Page Layout Options & Custom Features Last Updated July 2025 The way content on your website appears in areas on the browser screen is controlled with the Theme and Templates. Plugins and Widgets are optional tools that can be enabled to display different types of content. On this page: Theme Header Image Background Grid layout Column Layout Templates Plugins Widgets Sidebars Learn More Theme Please do not change the Theme. Please contact us if you have concerns about the Theme or want to change any of the following since there could be unexpected consequences. Header Image The image at the top of your WordPress site is called the Header Image. If you want to change, add, or delete your header image email the COFA Web Team as we’re the only ones with the ability to do so. The image can be as tall or short as desired, but must be a width of 960 pixels to retain the best image quality. Grid layout “Teams” is a plugin that allow you to create rows and columns in a responsive grid layout. The typical use of the plugin is for creating a directory of people but it can be used creatively to solve many other layout needs. Column Layout UT WordPress theme has an available fully responsive column layout option available in the page layout editor. With this tool content builders can create up to 6 column content, as either a full page layout or along with regular content. Templates Several templates are available with different areas where Plugins display or Widgets can be assigned. The template you select will determine the layout of your web page. It’s a bad idea to change the “default” template since this may unexpectedly break some styling and layout throughout the site. Unlike non-University of Texas versions of WordPress, the sites.utexas.edu service offers only pre-selected and pre-installed Plugins and Widgets that have been vetted by our campus’s information technology staff to ensure that they are secure, reliable, and accessible to all users. If you desire more Template options for different content on your website we will be happy to help. Plugins Several different plugins are currently available. New plugins are being reviewed by the university Information Technology team. We will let you know as new functionality becomes available. You do not control where in the Template the Plugins display. Widgets Widgets can be assigned to different areas of the Template. Several Widgets are available including a site search box and text area in which you can put any information. Sidebars All sites will have a Default Template which usually includes a special content area on the right-hand side of each page called the Sidebar. Most pages, including blog and news posts, will use the Default Template unless another template is selected. It’s a bad idea to change the “default” template since this may unexpectedly break some styling and layout throughout the site. Learn More The university blogs service provides more details on Using Plugins and Widgets.
