The WashU Web Theme combines a framework of common elements with customizable features you can use to make your site unique.
Flexible content features and page builder tools offer you countless options for building a site that meets your goals.
Pages
Pages make up the architecture of a site, appearing in the menus across the top and down the side of each page. Use pages for relatively stable content, such as Home, About, Initiatives, and Get Involved.
As a common entry point into your website, the homepage typically warrants special formatting. The other pages on your site are commonly referred to as “internal” pages. Internal pages are organized in a hierarchical structure of parent and child pages.
Pages may also act as containers for the content types listed below, such as a form or a list of posts or upcoming events.
Posts (for news, a blog or announcements)
Posts are a standard WordPress feature ideal for a blog, news stories or announcements. Posts are dated and may include an author, categories, tags, images and an excerpt. When displayed on a page in list form, posts default to showing in reverse chronological order, with the most recent post first.
People (custom post type)
Perfect for faculty/staff directories, rosters, biographies and other profile types, the People feature has flexible fields for information such as names, titles, photos and contact information. Optional categories allow you to create sub-lists or filters.
People are a type of post, so each person is entered as a separate post. This creates a detail page with the person’s full information, as well as a card (known as a tile) with an excerpt and link that can be embedded individually or in a list on any page of your site.
Places (custom post type)
The places feature is useful for groups with multiple offices, venues, community partners or other locations. Custom fields include name, address, categories and the option to show an image or a map. Optional categories allow you to create sub-lists or filters.
Places is a type of post, so each location is entered as a separate post. This creates a detail page with the location’s full information, as well as a card (known as a tile) with an excerpt and link that can be embedded individually or in a list on any page of your site.
Items (custom post type)
Items functions similarly to other custom post types, but the fields are more generic so posts can be adapted to your content needs. This post type is especially useful if you’d like to use filters for a content group. Examples include publications, volunteer programs, student groups or scholarship opportunities.
Items is a type of post, so each item is entered as a separate post. This creates a detail page with full information, as well as a card (known as a tile) with an excerpt and link that can be embedded individually or in a list on any page of your site.
Events (custom post type)
You can use events to share meetings, lectures and other activities that your group organizes or wants to feature, as well as important dates and deadlines.
Like other custom post types, events are entered as separate posts. Each event is listed on the master calendar and has its own detail page. You can also embed events on a page individually or as a short list.
Forms
Web forms open up the lines of communication between you and your audiences. In addition to simple contact forms, you can use online forms to replace paper processes such as program applications, event registrations and surveys.
You can customize a form’s confirmation message, set up email notifications and export form submissions to a spreadsheet.
WashU Web Theme forms are not HIPAA-compliant and should not be used to collect protected health information (PHI). Read the HIPAA Privacy Office’s guidelines for communicating PHI.
Mobile-friendly
The WashU Web Theme is responsive, so pages and menus automatically adjust to fit a user’s screen size, whether they’re on a desktop, laptop or mobile device.