Vendor Guide: Websites
Remember these important steps if an agency or freelancer is building your site.
We encourage WashU Medicine groups to build their websites in the WashU Web Theme, our free and secure website platform, complete with training, documentation, and ongoing upgrades and support.
You may also choose to work with an outside vendor. To receive free hosting on WashU IT’s servers, websites must be built by an approved vendor in the WashU Web Theme (as required by the Washington University server policy). If you hire an approved vendor to work on a WashU Web Theme site, our office can assist with providing them access to the platform.
If you plan to use a vendor:
As early as possible, tell us you’re looking for a vendor.
Our team can help you:
- Select and work with a vendor. We maintain a list of agencies, freelancers and other vendors that are familiar with the school’s and our partners’ requirements and missions.
- Identify all requirements up front. This will help you avoid paying for additional work later.*
Before launching your site, send any work created by the vendor to WashU Medicine Marketing & Communications for review. It’s also helpful to keep us looped in throughout the process so there are no surprises when it’s time to launch. Our goal is to help you get a quality product that meets (or exceeds!) the university’s standards.
Logo requirement
All School of Medicine websites should include an official digital logo at the top left of every page. The logo should link to the corresponding website: WashU Medicine or Washington University Physicians.
*If you might hire a vendor to build a site outside of the WashU Web Theme, bear in mind the costs of both initial build and ongoing maintenance. Project costs may include discovery, design, development, writing and testing, as well as ongoing website hosting and updates to keep up with changing browsers, platforms, security needs and web practices. If the website is not built using a content management system (which would allow your team to update the content in-house), you may also need to pay for ongoing updates to the text and photography. Suffice to say, it’s complicated. We can help you make sure it’s all in the contract.
ALL WEBSITE RESOURCES
Editorial Style Guide
Check the official styles for abbreviations, punctuation, citations, titles and more.
Icon Library
WashU icon graphics are available in multiple formats for use on your website, print materials and more.
Media Release/Consent Forms: Photos, Video, Audio & Testimonials
Showing or quoting non-WashU people gives your message perspective. Here’s how to get permission.
New Website Requests
Use WashU Sites to create and manage your own website. It’s fast, easy and free.
Project Brief Template
Set your project up for success by starting with a project brief that gets everyone on the same page.
Vendor Guide: Websites
Remember these important steps if an agency or freelancer is building your site.
Visual Brand Guide
Your group’s story is part of the WashU brand! Use this guide to help build and benefit from our national reputation.
Web Accessibility (a11y)
Use this guide to improve your site for people of all abilities, including those using assistive technologies.
Web Address & Subdomain Guide
Your sites’s URL is its address on the web. Here’s help making it descriptive and succinct.
Web Best Practices
Visit WashU Sites for tips on Google rankings, accessibility and other website wisdom.
Web Template: Giving Page
Use this template to add an effective Giving page and call to action to your group’s website.
Website Server Policy
If you’re working with a vendor, you may be responsible for your website hosting.