Summer Website Projects for Universities

The Summer Opportunity

Summer on a university campus means more than empty parking lots and quiet libraries. For web teams, it represents a precious window—a time when traffic is lower, stakeholders are less frantic, and projects that would be impossible during the academic year become feasible.

But summer is shorter than you think. Between May commencement chaos and August orientation prep, the actual window for meaningful web work is narrow. Making the most of it requires planning that starts months earlier and execution that begins as soon as spring semester ends.

Ideal Summer Projects

Certain projects are particularly well-suited for summer execution:

Content Audits and Cleanup

Summer is perfect for content work that's hard to prioritize during busy semesters:

• Identifying and removing outdated content
• Fixing broken links site-wide
• Updating faculty and staff directories
• Archiving old news and events
• Reviewing and improving key landing pages

Technical Improvements

Lower traffic means lower risk for technical changes:

• Server upgrades or migrations
• Performance optimization
• Security hardening
• SSL certificate updates
• Plugin and platform updates

Accessibility Remediation

Accessibility work requires time and attention that summer provides:

• Comprehensive accessibility audits
• Fixing identified issues
• PDF remediation projects
• Adding alt text to images
• Improving keyboard navigation

Design Refreshes

Updates that require stakeholder coordination:

• Homepage redesign or refresh
• Department site template updates
• Navigation restructuring
• New feature implementations

Projects to Avoid

Some projects seem like good summer ideas but often fail:

Complete Platform Migrations

Moving to a new CMS or major platform change during summer is risky:

• Key stakeholders may be unavailable for decisions
• Training is difficult with scattered staff
• Issues discovered in August leave no time for fixes

Full Site Redesigns

Major redesigns need more time than summer provides:

• Discovery and planning take longer than expected
• Stakeholder feedback cycles slow in summer
• Content creation becomes a bottleneck

Projects Without Clear Ownership

Summer's informal atmosphere can derail accountability:

• Projects drift without clear leadership
• Decisions get postponed until "everyone's back"
• Momentum dies during vacation weeks

Planning for Summer

Successful summer projects start with spring planning.

March-April: Define and Approve

1. Identify project candidates

   What would improve your web presence? What's been on the backlog?

2. Assess feasibility

   Can this realistically complete in summer? What are dependencies?

3. Secure stakeholder buy-in

   Get commitments now while people are available.

4. Allocate budget and resources

   Confirm funding and staff availability.

5. Engage vendors if needed

   External help should be contracted before summer starts.

May: Prepare for Launch

• Finalize project plans and timelines
• Complete any prerequisite work
• Set up project tracking and communication
• Document vacation schedules and backup contacts

Document Everything

Summer staffing changes make documentation essential:

• Write down decisions and rationale
• Maintain accessible project documentation
• Create handoff notes for transitions
• Record institutional knowledge that might be lost

Managing Summer Constraints

Summer brings unique challenges. Plan around them.

Vacation Schedules

• Map out when key people are unavailable
• Identify backup decision-makers
• Front-load work requiring specific people
• Build buffer time for delays

Reduced Staffing

• Student workers may provide extra help
• Focus on projects your available team can handle
• Don't overcommit based on full-semester staffing

Communication Challenges

• Establish clear communication channels
• Set response time expectations
• Use asynchronous communication when possible
• Schedule standing check-ins that survive absences

Fall Preparation

Summer projects should position you for a strong fall semester.

Enrollment Season Readiness

• Admissions pages tested and optimized
• Virtual tour content updated
• Application process working smoothly
• Financial aid information current

Academic Year Preparation

• Academic calendar published and accurate
• Course catalog and registration information ready
• New program pages launched
• Faculty directory updated

Technical Readiness

• Performance optimized for traffic surge
• Security patches applied
• Backups verified and tested
• Monitoring in place for high-traffic periods

Making Summer Count

Summer is a gift for university web teams—a brief respite from the constant demands of the academic year. Use it wisely. The projects you complete this summer make the next academic year smoother, your web presence stronger, and your team's life easier.

Start planning now. Pick projects that match your timeline and resources. Build in buffers for the inevitable complications. And finish early enough to actually enjoy some of summer yourself.

Fall semester will arrive faster than you think. Be ready.