Category Page Guide
This guide defines the purpose, required content, organization rules, and page structure for category pages used across News, Students, Community, Resources, and Innovation.
Guide Purpose
Use this page to keep category pages consistent, scalable, easy to browse, and aligned with future story system needs.
1. Overview
A category page should do more than display stories. It should define what belongs in the category, provide a clear entry point for browsing, surface the strongest current story, and help users move into related topics, archives, and adjacent categories.
| Category | Primary Purpose | Main Story Focus | Typical Audience | Suggested Tone |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| News | Broad campus updates and timely developments | Research, planning, academics, leadership, campus-wide updates | All campus audiences | Clear, timely, informative |
| Students | Student-centered stories and experiences | Achievement, support, involvement, wellness, opportunity | Current and prospective students | Human, supportive, encouraging |
| Community | Regional connection and public engagement | Outreach, service, arts, partnerships, public events | Community members, families, partners | Welcoming, civic, outward-facing |
| Resources | Helpful and service-oriented content | Guides, support tools, service updates, how-to content | Students, families, support seekers | Practical, direct, helpful |
| Innovation | Applied ideas and forward-looking work | Projects, startups, experiments, creative technology, solutions | Students, faculty, partners, industry | Progressive, active, solution-focused |
2. Required Page Sections
Each category page should share the same overall layout so users can move between categories without relearning the page structure.
| Section | Required | Purpose | What It Should Include |
|---|---|---|---|
| Hero / Intro Area | Yes | Define the category and orient the user | Category label, page title, short summary, update details or story count |
| Featured Story Card | Yes | Highlight the most important or representative story | 16:9 image, label, title, summary, CTA |
| Browse Topics Sidebar | Yes | Support topic-level navigation | Sub-categories, tags, archive links, related categories |
| Latest Stories Grid | Yes | Show current supporting stories | Minimum four cards with sub-category, title, summary, link |
| Category Spotlight | Recommended | Support a secondary feature or theme | Image, title, summary, primary CTA, optional secondary CTA |
| Archive Section | Yes | Support deeper browsing | Older story links with short descriptions |
| Pagination | Yes | Navigate longer content collections | Previous, current, next, page numbers |
3. Required Content Fields
These are the core fields needed to create, maintain, and scale a category page within a larger story system.
| Field | Required | Description | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Category Name | Yes | Top-level category label | News, Students, Community, Resources, Innovation |
| Category Title | Yes | Main page heading in the hero | May be more descriptive than the category name |
| Category Summary | Yes | Short statement of what belongs in the category | Use one concise paragraph |
| Featured Story | Yes | Main highlighted story for the page | Should feel timely, strong, or representative |
| Sub-Categories | Yes | Editorial groupings within the category | Used in story labels and browse topics |
| Tags | Yes | Reusable cross-linking terms | Should support filtering and related content |
| Latest Stories | Yes | Newest or most relevant supporting stories | Minimum four items |
| Archive Links | Yes | Older story access | Link text should remain descriptive |
| Update Date | Recommended | Freshness indicator for the page | Supports trust and maintenance |
| Story Count | Optional | Estimated number of stories in the category | Useful for browsing context |
4. Content Length Rules
These ranges help maintain visual consistency across cards, spotlights, topic labels, and supporting story modules.
| Field | Ideal | Working Target | Hard Max |
|---|---|---|---|
| Main Category Tab | 1 word | 4–12 characters | 14 characters |
| Sub-Category Label | 1–2 words | 12–24 characters | 30 characters |
| Feature Title | 5–8 words | 35–55 characters | 68 characters |
| Feature Text | 14–22 words | 100–140 characters | 170 characters |
| Supporting Title | 4–7 words | 30–45 characters | 58 characters |
| Supporting Text | 12–18 words | 85–115 characters | 135 characters |
| Tag | 1–2 words | 8–14 characters | 20 characters |
| Tags per Story | 3–4 tags | 3–4 tags | 4 tags |
5. Category Structure and Taxonomy
Categories provide the top-level editorial buckets. Sub-categories define the story lanes inside each bucket. Tags connect related stories across the entire system.
| Category | Suggested Sub-Categories | Best Use |
|---|---|---|
| News | Research Updates, Campus Planning, Academic Growth, Leadership News, Institutional Updates | Timely campus-wide updates and general stories |
| Students | Student Life, Student Achievement, Wellness Support, Career Development, Student Voices | Student-centered stories and lived experiences |
| Community | Education Outreach, Arts and Culture, Service Projects, Civic Engagement, Community Partnerships | Regional impact, outreach, and public-facing work |
| Resources | Academic Support, Financial Support, Technology Help, Accessibility Services, Advising Resources | Helpful support content and service navigation |
| Innovation | Assistive Design, Startup Support, Creative Technology, Health Training, Applied Research | Forward-looking ideas, experimentation, and solutions |
| Tag Type | Purpose | Examples | Use Rule |
|---|---|---|---|
| Topic Tags | Describe the main subject of the story | Research, Scholarships, Mentorship, Outreach, Startups | Use 1–2 per story |
| Audience Tags | Show who the story matters to most | Students, Families, Faculty, Community | Use when audience clarity adds value |
| Department Tags | Connect to units, schools, or offices | Library, Engineering, Student Affairs, Business | Use sparingly |
| Impact Tags | Show why the story matters | Student Success, Career Prep, Community Impact, Campus Life | Use 1 when helpful |
| Event Tags | Connect stories to recurring programs or events | Service Week, Lecture Series, Internship Fair | Use only when event-specific |
6. Image and Media Standards
Media should be simple, consistent, and reusable across feature areas, spotlight modules, and video-based content.
| Image Type | Standard Ratio | Recommended Use | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Banner Image | 16:9 | Featured stories, spotlights, hero support | Use a clear focal point that remains readable when cropped responsively |
| Video Thumbnail | 16:9 | Video previews, media cards, featured video content | Use strong contrast and simple composition for overlays or play icons |
8. Category Page Checklist
Use this checklist before publishing or reviewing a category page.
| Check | Required | Review Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Category title and summary are clear | Yes | Defines what belongs in the category in plain language |
| Featured story matches category purpose | Yes | Should feel representative, useful, and current |
| Sub-categories are accurate and stable | Yes | Avoid unnecessary one-off labels |
| Latest stories follow content length limits | Yes | Check title, summary, and tag ranges |
| Tags are reusable and not redundant | Yes | Do not repeat the same meaning with multiple tags |
| Images use 16:9 ratio | Yes | Confirm crop, subject clarity, and alt text |
| Archive links remain descriptive | Yes | Avoid vague or repetitive link text |
| Page supports browsing and discovery | Yes | Topics, tags, archive, and related categories should help exploration |
9. Summary
Category pages should balance editorial clarity, browsing utility, and system consistency. They should help users understand what belongs in each category, discover related stories, and move confidently through current, supporting, and archived content.
- Define the category clearly
- Use consistent sub-categories
- Keep titles and summaries within length targets
- Use reusable tags for cross-linking
- Maintain 16:9 media standards
- Support both scanning and deeper browsing
Category Page
News
Timely campus updates, research, planning, academics, and leadership stories.
Category Page
Students
Student-centered stories focused on support, achievement, wellness, and opportunity.
Category Page
Community
Outreach, service, public engagement, partnerships, and regional impact stories.
Category Page
Resources
Helpful content that guides users to services, tools, and practical support.
Category Page
Innovation
Applied ideas, creative technology, projects, startups, and solution-focused work.
Category Guide
Guide
Guide requirments.
