Joomla was chosen as our primary CMS (Content Management System) to allow users of all skill ranges and talents access to a platform to develop their UAB web presence. The platform and standard template are managed by the Marketing & Communications Web team to control the styling and branding of all UAB Joomla sites and to maintain a consistent look.
Joomla requires limited technical skill to manage and includes an easy-to-use editor. However, basic HTML knowledge is strongly encouraged. The site's owner/administrator — designated in the original site request or later by the requestor — can give others access to contribute content.
Web Support & Services
The following options are available to campus partners who need help creating or improving UAB websites.
General Web Support Opens an external link.
For questions about your Joomla or other UAB CMS website, troubleshooting assistance, platform guidance, or general web-related questions, our team is available to help clarify best practices and support your goals.
New Website Request Opens an external link.
If your unit needs a new website or a site separate from your existing one, we can walk you through our available CMS options (Joomla and WordPress) and help you determine the best platform for your needs.
Website Edit Opens an external link.
If your team has an existing UAB site and needs brief content updates, image replacements, or small corrections, we can assist with quick updates to keep your site accurate and current.
Website Build Request Opens an external link.
For more substantial digital needs, we can support the following:
- Full website rebuild (for pre-existing sites)
- New website build (a brand new site)
- Rebuild a page/section on an existing site
- Reconfigure site navigation/content organization
Acquia Optimize
UAB uses a web governance tool called Acquia Optimize as a funded resource for all centrally managed and approved "www" sites. Optimize’s Quality Assurance (QA) tool consolidates information in a way that is easy to understand. The dashboard displays the errors that Monsido scans for: broken links, broken images, misspellings, and accessibility.
- Broken Links - The broken link tool scans all the internal and external links on your website to make sure they are working. Sort by link, page or image.
- Spelling Mistakes - The spell check feature identifies and locates misspellings on all your sites and even lets you customize your dictionary.
- Accessibility - In the dashboard, you will immediately get an overview of your website's accessibility level, including a total count of issues and which pages they occur on. Utilizing Machine Learning and AI-based discovery and prioritization, you'll always know where to focus your efforts to maximize compliance.
If you would like a more detailed summary of the many benefits of Acquia Optimize, visit their website or contact Web support.
UAB Web Brand Guidelines
Learn about our brand guidelines required for UAB websites
Domain Name/Hosting
Domain Names
UAB URLs are extensions of the root uab.edu, such as www.uab.edu/toolkit. While www.uab.edu is the preferred root name, some departments may have alternative third-level domains. These are approved on a case-by-case basis by Marketing & Communications. Please email
Learn more about registrating a domain name here.
Hosting
Hosting services are offered at no charge when you use UAB's content management system, Joomla.
We try to make Joomla as easy to learn and use as possible, but if you decide to use an outside vendor instead, please see our guide for more information on vendors.