources, course requirements, a faculty member's email, etc. Links to these items can appear on your landing page, but keep in mind that the resources mentioned in the paragraph above are of interest to both prospective students and majors/minors and should be more prominent.

Navigating a site is easier for users if page layouts are consistent across a site or section. The landing page format and content was reviewed by President Mason and reviewed and approved by Provost Pease. It applies to all departments/degree programs.

Here's what's needed for your landing page:

  • Hero image: this is the large image at the top of the page. Select an image relevant to your program that does not compete with the text [[which is formatted "Department of [Name of Discipline]" or "[Name of Degree] in [Name of Discipline]].
  • Icons/text: this appears below the hero image. You can choose the icons and the text that appears below the icons. At a glance, this section shares information that research shows is exceptionally important to prospective and current students.
  • The text should be very brief [about 20 characters for the bolded text and about 60 for the unbolded text] yet impactful. Longer text will disrupt the layout, especially on mobile. We can work with you on this. You also have the option of adding a "Learn More" link so users can click for additional information.
  • Highlights: this appears below the icons/text. This section showcases what's compelling about your program for both current and prospective students and aligns with an important strategic goal: student recruitment and retention. The only fixed item in this section is the link to Admissions on the far right. For the others, you can choose the links, images and very brief subtitles and descriptions. This might include:
    • link to success stories about student/alum majors
    • link to internships related to the major/minor
    • link to info on career paths
    • link to scholarships & fellowships related to the major/minor
    • link to new or interesting courses offered by the department
    • link to news and/or events
  • Resources: this appears below the highlights section. This is the spot for links to task-oriented links, like advising resources, major/minor requirements, faculty contact info, etc. This might include:
    • link to major/minor requirements
    • link to advisement resources
    • link to FAQ
    • link to faculty profiles/contact info
    • link to staff contact info
  • Optional section: this appears below the resource section. It allows you to link to more content if necessary and delete if not. You can choose the image, subtitles and links. If the format doesn't work well with your optional content, please contact Kira Poplowski at kpoplowski@jjay.cuny.edu to discuss options.
  • Contact us: this appears below the optional section. Users expect to scroll to the bottom of a page to find it, so it should remain there. Keep the content brief: one department email address, one department phone number and one department location.

Use this link to log in. Use your John Jay credentials to log in and click "Single Sign-On." Please complete & submit our request form if you need assistance.

(You will receive login information after you attend an orientation session. See #1 above for more info.)

Once logged in, click Workbench to select an action:

user menu

My Workbench (to see YOUR recent edits)
Create content (to create a new page)
My edits (to see the pages you created/edited)
All recent content (to see ALL recent content)
Media (to view and access the Media Library to upload/select images and files)
Add Media (to add images and files to the Media Library)

To create a page, click Create content. 

Create Content

 

Log in to the site, click "Workbench" on the upper left of your screen then "My Workbench." Your content should appear below. Click on the link to the page you want to edit. If your content does not appear, click on "All recent content" and search by URL keywords. Please complete & submit our request form if you need assistance.

The Communications & Marketing team is working to ensure that this website is more accessible for users and complies with New York State and federal digital accessibility standards.

The new standards apply to webpages, images, hyperlinks, PDF, Word, Excel, Google Slides and video files on the site AND linked to from other sites or platforms (like Dropbox or Google Drive).

We audited the site, and the web team is addressing issues that can be fixed on the back-end. We need content owners' help addressing front-end content issues.

See #2 above to register for an introduction to the site review process.
See #3 above for info on the site review process.
See #4 above for info on creating accessible materials.
See #20 & #21 below for info on the new process for uploading/linking to files.

Please send your questions to Kira Poplowski, chief communications officer, at kpoplowski@jjay.cuny.edu.

To edit a content page, go to "Workbench" click on "All recent content," type keywords from the URL into "Title" and click "Apply." Click on the URL you want to edit in the results. 

On the page you're editing, click "Manage" in the blue tab on the left-hand side of the page, then "Edit content." 

Each webpage consists of at least one content block. To edit content, scroll to the content you want to edit and click the pencil icon on the upper right of the section. 

Edit your content (it's very similar to editing content in a Google or Word Doc).

When you're finished, scroll to the bottom of the content block and click "Update." Scroll to the top of the page and click "Save Layout." Your changes will be visible to users.

 

The Communications & Marketing team is working to ensure that this website is more accessible for users and complies with New York State and federal digital accessibility standards.

The new standards apply to webpages, images, hyperlinks, PDF, Word, Excel, Google Slides and video files on the site AND linked to from other sites or platforms (like Dropbox or Google Drive).

We audited the site, and the web team is addressing issues that can be fixed on the back-end. We need content owners' help addressing front-end content issues.

See #2 above to register for an introduction to the site review process.
See #3 above for info on the site review process.
See #4 above for info on creating accessible materials.
See #20 & #21 below for info on the new process for uploading/linking to files.

Please send your questions to Kira Poplowski, chief communications officer, at kpoplowski@jjay.cuny.edu.

To create a new content page, go to "Workbench" click on "Create content" and select "Content page." Add the title of the page and click "Save."

A content page with dummy content will be generated. You can delete or edit the dummy content as needed as well as add new types of content. For the latter, see #11-13 in this user guide. 

When your content page is complete and has been saved, please contact Anh Phan at aphan@jjay.cuny.edu. She will incorporate the page into the site architecture.

The Communications & Marketing team is working to ensure that this website is more accessible for users and complies with New York State and federal digital accessibility standards.

The new standards apply to webpages, images, hyperlinks, PDF, Word, Excel, Google Slides and video files on the site AND linked to from other sites or platforms (like Dropbox or Google Drive).

We audited the site, and the web team is addressing issues that can be fixed on the back-end. We need content owners' help addressing front-end content issues.

See #2 above to register for an introduction to the site review process.
See #3 above for info on the site review process.
See #4 above for info on creating accessible materials.
See #20 & #21 below for info on the new process for uploading/linking to files.

The information about creating/editing hyperlinks below is updated to reflect the new accessibility standards and adapted from info from the federal government.

Hyperlinks are essential for content accessibility, enabling users to navigate content efficiently. To comply with the new standards, it’s important to create hyperlinks that are clear, descriptive and accessible to all users, including those using assistive technologies.

  • Descriptive Link Text
    • Ensure link text is meaningful and descriptive, indicating the purpose or destination of the link.
    • Avoid using vague terms like “click here” or “read more.”
    • Example: Use “Download the annual report” instead of “Click here.”
  • Contextual Clarity
    • The link text should make sense out of context. Users navigating via screen readers often jump from link to link.
    • Example: “Learn more about our accessibility policy” provides clear context.
  • Avoid Using URLs as Link Text
    • Long URLs can be confusing and difficult to read, especially for screen readers.
    • Instead, use a descriptive phrase that represents the link’s destination.

Creating and editing a hyperlink on the site is similar to creating one in a Google or Word doc:

  1. Highlight the text you want to turn into a link
  2. Click the link icon in the toolbar
  3. Add the link to the dialog box that appears
  4. Click the green Insert button to save the link
  5. Scroll up to the top and click "Save Layout" to apply the change

To edit a hyperlink

  1. Click on the link you'd like to edit
  2. Click the pencil icon in the dialogue box that appears
  3. Delete the current link and add the new link
  4. Scroll up to the top and click "Save Layout" to apply the change

To remove a hyperlink

  1. Click on the link you'd like to edit
  2. Click on the remove link icon (a link + x)
  3. Scroll up to the top and click "Save Layout" to apply the change

The Communications & Marketing team is working to ensure that this website is more accessible for users and complies with New York State and federal digital accessibility standards.

The new standards apply to webpages, images, hyperlinks, PDF, Word, Excel, Google Slides and video files on the site AND linked to from other sites or platforms (like Dropbox or Google Drive).

We audited the site, and the web team is addressing issues that can be fixed on the back-end. We need content owners' help addressing front-end content issues.

See #2 above to register for an introduction to the site review process.
See #3 above for info on the site review process.
See #4 above for info on creating accessible materials.
See #20 & #21 below for info on the new process for uploading/linking to files.

Please send your questions to Kira Poplowski, chief communications officer, at kpoplowski@jjay.cuny.edu.

Use a landing page when you want to provide a high-level overview of department/unit content. Landing pages are typically "parent" pages with hierarchical relationships to their "child" pages. 

For example, the Academics department has a landing page with associated child pages such as Undergraduate Programs, Graduate Programs and Certificates.

To create a landing page, click Create content in Your Workbench and select Create Landing Page. You'll be prompted to add the page title (ie Admissions) and SEO summary. 

An SEO [search engine optimization] summary, or meta description, is a brief description [120-150 characters] of the content of a webpage that is often displayed in search engine results below a page URL and title. The description should let users know what they’ll find on the page and encourage them to click. These descriptions do not directly affect how a search engine ranks search results. However, they can convince users to click on your link, which can have a positive effect on SEO.

Click Save when you finish adding the page title and SEO summary.

Create Landing page

 

A Landing Page with dummy content will appear. To edit the content, click Manage, then Edit Content.

A landing page template containing dummy content (hero image, page title, call to action block and text block) will appear. To edit the content, click the Manage tab on the left of the screen, then click Edit Content.

Pages are built using content blocks, indicated by the circled pencil on the right. To edit content, scroll to the content block you want to edit, move or delete and click on the pencil on the upper right. Select Configure (to edit), Move (to change where the content block appears on the page) or Remove block (to delete the block from the page).

To add content to the page, click Add block at the bottom of the page, then select content blocks that are the best fit for your content. Take a look at the other landing pages in your part of the site or elsewhere on the site. Your landing page should be very similar to those. Users look for patterns & consistency when they navigate a site. Variation makes it more challenging for users to find what they need. We can help you organize your landing page.

Find more information about how each Content Block can be used in our Content Blocks guide.
 

Main landing page layout

 

Add blocks
Choose block

When you're finished, scroll to the top of the page.

Select Save Layout if you're happy with your changes and want to publish them.

Select Discard Changes if you want to revert to the original page. Your edits will not be saved.

Do not click Revert to Defaults.

Save layout

Once your parent page and related child pages are saved, please complete & submit our request form so we can integrate them into the relevant section of the site. This will automatically generate the breadcrumb and left-hand navigation on the page.

Most of the pages on our site are Content [or child] Pages with a hierarchical relationship to a Landing [or parent] Page. Creating these relationships between pages establishes the overall organization of the site and automatically generates both the page breadcrumbs and left-hand navigation items.

When you save a new parent page or child page, please complete & submit our request form so we can integrate them into the site hierarchy. This will automatically generate the breadcrumbs and left-hand navigation on each page.

Breadcrumb navigation appears near the top of each page and helps users navigate the site.

Breadcrumb Navigation on John Jay Website

When you save a new parent page or child page please complete & submit our request form so we can integrate them into the site menu under the relevant parent page. This will automatically generate the breadcrumbs and left-hand navigation.

The Communications & Marketing team is working to ensure that this website is more accessible for users and complies with New York State and federal digital accessibility standards.

The new standards apply to webpages, images, hyperlinks, PDF, Word, Excel, Google Slides and video files on the site AND linked to from other sites or platforms (like Dropbox or Google Drive).

We audited the site, and the web team is addressing issues that can be fixed on the back-end. We need content owners' help addressing front-end content issues.

See #2 above to register for an introduction to the site review process.
See #3 above for info on the site review process.
See #4 above for info on creating accessible materials.
See #20 & #21 below for info on the new process for uploading/linking to files.

Please send your questions to Kira Poplowski, chief communications officer, at kpoplowski@jjay.cuny.edu.

Please note: Faculty profiles are tied to John Jay's identity management system. Only faculty members and the web team can edit or create a faculty profile.

If you had a profile on the old website, it was migrated to the new website. If you're not sure, please check by navigating to your department homepage, scrolling until the Navigation tab appears on the left side of the screen and clicking "Faculty."  

If you have a profile on the new John Jay site:

  1. Click on this link: https://www.jjay.cuny.edu/user/login
  2. Enter your John Jay credentials [email & password]
  3. Click "Workbench" on upper left
  4. Click "All recent content"
  5. Enter your name in the "Title" field & click "Apply"
  6. Click on your name
  7. Click the "Manage" tab on the left then click "Edit"
  8. Edit your profile
  9. When you're finished, scroll to the bottom of the page and click "Save


If you did not have a profile on the old website, you can create one. To create a new profile:

  1. Click on this link: https://www.jjay.cuny.edu/user/login
  2. Click "Single Sign-On" and follow the prompts
  3. Enter your John Jay credentials [email & password]
  4. Click "Workbench" on upper left
  5. Click "Create content"
  6. Click "Faculty Profile"
  7. Add content to your profile page
  8. When you're finished, scroll to the bottom of the page and click "Save"
     

Please complete & submit our request form if you need assistance. 

Each web page consists of content blocks, which provide different ways to present and organize content. Find more info about how to use content blocks in our Content Blocks guide.

  • While there are several types of content blocks, users look for patterns & consistency when they navigate a site or scroll down a page. We recommend limiting the types of content blocks used on a page to no more than three.
  • Take a look at the other pages in your part of the site or elsewhere on the site. Your pages should be very similar to those. Variation makes it more challenging for users to find what they need. 

To add content to the page, click Manage, then Edit Content, then Add block at the bottom of the page. Select a content block[s] that are the best fit for your content. Add the content required, scroll to the bottom of the content block and click Update. Check your work and if it's correct, scroll to the top of the page and click Save Layout.

Add blocks
Choose block

 

To move content blocks up or down the page, click the pencil on the content block you'd like to move and select Move. The content being moved is labeled (current). Drag and drop the content block to its new location.

How to move a content block

 

Click Move when you're done. Check your work and if it looks good, scroll to the top of the page and click Save Layout.

Each web page consists of content blocks, which provide different ways to present and organize content. Find more info about how to use content blocks in our content blocks guide.

  • While there are several types of content blocks, users look for patterns & consistency when they navigate a site or scroll down a page. We recommend limiting the types of content blocks used on a page to no more than three.
  • Take a look at the other pages in your part of the site or elsewhere on the site. Your pages should be very similar to those. Variation makes it more challenging for users to find what they need.  
Choose block

Please complete and submit our request form. [Select "website support" then "add an event to the website calendar."]

The Communications & Marketing team is working to ensure that this website is more accessible for users and complies with New York State and federal digital accessibility standards.

The new standards apply to webpages, images, PDF, Word, Excel, Google Slides and video files uploaded to the site AND linked to from other sites or platforms (like Dropbox or Google Drive).

We audited the site, and the web team is addressing issues that can be fixed on the back-end. We need content owners' help addressing front-end content issues. 

Instead of uploading your files directly to the site and before linking to a file on another site, please email the file to Anh Phan at aphan@jjay.cuny.edu. 

Images

We typically use candid photos, not graphics or posed photos, which enhances the authenticity and verisimilitude of our content. Please use candid photos whenever possible.

It's imperative that we do not use images that are copyright-protected. Many images found online are copyright-protected. We have an account with Shutterstock that allows us to use their images. Search the site for an image and send the image ID number to us through our request form. We'll download it for you. You can also search Unsplash for free royalty-free images. 

The Communications & Marketing team is working to ensure that this website is more accessible for users and complies with New York State and federal digital accessibility standards.

The new standards apply to webpages, images, PDF, Word, Excel, Google Slides and video files uploaded to the site AND linked to from other sites or platforms (like Dropbox or Google Drive).

We audited the site, and the web team is addressing issues that can be fixed on the back-end. We need content owners' help addressing front-end content issues. 

Instead of uploading your files directly to the site and before linking to a file on another site, please email the file to Anh Phan at aphan@jjay.cuny.edu. 

Some of the info below is adapted from Authoring Meaningful Alternative Text

Alternative text, also known as alt-text, is descriptive text that conveys the meaning of an image in digital content. It’s designed to make visual content accessible to people with vision disabilities.

Screen readers, an assistive technology, read onscreen text aloud. When it reaches an image, it will read the alt-text for that image so the user knows what the image is meant to convey. Without alt-text, people who use screen readers cannot access the content provided in images. 

ALT-Text Checklist for Website Images

1. Be concise

Best practice: under ~125 characters. Screen readers pause after this length and longer descriptions are more difficult to process.

2. Focus on meaning, not visual trivia. Describe what matters to the page content.

Good: “Students studying in a forensic science lab.”
Bad: “Three students wearing blue gloves standing near a table with microscopes.”

3. Do not include these phrases

Screen readers announce images so avoid:

  • “Image of…”
  • “Picture of…”
  • “Graphic showing…”

Instead write: “Forensic science student examining evidence under a microscope.”

4. Do not repeat nearby text

If the caption or heading already says it, ALT-text can be shorter.

Example:

Caption: John Jay students at Oxford University
ALT text: “John Jay students walking through Oxford courtyard”

5. Describe people appropriately. If relevant to the page, include:

  • activity
  • setting
  • role

Example: “Professor leading criminal justice seminar with students.”

6. Logos

ALT text should be the organization name. Example: “John Jay College of Criminal Justice logo”

7. Decorative images

Decorative images do not contain information necessary for the reader to understand the main content, are pure decoration or used only for visual formatting. In these cases, ALT-text is not necessary but images should be marked "Decorative" when uploaded to the site.

8. Using AI to draft ALT-text.

If you're using AI to draft ALT-text, upload the image to an AI platform and enter a prompt like:

Write WCAG 2.2 Level AA complaint ALT-text for this image
• One sentence
• Maximum 125 characters
• Focus on meaningful subject and action
• Avoid “image of” or “picture of”

ALT Text Examples

1. Campus Building Photo

Bad: Image of campus building
Bad: Large modern building with many windows and trees and blue sky
Good: John Jay College building on 11th Avenue in Manhattan

Why: Identifies the relevant subject and location, not unnecessary detail.

2. Students studying

Bad: Students
Bad: Picture of three students sitting at a table with laptops and books
Good: Students studying together in John Jay campus library

Why: Describes activity and setting, which is meaningful.

3. Classroom scene
Bad: Classroom
Bad: Image of professor standing in front of class
Good: Professor teaching criminal justice class with students in discussion

Why: communicates educational activity.

4. Faculty Headshot
Bad: Headshot
Bad: Photo of man wearing suit smiling
Good: Professor Maria Rodriguez, Department of Criminal Justice

Why: Identifies the person and role, which matters to users.

5. Event photo
Bad: Event photo
Bad: Students standing in a room talking
Good: Students speaking with employers at John Jay career fair

Why: describes purpose of the event.

6. Research / lab photo
Bad: Lab
Bad: Student wearing gloves working with microscope
Good: Forensic science student analyzing evidence in laboratory

Why: Communicates the academic discipline.

7. Study abroad photo
Bad: Oxford
Bad: Students outside historic building
Good: John Jay students studying abroad at Oxford University

Why: Identifies program context.

8. Infographic or chart
Bad: Chart
Bad: Infographic showing statistics
Good: Chart showing STEM jobs growing three times faster than non-STEM jobs

Why: Conveys the key takeaway.

You can find more detailed information about alt-text here.

A URL is automatically generated when you create a page. 

If the automatically generated URL is too long, not distinctive enough, etc., we can change it for you. Please email the revised text to Anh Phan at aphan@jjay.cuny.edu or Aaron Fineman at afineman@jjay.cuny.edu.

Left-hand navigation is automatically applied to parent pages [see #8 - Creating Parent/Child Page Relationships]

If you prefer not to include a left-hand navigation on your page:

1. Click the Manage tab.

2. Click Edit Metadata.

Edit Metadata

 

3. Click on the Hide the Left-Hand Navigation toggle button under the Title field.

Left-Hand Navigation Toggle

 

4. Move the toggle to the left.

Left-Hand Navigation Toggle Off

 

5. Click Save on the upper right corner of the page.

Links that appear in the left-hand navigation on a parent page are automatically generated when a hierarchical relationship is created between a parent page and a child page. 

If you'd like to delete, add or edit left-hand navigation links, please complete & submit our request form.

An SEO [search engine optimization] summary, or meta description, is a brief description [120-150 characters] of the content of a webpage that is often displayed in search engine results. The description should let users know what they’ll find on the page and encourage them to click. Search engines typically display a page description below its URL & title.

These descriptions do not directly affect how a search engine ranks search results. However, they can convince users to click on your link, which can have a positive effect on SEO.

To add an SEO summary to a page, click Edit Metadata in the Manage tab.

Edit Metadata

 

Scroll to the SEO Summary field and add a summary of page contents in about 155 characters.

SEO Summary Field

 

Click Save at the top of the page.

The Communications & Marketing team is working to ensure that this website is more accessible for users and complies with New York State and federal digital accessibility standards.

The new standards apply to webpages, images, PDF, Word, Excel, Google Slides and video files on the site AND linked to from other sites or platforms (like Dropbox or Google Drive). 

We audited the site, and the web team is addressing issues that can be fixed on the back-end. We need content owners' help addressing front-end content issues.

See #2 above to register for an introduction to the site review process.
See #3 above for info on the site review process.
See #4 above for info on creating accessible materials.
See #20 & #21 above for info on the new process for uploading/linking to files.

Please send along any questions to Kira Poplowski, chief communications officer, at kpoplowski@jjay.cuny.edu.  

Teaser Cards display a summary of content from four other pages of the site on the page you're creating or editing. They're a great way to share four pages or sections of information at-a-glance in an organized way.

To add a Teaser Block to your page, click Manage then Edit Content. Scroll to the bottom of the page and click Add block. Under Teaser blocks, select Teaser Cards. Type in the title of the block.

For the first teaser card, select an image from the media library, then type in the title of the card [teaser title]. The title should be no more than 15 characters.

If you're linking to a page on the John Jay site, scroll to Internal Link. Start typing the name of the page and the full page name should appear below. Click on it. If you're linking to a page not on the John Jay site, scroll to External Link and paste in the URL.

Under Teaser text, add a very brief (no more than 75 characters) description of the content on the page to which you're linking.

To add the next teaser card, click on Add Teaser Card and repeat the steps above. When you've added all four teaser cards, click Update. Check your work. If you don't have any changes, scroll to the top of the page and click Save Layout.

The Communications & Marketing team is working to ensure that this website is more accessible for users and complies with New York State and federal digital accessibility standards.

The new standards apply to webpages, images, PDF, Word, Excel, Google Slides and video files uploaded to the site AND linked to from other sites or platforms (like Dropbox or Google Drive). 

We audited the site, and the web team is addressing issues that can be fixed on the back-end. We need content owners' help addressing front-end content issues.

See #2 above to register for an introduction to the site review process.
See #3 above for info on the site review process.
See #4 above for info on creating accessible materials.
See #20 & #21 above for info on the new process for uploading/linking to files.

Please send along any questions to Kira Poplowski, chief communications officer, at kpoplowski@jjay.cuny.edu.  

What's a landing page and why is it important?

Your department/degree program landing page is the "front door" to your section of the website and is likely to have much more traffic than your other pages. Your main audiences are prospective students and current students, so it's an opportunity to "advertise" as well as share information. 

Both prospective students and current students will look for information that's relevant to them: what's distinctive about your program, what they might learn/do if it's their major/minor or grad degree and what careers or more advanced degrees are associated with it. 

Current students will also visit your landing page to complete a task, such as finding advisement resources, course requirements, a faculty member's email, etc. Links to these items can appear on your landing page, but keep in mind that the resources mentioned in the paragraph above are of interest to both prospective students and current students and should be more prominent.

How are department/degree program landing pages organized?

Navigating a site is easier for users if page layouts are consistent across a site or section. The landing page format and content was reviewed by President Mason and reviewed and approved by Provost Pease. It applies to all departments/degree programs.

What do I need to do?

Here's what's needed for your landing page:

  • Hero image: this is the large image at the top of the page. Use an image relevant to your program that does not compete with the text [[which is formatted "Department of [Name of Discipline]" or "[Name of Degree] in [Name of Discipline]].
     
  • Icons/text: this appears below the hero image. You can choose the icons and the text that appears below the icons. At a glance, this section shares information that research shows is exceptionally important to prospective and current students.

    The text should be very brief [no more than 20 characters for the bolded text and no more than 60 for the unbolded text] yet impactful. Longer text will disrupt the layout, especially on mobile. We can work with you on this. You also have the option of adding a "Learn More" link so users can click for additional information. 
     
  • Highlights: this appears below the icons/text. This section showcases what's compelling about your program for both current and prospective students and aligns with an important strategic goal: student recruitment and retention. The only fixed item in this section is the link to Admissions on the far right. For the others, you can choose the links, images and very brief subtitles (no more than 20 characters) and descriptions (no more than 75 characters). This might include:
    • link to success stories about student/alum majors
    • link to internships related to the major/minor
    • link to info on career paths
    • link to scholarships & fellowships related to the major/minor
    • link to new or interesting courses offered by the department
    • link to news and/or events
       
  • Resources: this appears below the highlights section. This is the spot for practical, task-oriented links to content largely for current students. This might include:
    • link to major/minor requirements
    • link to advisement resources
    • link to FAQ
    • link to faculty profiles/contact info
    • link to staff contact info
       
  • Optional section: this appears below the resource section. It allows you to link to more content if necessary and delete if not. You can choose the image, subtitles and links. If the format doesn't work well with your optional content, please contact Kira Poplowski at kpoplowski@jjay.cuny.edu to discuss options.
     
  • Contact us: this appears below the optional section. Users expect to scroll to the bottom of a page to find it, so it should remain there. Keep the content brief: one department email address, one department phone number and one department location.

We can collaborate with you on strategy to organization to layout to step-by-step implementation. We're here to help. Please email

Anh Phan, Web Assistant, aphan@jjay.cuny.edu 
Aaron Fineman, Director of Web Services, afineman@jjay.cuny.edu 
Kira Poplowski, Chief Communications Officer, kpoplowski@jjay.cuny.edu 

To delete a page, click on the "Manage" tab on the left-hand side of the screen. Click "Delete" on the menu then the red "Delete" button on the page that appears (see below). Then scroll to the top of the page and click "Save layout."

Page deletion button for website editors

We can collaborate with you on strategy to organization to layout to step-by-step implementation. We're here to help. Please email

Anh Phan, Web Assistant, aphan@jjay.cuny.edu
Aaron Fineman, Director of Web Services, afineman@jjay.cuny.edu
Kira Poplowski, Chief Communications Officer, kpoplowski@jjay.cuny.edu

Contact us

Email

communications@jjay.cuny.edu

Call

212.237.8536

Visit

601 Haaren Hall