There are four main options for faculty looking to publish content to the web for a class or project:
- The main College website: build content on www.amherst.edu using a variety of display options.
- WordPress: when you need functionality beyond what the main site offers.
- Traditional Web Server: space for web sites built from scratch, including server-side development.
- Web hosting: IT-hosted server space for DIY web projects.
Main College Website
The Amherst College Website (www.amherst.edu) is the College's primary online presence. It provides a web-publishing platform for all departments, constituencies, and individuals associated with the College. There are many advantages to building content on the main Amherst website (versus the options that follow below): better sustainability, accessibility, search optimization, ease of linking to other college resources, demonstrating a connection to the college, etc.
WordPress
WordPress allows faculty and students to develop individual websites when they need functionality beyond what the main College website provides. Faculty and students interested in using WordPress should email askIT@amherst.edu.
Traditional Web Server
Faculty, staff, and students may request a personal Web space on a traditional Web server where they can build web pages from scratch, with full access to all HTML, CSS, and JavaScript capabilities. These sites can also use the language PHP to create Web pages on the server using dynamic information such as form input from browsers, and store such information in databases. Web sites on this server will be given a name such as user.people.amherst.edu or project.sites.amherst.edu.
Web Hosting
IT can provide a Linux VPS or "virtual private server" for hosting websites for faculty or class projects with requirements that can't be addressed by the College main website or Wordpress.