Website Guidelines

CNU.edu and my.CNU.edu

Christopher Newport maintains two primary web platforms, cnu.edu and my.cnu.edu, each designed with a specific audience and purpose in mind. Understanding the difference helps ensure your content reaches the right people, in the right way.

CNU.edu is the University’s public-facing website, managed by the Office of Communications and Public Relations (OCPR). This site serves as our digital front door, welcoming prospective students, parents, alumni, donors, and community members. Only official content that represents the University and aligns with our brand may be published here. Every page and section is designed to communicate clearly, reflect the excellence of our community, and create a positive first impression of Christopher Newport.

myCNU, by contrast, is the internal portal for current students, faculty, and staff. It houses tools, resources, and information relevant to daily campus life, such as class registration, advising, HR services, and announcements. While it is essential for operations, myCNU is not used for recruitment or external communications.

To streamline the user experience and eliminate confusion, content should not be duplicated across both platforms. For example, if a resource or form is intended solely for current students or employees, it belongs on myCNU, not on the public site. There is no need to post the same information in both places, and doing so can lead to outdated or inconsistent messaging.

As a best practice:

• Use cnu.edu for public-facing content that promotes the university or communicates with external audiences.
• Use myCNU for internal tools, resources, and day-to-day campus operations.

To maintain consistency, quality, and compliance with accessibility standards, all academic, administrative, and program web pages must be hosted on university servers and created or approved by OCPR.

Departments may submit web requests, including updates, new content, or design support, through our online request form. This helps ensure every update aligns with brand standards, supports university goals, and provides a seamless experience for users. We welcome collaboration and are here to help bring your content to life in a way that best serves your audience and reflects the strength of the CNU brand.