Website Design and Content Standards | Office of Communications

When creating or editing your website, follow these guidelines for user-centered, accessible, and searchable websites that are consistent across the High Point University website.

WordPress Standards

Images/Media

When is text embedded in an image acceptable?

Text in an image is acceptable if it is part of a logo, seal, or text lockup. No additional or textual information (such as the date of an event, etc.) is allowed. Exceptions can be made if the text is minimal, easily legible, and accompanied with a robust alternative text description, but this should be avoided as a general rule.
No images with text are allowed in templates that crop or partially cover a portion of the image on certain screen sizes.
Text in an image is always acceptable in cases where the text is incidental to the content of the image — for example, if the subject of a photograph is wearing a graphic T-shirt that has text on it.
Alternative text is mandatory on all images, regardless of the above. Alt text comes from the “Alternative Text” Description on the image in the Media Library
If you are asked to post an image that does not meet these guidelines, you should:
- Find out if there is any appropriate photography available in Canto — for example, if the content is about an upcoming event, there might be photography from last year’s event.
- Contact the Office of Communication Web Team for Stock Images.

Optimize images for fastest download time possible.

To facilitate use by text-only browsers, include the <alt> attribute of the image tag with descriptive text for every critical image. To achieve this, use the “Alternative Text” field when you’re adding images to the media library.
All image tags should also specify image height and width to improve download time.

Recommended Image Sizes in Pixels:

General:

Medium: 300 x 300

Medium Large: 768 x 768

Large: 1024 x 1024

Thumbnail: 150 x 150

Post Thumbnail: 604 x 270

Blocks:

KPI : 1080 x 332

Banner: 1080 x 410

Full Width Video: 950 x 950

Featured Majors: 1071 x 753

Media Carousel: 1080 x 900

Logo: 400 x 300

Graduate Study Image: 905 x 702

Student Stories: 346 x 421

Major Minor Landing Overview: 640 x 455

Colors

Choose colors that color-blind viewers can distinguish.

Images in the content should be viewable by color-blind users. You can check colors for this characteristic at Vischeck. Additionally, essential functionality should not depend on color distinctions. You can only use theme approved colors.

HPU Theme Color Combinations

White background
(#ffffff)

Black text (#231F20)

Royal Purple text( #330072)

Orange Red text (#d93c0d)

Royal Purple background
(#330072)

White text (#ffffff)

White Smoke background
(#eeeeef)

Black text (#231F20)

Royal Purple text (#330072)

Orange Red background
(#d93c0d)

White text (#ffffff) Button Use Only

Social Media Standards

Facebook

Business Page Profile Picture: 180 x 180
Must be at least 180 x 180 pixels.
Photo will appear on page as 170 x 170 pixels on desktop, 128 x 128 on smartphones, and 36 x 36 on most feature phones.
Photo thumbnail will appear throughout Facebook at 32 x 32 pixels.
Business Page images will be cropped to fit a square.

Cover Photo: 820 x 312
Appear on page at 820 x 312 pixels. Anything less will be stretched.
Minimum size of 400 x 150 pixels.
Displays at 820 x 312 pixels on desktop and 640 x 360 pixels on smartphones.
Doesn’t display on feature phones.
For best results, upload an sRGB JPG file less than 100 KB.
Images with a logo or text may be best as a PNG file.
Business Page dimensions are exactly the same as personal accounts.

Shared Image (in a post): 1,200 X 630
Recommended upload size of 1,200 x 630 pixels.
Will appear in feed at a max width of 470 pixels (will scale to a max of 1:1).
Will appear on page at a max width of 504 pixels (will scale to a max of 1:1).

Shared link (in post): 1,200 x 628
Recommended upload size of 1,200 x 628 pixels.
Small Square Photo in Link Preview: Minimum 154 x 154px in feed.
Small Square Photo in Link Preview: Minimum 116 x 116 on page.
Full Size Rectangular Photo in Link Preview: Minimum 470 x 246 pixels in feed.
Full Size Rectangular Photo in Link Preview: Minimum 484 x 252 on page.
Facebook will scale photos under the minimum dimensions. For better results, increase image resolution at the same scale as the minimum size.

Twitter

Twitter Post Size: 1,200 X 675 pixels
Maximum amount of photos per post is 4.
Maximum file size 5 MB.
Image types include: JPG, GIF or PNG.

Profile photo: 400 x 400 (displays at 200 x 200)
Square Image recommended 400 x 400 pixels.
Maximum file size 2 MB.
Image types include: JPG, GIF or PNG.

Header/Cover Image: 500 x 1,500
Recommended 1,500 x 500 pixels.
Maximum file size of 5 MB.
Image types include: JPG, GIF or PNG.

In-Stream Photo: Minimum 440 x 220 (2:1 Ratio)
Minimum to appear expanded 440 x 220 pixels (a 2:1 ratio).
Can tweet up to 4 images at one time.
Can edit images if tweeting from Twitter iOS or Android app.
Maximum to appear expanded 1024 x 512 pixels.
Appears in stream collapsed at 506 x 253 pixels on desktop.
Maximum file size of 5 MB for photos, and 5 MB for animated GIFs on mobile and 15 MB on web.

Instagram

Profile Picture: 110 x 110
Appear on your profile at 110 x 110 pixels.
Square photo: make sure to maintain an aspect ratio of 1:1.

Photo Size: 1080 x 1080
The size of Instagram images has been increased to 1080 x 1080 pixels.
Instagram still scales these photos down to 612 x 612 pixels.
Appear in feed at 510 x 510 pixels.
Square or rectangle photos: make sure to maintain an aspect ratio between 1.91:1 and 4:5 ratio.
Smaller featured header images appear as 204 x 204 pixels, and larger featured header images appear as 409 x 409 pixels.

Instagram Stories: 1080 x 1920
Recommended resolution is 1080 x 1920.
Minimum resolution is 600 x 1067.
Aspect ratio is 9:16.
Max file size is 4GB.

LinkedIn Post Size: 1,200 X 627 pixels
Maximum file size 100MB and 300 pages.
Image and file types include: PNG, JPG, GIF, doc/docx, pdf, or ppt/pptx.

Company Logo Image: 300 x 300
Recommended 300 x 300 pixels.
Minimum 300 x 300 pixels.
Maximum 4MB (Square layout).
Image types include: PNG, JPG or GIF.

Square Logo: 60 x 60
This is the brand image that shows up when your company is searched. Make sure you use something recognizable to your brand let customers know which company is yours.
60 x 60 pixels (resized to fit).
Maximum 2MB.
Image types include: PNG, JPG or GIF.

Company Cover Image: Between 1536 x 768
Recommended between 1536 x 768 pixels.
Minimum size of 1192 x 220.
Maximum 4MB.
Appears as 1400 x 425 pixels.
Image types include: PNG, JPG or GIF.

Banner Image for Company Pages: 646 x 220 (Minimum)
The banner image is one of the newest and most prominent of the images that you can use on LinkedIn. This image appears when a user visits your brand’s homepage.
Minimum 646 x 220 pixels.
Maximum 2MB.
Landscape Layout.
Image types include: PNG, JPG or GIF.

Typography

Use restraint when using bold type and header tags. Whole paragraphs of text set in bold type are hard to read. The reason bold type creates emphasis is that it slows down the reader and forces the eye to take in the words more carefully. If you slow them down too much, they may just skip over what you have to say.
Avoid using italics or emphasized text for whole sentences and paragraphs.
Avoid using ALL CAPS as they are more difficult to read.

Accessibility

Make your navigation clear and consistent.

Choose clear and consistent names for your pages. The navigation object uses these page names.

Flashing Elements

Allow moving elements to be paused or stopped.

This gives users with vision impairment and cognitive disabilities a chance to see this moving content.
This is especially needed if important text is changing or moving in some way. Give all users a chance to read this content.

Avoid blinking or flashing effects.

Such effects can trigger a seizure. Make these optional or avoid them altogether.

Do not use Flash.

Flash animation is not compatible with iOS mobile browsers.

Identify row and column headers for data tables.

Tables should only be used for tabular information such as information displayed in a spreadsheet or possibly a database. Avoid using tables for layout.
Data tables should identify row and column headers using table header markup.
Use a caption element to provide a descriptive title for the table.

Make sure all documents (PDF, Word, Excel, PowerPoint, etc.) are accessible.

More information is available about creating accessible documents.

Policy on Website Creation Using High Point University Branding or Name

Purpose:
To maintain brand consistency, protect the university’s reputation, and ensure compliance with digital standards and legal regulations, this policy governs the creation and use of external websites that incorporate High Point University’s name, brand elements, or affiliated terms in their domain.

Policy Statement:

Any website created outside the official university domains (i.e., www.highpoint.edu ) that includes any reference to High Point University, HPU, or any variation thereof in the domain name or branding must be reviewed and approved in advance by the Office of Communication.

This applies to:

New website creation (e.g., www.hpuorganization.com, highpointuniversityxyz.org)
Microsites or platforms not hosted on official university servers
External vendors, student groups, departments, or third-party partners wishing to represent HPU digitally

Approval Process:

Proposal Submission: The requesting party must submit a detailed proposal including:
- The purpose and audience of the website
- Proposed domain name(s)
- Hosting provider/platform
- Website manager(s) and maintenance plan
- Content outline and key pages
- Analytics, cookie usage, and data privacy disclosures
Review and Feedback: The Office of Communication will evaluate the proposal for:
- Brand alignment (logos, tone, imagery, messaging)
- Accessibility and usability standards
- Legal compliance (GDPR, CCPA, FERPA, etc.)
- Security and data handling practices
Final Approval or Recommendations: If approved, the website may proceed. If adjustments are needed, guidance will be provided.

Ongoing Requirements:

All approved external sites must display a link back to the main university site and clearly state their affiliation.
Any changes to the domain name, structure, or branding must be re-approved.
If a site becomes outdated, inactive, or non-compliant, the Office of Communication reserves the right to request deactivation or redirect.

Non-Compliance:

Websites created without approval that use HPU branding, misrepresent affiliation, or present outdated/inaccurate information may be subject to takedown requests, domain reclamation, or further action by university leadership.

Questions or Proposals?
Contact the Office of Communication at [email protected] for guidance and support on digital projects.