Tiers of Participation

Every unit goes through the DCT Process differently. Based on the type of unit you are, and the resources you are able to bring to the table your experience with the DCT Process is tailored to you. No matter what tier you participate in, or how rapidly you choose to execute the process, each unit goes through all the DCT Steps in a depth appropriate to their unit.

Your project needs to have priority at the top level within your unit as it requires that your unit commit time and energy to the process. 

University Communications will provide support for each stage of the process, either through providing self-guided materials, coaching, consultations or working with you collaboratively, depending on your type of unit, and designated tier of participation.

Tiers of Participation

COLLABORATIVE

The Collaborative tier partipants  are directly tied to strategic priority and revenue generation (at the highest level), and serve many parts of UB—usually collaborating with multiple units across the university. These projects are instrumental in maintaining and/or enhancing our institutional reputation. "Collaborative" also applies to units or services that are designated as "mandatory" (e.g., emergency or compliance).

The Collaborative tier website properties are either owned by University Communications or by the respective Campus Unit.  University Communicartions collaborate with the units that "own" their sites to produce and steward strategically positioned sites that best serve highest priority unviersity-wide needs and in developing content and functionality that can be leveraged by other units.

Collaborative Tier Websites Owned by Campus Unit(s):

  • Admissions (Undergraduate / Graduate / International)
  • Giving
  • Alumni
  • Advocacy
  • Office of the President
  • Office of the Provost

Support Expectations

  • University Communications:
    • Provides in-person introduction to the DCT process
    • Leads/collaborates in planning, producing and stewarding websites
    • Draws on support from IT
    • Works in partnership with key stakeholders
    • Optimizes site pre-launch to ensure quality presentation and system integrity
  • Participating Unit:
    • Stakeholders share in planning, producing and stewarding websites, and are responsible for actively collaborating with University Communications
  • CIT:
    • Functionality development within UBCMS
    • System and product support

GUIDED SUPPORT (e.g Schools, Colleges, Academic Departments, Select Administrative Units)

Units designated in the Guided Support tier contribute to revenue generation (at the higher levels), serving one or a few parts of the university. These projects are focused most heavily on building unit reputation.

Patricipating Guided Consultation website properties are owned by the respective Campus Unit.  University Communications provides consultation and coaching to units to ensure rapid migration into the system. Units leverage and customize strategies, features and content, and produce content to meet their business needs.

COLLABORATIVE, GUIDED SERVICE Websites Owned by Campus Unit(s):

  • Academics
    • Schools
    • Colleges
    • Departments
  • Administrative
    • Athletics
    • Student Affairs, University Life and Services
    • Services key to recruiting (Housing and Human Resources)
    • Sustainability
    • Center For the Arts
    • UB Information Technology
  • Select Units based on institutional priorities
  • Select Pilots

Support Expectations

  • University Communications:
    • Coordinates with the Unit Web Leader
    • May in-person introduction to the DCT process
    • Coaches and guides as appropriate
    • Conducts regular check-ins with unit Web teams to ensure major milestones are reached
    • Provides feedback pre-launch on select pages as requested by UWL to ensure quality presentation and system integrity
  • Participating Unit:
    • Planning, producing and stewardship
    • Retains flexibility, within a common set of standards
    • "Owns" unit goals, strategies and priorities and the activities necessary to achieve them
    • "Owns" strategic messaging about the unit within the broader UB institutional framework
    • Site creation, after taking the training
    • Empowered to manage its site and develop and steward content
    • Provides day-to-day support for its UBCMS users
  • CIT:
    • Selected, limited programming to create functionality (if it can be used broadly)
    • System and product support