Creating a Person Profile

Overview

Person Profiles are the foundation of the UMKC Global Framework’s people directory system. Each profile stores an individual’s contact information, biography, organizational affiliations, and directory assignments.

A profile should be created once and maintained throughout an individual’s time at the university. If a person belongs to multiple departments or offices, update the existing profile rather than creating a duplicate.

Best Practice

Create one profile for each individual in their primary appointment. Additional appointments, offices, and departments should be managed through the profile’s organizational fields.

Before You Begin

Before creating a new profile, gather the following information:

Required

• Display name
• Sort field
• Profile type
• At least one AU/Division/Office

Recommended

• Professional headshot (400 × 400 pixels)
• Position title(s)
• Biography
• Office location
• Phone number
• Email address

Create the Profile

1. Navigate to your site’s /profiles/ folder.
2. To add a new Profile page go to: Add Content > Directory > Profile.
3. Name the asset using the following convention:

last-first

Example

smith-jane

Using a consistent naming convention makes profiles easier to locate and maintain.

Complete the Required Fields

Title

Enter the individual’s preferred display name exactly as it should appear on the website.

Do not include:

• Academic degrees
• Professional credentials
• Certifications

Correct

Jane Smith

Incorrect

Jane Smith, Ph.D.

Professional credentials may be added elsewhere within the profile.

Sort Field

The Sort Field determines the order in which profiles appear within directories.

In most cases, enter the individual’s family (last) name.

Although the field accepts any value, using the last name ensures predictable alphabetical sorting.

Profile Type

Select every profile type that applies.

Examples include:

• Faculty
• Staff
• Adjunct Faculty
• Emeritus Faculty

When multiple profile types apply, the individual’s highest-ranking appointment should generally be selected first.

AU / Division / Office(s)

Select every academic unit, division, or office with which the individual is affiliated.

A profile may belong to multiple organizational units without creating duplicate profiles.

Although the order does not affect functionality, listing the primary appointment first is recommended.

Add Recommended Content

Headshot

A professional headshot improves profile quality and consistency across the website.

Recommended specifications:

• Square image
• 400 × 400 pixels
• WebP format
• Optimized for web use

Position Titles

Position Titles are repeatable.

Use the + button to add multiple titles rather than entering them in a comma-separated list.

Example:

• Professor
• Department Chair

Biography

The Biography is the primary content area for the profile.

Editors may include:

• Paragraphs
• Headings
• Lists
• Hyperlinks

Although rich formatting is supported, biographies should remain focused on the individual’s professional background.

Whenever practical, structured information such as education, research interests, publications, awards, and teaching areas should be placed in Additional Biography Fields rather than within the main biography.

Additional Biography Fields

Additional Biography Fields provide structured sections beneath the primary biography.

Common examples include:

• Education
• Research Interests
• Publications
• Awards
• Teaching
• Professional Memberships

Each section consists of:

• A section heading
• Supporting content

Use additional sections to organize information that would otherwise make the main biography unnecessarily long.

Profile Links

Profile Links create additional text links displayed on the profile page.

Common examples include:

• Personal website
• Laboratory website
• Google Scholar
• ORCID
• LinkedIn

Use the + button to add multiple links.

Resume / CV

Upload a current résumé or curriculum vitae when appropriate.

The uploaded file is displayed as a downloadable link on the profile page.

Review Before Publishing

Before publishing, verify:

• Display name is correct.
• Asset name follows the last-first convention.
• Sort Field contains the desired sort value.
• All applicable Profile Types are selected.
• All applicable AU/Division/Office values are selected.
• Position Titles have been added individually using the + button.
• Biography has been reviewed for formatting.
• Headshot meets the recommended specifications.

Publish the Profile

After reviewing the profile:

1. Save your changes.
2. Preview the profile.
3. Publish the profile.

Important

Publishing the profile updates the profile page only.

If changes affect directory organization (such as Profile Type, AU/Division/Office assignments, or Sub-Directory values), the affected directory page(s) must also be republished before those changes appear on the website.