2:43 p.m., June 1, 2009----Are you planning to revamp your Web site this summer? Effective June 1, the University of Delaware's Office of Information Technologies (IT) is extending the UDrupal service to more departments who want to use the Drupal open source content management system to develop or update Web sites.

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The UDrupal service is flexible enough to allow both sophisticated and simple Web sites and offers Web developers the opportunity to separate content from design, making it easier to implement best practices in Web development.

As a pilot this spring, about 35 Web sites began development on the UDrupal service, a Drupal software installation designed and hosted by IT for UD departments to use. IT now invites other campus Web developers to bring their sites to UDrupal this summer.

Why use Drupal?

Drupal offers a department the opportunity to organize its Web efforts to take full advantage of staff expertise. That is, a CITA or other Web-savvy staff member can design a Web site's appearance, incorporate appropriate UD-branding, set up the site's structure and set user roles to allow others to add or edit content.

These “content providers” can update the site without learning HTML or other programming or design tools. This process allows the people closest to the content to update a site quickly, helping keep the Web site current and fresh.

How can I get started with UDrupal?

Beginning this month, IT has launched a UDrupal documentation site and is offering training classes designed to introduce Drupal to a wider group of campus Web developers.

• Web Presence and Web Strategies: Web Presence and Web Strategies: Learn about framing your online message by making best use of your own content, of your own staff and their skills, of the tools supported at UD and of those available on the Internet. (First offered: June 3)
• Drupal: Site Administrator I: Hands-on training for site administrators in site creation and configuration. This session includes access to a temporary Drupal site. (First offered: June 10)
• Drupal: Content Provider I: Hands-on training for content providers about adding content to a Drupal site. This session includes access to a temporary Drupal site. (First offered: June 19)

A complete list of classes is available online. Select Calendar and Class Registration from the top of the middle column.

Also, directions for requesting a UDrupal site are available online. Select “Request a Drupal Site.”

Who is using Drupal?

See who is using Drupal around the world and at the University of Delaware.