Web Publishing Service

CAEN Web Publishing offers a free WordPress website tailored to eligible Michigan Engineering faculty and groups. The service includes a Michigan Engineering branded site, with CAEN managing a standardized theme and essential plugins. CAEN also handles all technical support, including regular updates to the WordPress software, ensuring the site remains secure and up-to-date. This allows users to concentrate solely on producing and managing their content without worrying about the technical aspects of running the website.

Jump To: Next Steps, CAEN Web Publishing FAQ

Eligible

CAEN Web Publishing is available to any faculty member or academic or research group with a non-dry (>0%) Michigan Engineering appointment.

Not Eligible

This service is not available to staff for personal or group websites. The service is also not  available to students or student organizations. ITS Web Hosting provides website hosting options for staff and students.

Am I a good candidate?

  • You meet the eligibility requirements
  • Your content doesn’t fit naturally into an existing University or College website, and requires its own dedicated space
  • Your site will serve an ongoing purpose, with updates and visitors beyond a single event or temporary initiative
  • You want a modern, Michigan Engineering-branded website but do not have (or wish to provide) a WordPress developer on staff or retainer
  • You do not require custom themes or plugins
  • You would like training and/or support from CAEN staff in building and maintaining your website
  • Your website domain will end in engin.umich.edu, e.g. example.engin.umich.edu

Considerations

  • All users of CAEN Web Publishing must use the CAEN-provided theme; custom themes are not permitted.
  • Neither third-party nor custom plugins may be installed on individual sites.
  • Sensitive Data must not be stored on any CAEN Web Publishing website.
  • Password-protected content cannot be supported.

Explore Next Steps

The Process

  1. Carefully review the info on this page
  2. Fill out the form at the link below
  3. CAEN will create and configure your site
  4. Get your training on WordPress and accessibility
  5. Add your content and maintain your site
  6. Be a responsible site owner
Site Request Form

Dive Into The Details

Learn more about the features of CAEN Web Publishing, expectations of site owners, how CAEN will support your site, and more by reviewing the Terms of Service of CAEN Web Publishing.

Terms of Service

Frequently Asked Questions

  • Can I password-protect my site, or some content on my site?

    It is not possible to put your WordPress content behind U-M Weblogin. Any published content is available to the public internet and CAEN Web Publishing should never be used to store sensitive data or content. If any portion of a site’s content requires password protection, other hosting options (e.g. U-M Google Drive or U-M Dropbox) will need to be used to secure the content and be linked to from the WordPress site.

  • What domains/URLs can I have if I use CAEN Web Publishing?

    Domains/URLs should follow the pattern <example>.engin.umich.edu. CAEN Web Publishing does not support external (non-umich.edu) domains.

  • I really want to use a custom theme. Can you make an exception?

    No. If you have a strong business need for a custom theme, consider hosting your site using U-M Pantheon, provided by ITS.

  • I want to use CAEN Web Publishing, but I need a specific plugin for my website. Do you make exceptions?

    No. If you have a strong business need for a custom plugin, consider hosting your site using U-M Pantheon, provided by ITS.

  • Can I view an example of what a CAEN Web Publishing website might look like?

    There are limitless design opportunities within a modern WordPress site, each page built from a collection of “building blocks.” As of August, 2025, all new sites use the Michigan Engineering 42 Theme developed by Communications & Marketing—visit the Michigan Engineering website to see many of its features and design options. Our older Renovation theme can still be viewed on the Renovation demo site.


  • What are the Terms and Conditions of the CAEN Web Publishing service?

    See CAEN Web Publishing Terms of Service.

  • What happens to my site if I leave Michigan Engineering?

    If you do not maintain a >0% appointment in Michigan Engineering, you are no longer eligible for this service, and your site will be subject to deletion. Please notify CAEN prior to your departure if you will be leaving Michigan Engineering in the event you need a copy of your content, or to transfer ownership of your site.

  • I’ve never used WordPress before. Will I receive assistance building and maintaining my website? 

    CAEN’s WordPress documentation is a valuable self-help resource for content creators. Content editors and site owners can also request assistance from CAEN on a first-come, first-served basis by emailing caen@umich.edu.

  • How do I obtain a CAEN Web Publishing website?

    The process to obtaining a CAEN Web Publishing website is as follows: 

    1. Be a responsible site owner
    2. Carefully review the information about CAEN Web Publishing and the Terms of Service
    3. Fill out the site request form
    4. CAEN will initialize and configure your site
    5. Get your training on WordPress and accessibility
    6. Add your content and maintain your site
  • How do I ensure that my CAEN Web Publishing site meets University accessibility requirements?

    The University of Michigan has published requirements/standards for digital accessibility, which includes websites. The CAEN Web Publishing theme is built with these requirements in mind, but ensuring the accessibility of your content is your responsibility. Here are a few “quick wins” to improve web accessibility:

    • Use headings (H1, H2, etc.) correctly to organize page content structure
    • Always add alt-text to images
    • Ensure proper color contrast
    • Visit the College’s accessibility website to learn more.
  • Can I hire my own developer to build my website within CAEN Web Publishing?

    You can hire a developer to assist with content layout within the provided theme. The developer may not apply any custom coding or install any custom themes or plugins. If you have a strong business need for custom theming or have other needs that necessitate a WordPress developer, consider hosting your site using U-M Pantheon, provided by ITS.

  • What is Content Migration Support? 

    While site owners and content editors are responsible for adding and managing their content using the WordPress editor, they can request Content Migration Support. This is an additional service in which CAEN will assist with adding or modifying website content on your behalf only upon request and subject to limitations. This includes support such as copying content from an existing website or from files you provide (e.g., Google Docs, PDFs). CAEN will use the text, images, and other supporting content you provide to help create web pages that adhere to U-M branding and accessibility standards; consequently, the final design may differ from your original vision. Under no circumstances will CAEN write new content or provide any other digital assets (images, video, etc.) on behalf of site owners.

    This service is available by request only and is subject to CAEN staff schedules and capacity. Turnaround time and service availability depend on the size, structure, and complexity of the content provided. In some cases, e.g. for particularly large sites or during exceptionally busy times, CAEN may not be able to accommodate content migration. 

    View an example of how to organize your site content in our Site Content sample folder.

    Submit the Content Migration Support Request form to request assistance with migrating content on your site.

  • Will CAEN assist me with creating new web content or migrating content from an existing site?

    See “What Is Content Migration Support?” for more information.

  • I have an existing CAEN Web Publishing site but need something changed. Will CAEN do this for me?

    Content editors and site owners can request assistance from CAEN on a first-come, first-served basis by emailing caen@umich.edu. Editors are encouraged to maintain their own content, however. To support you in building and maintaining your site, CAEN provides regular WordPress training. Our WordPress documentation is also a valuable self-help resource for editors.

  • Will I get access to change my own content?

    Yes, site owners and editors are provided with full access to manage their own content. Site owners are encouraged to serve as the primary authors and maintainers of their site materials. Once CAEN has initialized and configured your site, you will be able to log in using your U-M credentials to update and maintain your content as needed.

  • How do I get support for my site after it is live?

    There are three primary ways to get support for your CAEN Web Publishing site:

    • Detailed instructions for managing a WordPress site in CAEN Web Publishing are currently available in our Knowledge Base
    • WordPress training sessions: To support you in building and maintaining your site, CAEN provides regular WordPress training. Learn more about training sessions on our support page.
    • For all other questions or support needs, contact caen@umich.edu 
  • My current site has many pages and/or images. Will CAEN still move it into CAEN Web Publishing?

    There are no limits to the number of pages you can have on your website. Sites that require 60 or more pages will not be eligible for CAEN’s Content Migration Support. Larger sites or those with an exceptionally large number of digital assets, such as images or PDFs, may require additional staffing resources to complete the migration process. For these larger projects, you will need to allocate your own team members or consider hiring external support to assist with the transfer of content. CAEN staff will provide guidance and best practices to help ensure a smooth transition, but the actual migration of a site with extensive content will primarily be managed by your designated resources.

  • Are there limits to how large my site can be in terms of number of pages?

    No. Your site can have any number of pages.

  • I am an undergraduate/graduate student and want to request a site on behalf of an eligible faculty member or group. Can I do this?

    Sites may be requested on behalf of eligible faculty or staff member(s). When filling out the form, requestors must provide a site owner (who must be eligible for CAEN Web Publishing). CAEN will not create a site until written authorization from the site owner is received by CAEN at caen@umich.edu . See the CAEN Web Publishing Terms of Service for further definitions and responsibilities.

  • How long will it take for CAEN to create my new website?

    Sites are created on a first-come, first-service basis, and the time varies depending on site size and complexity. The timeline for creating a new website varies and is subject to CAEN staff schedules and capacity, however we aim to deliver new sites within two weeks and will reach out in the rare case where this is not possible.

  • Will CAEN create a new custom logo for my CAEN Web Publishing website?

    CAEN will design a logo that aligns with Michigan Engineering branding guidelines, ensuring consistency with other CAEN Web Publishing sites. We do not provide customizations beyond this standard design. 

  • Can I use CAEN Web Publishing as a course website?

    Please use Canvas for this purpose.

  • Can Michigan Engineering Student Organizations use CAEN Web Publishing? 

    The service is also not  available to students or student organizations. ITS Web Hosting provides website hosting options for staff and students.

  • What plugins are currently available in CAEN Web Publishing?

    The following plugins are automatically activated for all sites in CAEN Web Publishing:

    (Plugins with * can only be configured and/or utilized by CAEN Web Publishing staff)

    Advanced Custom Fields*
    Advanced Excerpt*
    Better Search Replace*
    Breadcrumb NavXT*
    CAEN DPSS Alerts
    CAEN Overrides*
    CAEN Profiles
    CAEN WordPress Usage Reports*
    CMB2*
    Eliminate Notify Email*
    Google Apps Login
    MetaSlider
    Network Username Restrictions Override*
    CAEN Page Contacts
    CAEN Site Contact
    Disable Comments*
    Disable Gutenberg Blocks*
    Genesis Blocks

    The following plugins are available to be activated on sites in CAEN Web Publishing on an as needed basis. If you need a plugin to be activated and do not believe it has been, email CAEN at caen@umich.edu, provide your site’s URL, and request that CAEN activate the plugin:

    Advanced Query Loop
    Akismet Anti-spam: Spam Protection
    CAEN Search Options*
    Font Awesome
    Health Check & Troubleshooting*
    Heroic Table of Contents
    Master-Detail Tables for wpDT
    Query Loop Filters
    Redirection
    Simply Static*
    Site Kit by Google
    WordPress Importer
    wpDataTables

  • Can I upload video to my site?

    No videos may be directly uploaded to your WordPress site. Videos hosted on external providers, such as YouTube or Vimeo, can be embedded.

  • Why can’t I have a custom theme or plugin on my site?

    Due to the multi-site configuration of the WordPress server, individuals cannot install plugins or themes on their sites. Since plugins and themes can only be installed server-wide, CAEN must be careful and restrictive about what is installed, as we cannot be responsible for securing, updating, or maintaining multiple plugins for each individual site.

  • Is the CAEN Web Publishing Theme accessible?

    Creating and maintaining accessible websites is very important to Michigan Engineering. CAEN continually tests its theme to ensure it meets current web accessibility policies and standards. If you encounter an accessibility-related issue with any CAEN Web Publishing site, please contact us at caen@umich.edu.

  • Can I add other users to my site?

    Anyone with the role of “Administrator” on a given site can add additional users. CAEN will grant the “Administrator” role to the site owner and point of contact upon site creation. Please view our knowledge base for additional information.

  • Will CAEN provide WordPress support/training for sites not in the CAEN Web Publishing service?

    No, CAEN will not provide any support for any sites that are not within our service.

  • What does “Site Owner” mean in CAEN Web Publishing?

    A Site Owner holds the highest level of decision-making authority for a specific site. This is a long-term role unlikely to change for the lifetime of the site. The site owner and point of contact may be the same person. The site owner must meet the eligibility requirements.

    Only Site Owners are authorized to:

    • Request that their website be deleted
    • Request that the hostname/URL of their website be changed

    Other Site Owner Responsibilities:

    • Assign Points of Contact & additional site editors/admins
    • Inform CAEN when a new site owner is taking over
    • Maintain eligibility
    • Manage user access
  • What does “Point of Contact” mean in CAEN Web Publishing?

    Site Owners (see above) may designate an alternative point of contact (PoC) for their website if it is someone other than themselves. PoCs act as liaison between CAEN, Site Owners, and other content creators on a given site. If the PoC is not the site owner, they do not need to meet the service eligibility requirements.

    A PoC is the main person who works with CAEN and with whom CAEN communicates most regularly. The people who have this role may change over time.

    PoC Responsibilities include:

    • Communicate with CAEN concerning typical changes (content, layout, design, etc.)
    • Receive messages about updates CAEN performs
    • Request assistance from CAEN 
    • Manage user access

    PoCs are not authorized to:

    • Request that the website be deleted (unless they are also the site owner)
    • Request that the hostname/URL of the website be changed (unless they also are the site owner)