Friendly Reminder: Website Content Freeze and Important Dates

You may recall that we announced in April that we are hard at work on renovating NOVA’s website. We are in the home stretch of this project, and in order to cross the finish line, we must institute a content freeze to give us the time and focus to dedicate to finishing this massive undertaking. This important phase of the project is essential to ensuring a smooth transition and successful launch of our updated site.

What is a website content freeze?
A website content freeze is a period during which no changes or updates are made to the website’s content, design or functionality. This freeze allows our development team to finalize the improvements, conduct thorough testing and ensure the new site is functioning as expected.

When is the website content freeze?
The website content freeze will take effect on Wednesday, September 27, 2023, at 9 a.m. and will last until Friday, December 1, 2023, at 5 p.m. During this period, any updates, additions or changes to the current website must be put on hold to allow us to dedicate the considerable time needed to bring the new site online. The new site will launch on November 20, 2023. After the launch, we’ll need to ensure it is stable and allow time to fix any high-priority issues.

What does this mean?

• Content Updates: Please refrain from making any changes or updates to website content, including text, images, videos or downloadable files during this period.
• Design Changes: Any design-related modifications should be postponed until after the content freeze is lifted.
• Functionality Adjustments: Do not attempt to add new features or modify existing functionality on the website. This includes plugins, widgets or custom coding.
• Testing: Our development team will be working diligently to test and finalize the new website during this period. Please report any issues or bugs you come across promptly.
• Communication: If you have any concerns, questions or suggestions related to the website, feel free to reach out to Web Services at wsdm@nvcc.edu before or after the content freeze.

What if it’s an emergency?
We will still accept urgent content requests, particularly those related to unforeseen events or important dates. We understand the significance of these updates and the urgency they may carry, especially when they pertain to events, deadlines or crucial milestones. Our goal is to ensure that our redesigned website not only looks fantastic but also provides accurate and up-to-date information.

Please submit all high-priority content requests to Web Services at wsdm@nvcc.edu. This ensures that they receive immediate attention. If you’re uncertain about the submission process, feel free to reach out and we will guide you.

Why is the content freeze necessary?
The content freeze is crucial to maintain the integrity of our website during the transition. It ensures that users have a consistent experience and that the new features and improvements are thoroughly tested and free from errors. We appreciate your cooperation and understanding during this critical phase of our website redesign. Your support will help us deliver a polished and reliable platform to our users.

If you have any questions or need further clarification about the content freeze, please do not hesitate to reach out to Web Services. We are committed to making this process as smooth as possible.

Thank you for being a part of this exciting project. We look forward to sharing our updated website with you soon!

Submitted by:
Angela Manning, Assoc. Director of Web Services & Digital Media, wsdm@nvcc.edu