Web and application services

What we do

The CoE Computing Services Web & App team provides secure hosting, custom application development CMS support, and infrastructure services for College of Engineering departments and programs. We help maintain existing sites, build new applications, and ensure services are reliable, secure, and scalable.

We provide a range of web and application services, including:

Websites and CMS support

• Website content updates – editing, publishing, and troubleshooting departmental websites.
• Drupal CMS support – assistance with content editing, permissions, and site functionality.
• Web form development – forms for data collection, workflows, and internal tools.

Application development

• Custom web applications – tools supporting advising, admissions, scholarships, and business processes.
• Workflow automation – approval routing, notifications, and process automation.
• Open source applications – hosting and support for Laravel, Drupal, WordPress, and other frameworks.

Hosting and infrastructure

• Secure hosting – server infrastructure, authentication (NetID / Shibboleth), and access control.
• Database services – setup, backups, access, and reporting.
• Backup and recovery – protecting data and ensuring service continuity.

Getting support

All website, hosting, database, and application requests should be submitted to webhelp@engr.uw.edu. Requests are reviewed and assigned to the appropriate team member.

Web and content management

The College of Engineering website is a joint effort between CoE Computing Services (CoE-CS) and CoE Marketing & Communications (CoE-MarCom).

• CoE-CS (Computing Services) provides the technical foundation—hosting, infrastructure, security, and application development.
• CoE-MarCom (Marketing & Communications) supports branding, design, content strategy, and storytelling.

Together, we ensure that Engineering websites are reliable, secure, accessible, and aligned with the University’s brand.

Web Resources

Getting web support

• Shared responsibility: The Web Support team manages college-level web content and provides infrastructure, while individual business units or departments may maintain their own sites if they have been granted content editing privileges.
• Department/unit sites: Departments are responsible for keeping their own content accurate and up to date. Training and consultation are available from CoE-CS and CoE-MarCom for site editors.
• Not hosted here: CoE-CS does not typically host research group, faculty, or student personal websites at this time. For these, please see UW-IT Web Publishing Options for appropriate hosting alternatives.

Application development

The CoE-CS web team designs, builds, and supports applications and databases that improve operations across the College. Our goal is to create secure, scalable, and user-friendly tools that streamline academic and administrative processes.

Examples of supported applications include:

• Faculty & staff recruitment systems – managing searches, hiring workflows, and approvals.
• Student admissions & scholarships portals – online applications, review processes, and award management.
• Scheduling & coordination tools – resource scheduling, event management, and automated reminders.
• Ticketing & workflow systems – request tracking, issue management, and approval pipelines.
• CRM & communications tools – email communication platforms, automated notifications, and approval routing.
• Other college-wide business process applications – custom solutions tailored to meet departmental or administrative needs.

Hosting and technical infrastructure

Our primary web platforms use LAMP stack (Linux, Apache, MySQL, PHP) with Drupal as the default content management system. We also build and support many custom applications using some of the latest technologies.

• Drupal Hosting – Department sites hosted by CoE-CS must use our Drupal template. We provide the initial setup and orientation. Departments are responsible for maintaining their content, with CoE-CS handling the infrastructure.
• WordPress Support – While Drupal is our main CMS, we can also support WordPress sites on a case-by-case basis.
• College Applications – The CoE-CS team builds and maintains custom applications that support College-wide needs such as admissions, scholarships, and business processes.
• Open-Source Project Hosting – We can host and support open-source applications, including tailored customizations to meet departmental requirements.
• Authentication – All sites and apps can use UW NetID authentication via UW’s Shibboleth Identity Provider.
• Backups & Security – CoE-CS manages databases, backups, security patches, and server maintenance for hosted services.
• Infrastructure Reliability & Performance – Services run on secure, high-availability servers with redundant power and network connectivity, supported by regular backups and disaster recovery planning.

Data reports

CoE-CS maintains a set of financial and administrative data reports for the College. To request access, contact coedatahelp@uw.edu.