Hi Kathy Just to add to Santiago's comments. I know that the ESUP Student and Portal (https://sites.google.com/a/umn.edu/portal/) workstreams are using gadgets that I built for the header. Both sites are not using a specific global theme, but have each created templates inside the site itself. While there have been hurdles, we are finding Google sites to be a great option for small informative sites. In addition, we've learned a lot about how to manage permissions within a site - especially when working with all campuses. I'm in process of writing up our "lessons learned". Kathy - contact me off list today if you want a closer look at the Portal site or more of a description of how the gadget is constructed or a copy of our "lessons learned". Kim On 2/1/13 10:30 AM, Santiago Fernandez-Gimenez wrote: > Hi Kathy, > The ESUP is using Google Sites extensively. I'm new to the Program, > and Jim Thorp doesn't know what templates we are using, but I suspect > it's sort of "good enough" but perhaps not meeting your guidelines > exactly. Would you like to take a look? > > Here is the Portal project site: > https://sites.google.com/a/umn.edu/portal/ > > The Finance work stream site: > https://sites.google.com/a/umn.edu/finance-project-work-stream/ > > The Student work stream site > https://sites.google.com/a/umn.edu/esup-student/home > > What do you think? > > Santiago > > > On Wed, Jan 30, 2013 at 4:13 PM, Kathy Jensen <[log in to unmask] > <mailto:[log in to unmask]>> wrote: > > Hello all, > > This afternoon, the Communicators Forum listserv started a > conversation about using Google sites. I thought the message I > wrote on that list would be of interest to this list as well. > > For the past few months, Chris Goodland from OIT and I have been > working on branded templates for Google sites that can be used by > University units. The template mentioned on the Forum list for IT > communities of practice <http://it.umn.edu/home/cops> is one that > we had collaborated on a year or so ago and is a good choice for > anyone who needs to develop a Google site right away. > > In the upcoming months, U Relations will be working closely with > OIT to more fully develop this template and work through the > details that units need to be aware of when using Google sites. > Things like being sure to set your site's permissions correctly to > avoid publishing a site that anyone at the U can edit, or refining > the search in a way that will allow it to produce the results your > want or expect. > > Along with the template development, we are writing guidelines and > instructions that will help ensure units understand how a site > should properly be constructed for use as an official University site. > > Beyond Google sites, we are also working to provide approved, > branded templates for other Google apps, such as Blogger, docs, > spreadsheets, and so on. > > If your unit is interesting in using Google for an official > University site, please let me know. We'd be happy to work with > you as we develop templates for University use. > > Thanks! > Kathy > -- > Kathy Jensen > Marketing & E-Communications > University Relations > University of Minnesota > 612-624-5808 <tel:612-624-5808> > > > > > -- > Santiago Fernández-Giménez > Assistant Program Director: Communications, Change Management, & Training > Enterprise System Upgrade Program (ESUP) > University of Minnesota - Twin Cities > > [log in to unmask] <mailto:[log in to unmask]> > 612-625-6423 > > StrengthsQuest assessment classifies my strengths as: > Arranger ° Ideation ° Strategic ° Achiever ° Woo > Is that useful to know? -- ---------------------------------------------------------- Kim Doberstein Analyst / User experience Portal Project - Enterprise System Upgrade Program (ESUP) 150 Williamson Hall University of Minnesota 612-625-8376 | [log in to unmask] Rah Rah Rah - Ski-U-Mah