FAQs

FAQs: Using blogs.rice.edu

blogs.rice.edu is Rice University’s official blogging and simple website platform, available to Rice faculty, staff, and students. This page answers common questions to help you get started and manage your site effectively.

Quick Links

How do I start?

Visit blogs.rice.edu and log in with your Rice NetID. Once logged in, go to Dashboard > Create a Site to name and launch your site.

How much does it cost?

Rice provides blogs.rice.edu at no cost to faculty, staff, and students with a NetID. If you want a custom domain (like one that ends in .org), there may be a $100/year leasing fee via CampusPress. Contact helpdesk@rice.edu to discuss options.

How long is my site active?

  • Sites are kept active as long as they are maintained.
  • Inactivity for 2+ years may result in removal.
  • Student-owned sites are deleted about 6 months after graduation unless a staff/faculty admin is added before then.

How much space do I get?

  • Each site can use up to 10 GB of total storage.
  • Maximum upload size per file: 50 MB.
  • Large video files should be uploaded to YouTube or Vimeo and embedded instead of hosted directly.

How do I embed media?

CampusPress supports embedding content such as:

  • YouTube and Vimeo videos
  • Google Docs, Slides, Maps, and Forms
  • PDFs, images, and audio files

Use the “Add Media” button or paste embed code into the Text tab of a post/page. See CampusPress Media Guide for more.

Can I change the site name or URL?

  • Default URLs follow this format: sitename.blogs.rice.edu
  • To request a custom Rice subdomain (e.g., sitename.rice.edu), email helpdesk@rice.edu.
  • .org domains can be leased for $100/year through CampusPress.

Can I create more than one site?

Yes! There’s currently no limit on the number of blogs you can create, as long as they are used appropriately and maintained.

What themes are available?

CampusPress provides over 300 professionally designed, responsive, and accessible themes to choose from. You can browse themes under Appearance > Themes.

Recommended themes: CampusPress Flex and Divi, both accessible and flexible for a variety of site types.

What plugins can I use?

CampusPress offers a curated list of plugins, including support for:

  • SEO optimization
  • Google Maps
  • Analytics
  • PDF and media embedding

Monetization or e-commerce plugins are not allowed in blogs.rice.edu.

How do I check for accessibility?

All Rice websites must comply with WCAG 2.1 AA accessibility standards.

  1. In your Dashboard, go to Plugins and activate Accessible Content.
  2. After building or editing a page or post, click the “Accessibility Review” link in the black toolbar at the top of each page/post.
  3. Ensure all accessibility checks pass before publishing.

For guidance, visit the Rice Digital Accessibility website.

Can I sell items or accept donations?

No. E-commerce is not supported on blogs.rice.edu due to university policy. You may not use plugins for payment, donations, or advertising.

What happens if I leave Rice?

  • Sites are removed 6 months after graduation for students or 2 years of inactivity for others.
  • You can export your site and import it into WordPress.com, Tumblr, etc.
  • You can also transfer ownership to another Rice user under Dashboard > Settings > General > Administration Email Address.

Can I add other users?

Yes. To add someone:

  1. Go to Dashboard > Users > Add New
  2. Enter their NetID (they must have logged in to blogs.rice.edu at least once)
  3. Select a role: Subscriber, Contributor, Author, Editor, or Administrator

Can I track visitors?

Yes. You can enable Google Analytics using the appropriate plugin. See the CampusPress Analytics Guide for step-by-step instructions.

Can I make my site private?

You can choose from several visibility options:

  • Public (searchable by anyone)
  • Visible only to logged-in Rice users
  • Password-protected pages or posts
  • Admins-only access

Find these settings under Dashboard > Settings > Reading.

Can I enable or disable comments?

Yes. You can manage comments at the page/post level or site-wide. CAPTCHA is enabled by default to prevent spam. Visit Dashboard > Settings > Discussion for options.

Need help?