WVU Home

SCM - Digital Blackout Periods

SCM - Digital will implement blackout periods throughout the year that affect services offered.*

A blackout period is a designated timeframe during which:

  • New website requests will be postponed.
  • New website launches will be postponed.
  • No significant design or structural changes will be implemented.
  • CMS upgrades and platform changes will be deferred.
  • Only approved emergency fixes, critical accessibility issues, security updates, or business-critical content updates will be permitted.

See the Full Scope of Permissible Blackout Period Requests

* SCM - Digital blackout periods are not the same as WVU ITS blackout dates. However, SCM - Digital has intentionally scheduled its blackout periods to coincide with ITS blackout dates in order to minimize the time that certain requests will be unavailable (for example DNS changes).

2026 Blackout Dates

  • Monday, August 3 - Tuesday, August 18, 2026
  • Monday, October 13 - Friday, October 30, 2026
  • Monday, December 15, 2026 - Friday, January 1, 2027

Purpose

The purpose of this policy is to establish designated blackout periods during which the SCM - Digital team will limit or suspend non-essential website changes. Blackout dates help ensure website stability during critical institutional periods, reduce risk to business operations, and allow staff to focus on high-priority support activities.

Scope

This policy applies to all websites, web applications, content management systems, and digital experiences maintained by the SCM - Digital team.

The policy applies to:

  • Website redesigns and migrations
  • New website launches
  • Significant content restructuring
  • Template and component updates
  • System upgrades and integrations
  • Changes to navigation, information architecture, or site functionality

Changes Allowed During Blackout Periods

The following may proceed with appropriate approval:

  • Emergency security patches
  • Emergency communications
  • Critical accessibility remediation
  • Legal or compliance-required updates
  • Emergency communications
  • Content corrections involving factual inaccuracies

Changes Restricted During Blackout Periods

The following activities are generally prohibited:

  • New website requests
  • Website redesigns
  • Website reviews, approvals, and launches
  • Major content migrations
  • Navigation changes
  • Template modifications
  • CMS upgrades
  • New feature releases
  • URL structure changes
  • Search engine optimization restructuring
  • Third-party integration deployments

Blackout Calendar Publication

The SCM - Digital team will publish blackout dates annually no later than July 1 for the upcoming academic year.

The calendar will be distributed to:

  • Professional Technologists
  • Marketing and communications teams

Planning Expectations

Website owners and stakeholders should:

  • Schedule major projects outside blackout periods.
  • Submit launch requests at least four weeks before anticipated blackout dates.
  • Coordinate with the SCM - Digital team during project planning to avoid scheduling conflicts.

Failure to account for blackout periods may result in project delays.

Policy Review

This policy will be reviewed annually by the SCM - Digital team and updated as institutional priorities, academic calendars, and operational needs evolve.