Launching

Launching is fairly straightforward. To initiate the process, email the Columbia Sites team once all content has been entered. Ensuring that your new website launches on time with all of its content files and remains secure requires the input and collaboration of several teams within CUIT. This process takes two weeks.

You must notify the Columbia Sites team a minimum of two weeks prior to the date you wish to launch.

Here is a rundown of the parts of that process that require your attention.

Site Audit

The Columbia Sites team will perform an accessibility audit that may identify content that requires remediation to meet the University Accessibility standard. The audit does not give feedback on subjective elements such as image choice, writing style, etc., but here are some of the most common issues the audit uncovers:

• Improperly formatted PDFs
   
• Pages not using proper header structures heading structures
   
• Broken links

Learn how to ensure that your content is accessible on accessibility.columbia.edu. Once the audit report is sent, your team is responsible for making any necessary revisions.

Domain Name Approvals

Third-level Versus Fourth-level Domains

Your website will launch on either a third- or fourth-level domain. Generally speaking:

• Laboratories and student groups receive fourth-level domains. An example of this naming convention is mannlab.zuckermaninstitute.columbia.edu.
   
• Schools, departments, and administrative units receive third-level domains. An example of this naming convention is psychology.columbia.edu.

Approval for Third-level Domains

Third-level domain names must be requested from and approved by CUIT hostmaster. Review Columbia's Domain Name Policy to understand terms and eligibility for third-level domain names. 

The approval process can take a few hours or a couple of weeks.

If you are eligible for one, request a third-level domain as early as possible. You do not need to wait until launch to request third-level domain. Approval must be granted prior to launch.

Approval for Fourth-level Domains

Fourth-level domain names must be approved by the dean or vice president of the respective school or administrative unit that owns the third-level domain you wish to house your site under. For example, if you wish to launch on mylab.engineering.columbia.edu, you must obtain approval from the dean of Columbia Engineering. A simple email stating approval is fine.

Content Freeze

In order for Columbia Sites to take the necessary steps to launch your site, there is a 24-hour content freeze prior to the launch date. Columbia Sites will coordinate with you the exact date the content freeze begins. During this time, do not make changes to the site. Once the site launches, the freeze ends, and you can update your new site.

Post Launch

Once your Columbia Sites website is launched, you should only revise the live site. Revising the staging site will not effect the live site, and we do not port over any changes from the staging site to the live one once the site is launched.