voices.uchicago.edu

UChicago Voices is a free, self-service web platform for students, faculty, and staff to build blogs and websites for portfolios, courses, research groups, clubs, and similar uses. It is provided by IT Services, powered by WordPress, and hosted by Edublogs. The features below describe what the platform itself offers; access requires a CNet ID and password, and class blogs for courses are set up through a separate request form with support from Academic Technology Solutions staff.

Core Publishing and Collaboration Features

Multi-author collaboration

You can write alone or publish with multiple authors on the same site. This matters for group research projects, club sites, and course blogs where several people contribute.

The UChicago Theme

An official template is available and can be customized to suit your needs. If you want a site that looks consistent with university branding without building a design from scratch, this is the starting point.

Mobile-ready creation

Sites can be created and edited from a computer, tablet, or phone. This is useful for quick updates between classes or while traveling, though heavier editing tasks are typically easier on a larger screen.

Hosting, Security, and Insight

Cloud hosting with backups

The platform handles backups and security for you, so you do not need to manage server maintenance yourself. This is one of the main reasons to choose Voices over a self-hosted WordPress install.

Secure identity via CNet ID

Your identity is managed through your CNet ID and password. You do not create a separate account, and access follows your existing university credentials.

Dashboard statistics

Your dashboard tracks site statistics, including who is visiting and related metrics. This helps instructors gauge student engagement on a class blog or helps project owners see traffic patterns.

Content and Extensibility

Diverse media support

You can upload and embed videos, photos, files, podcasts, and other content types. For ePortfolios, this means you can present written work alongside recorded presentations or media projects.

Installed plugins

Dozens of plugins are already installed, extending what your site can do. Because the plugin set is managed for you, you avoid the compatibility and update problems that come with maintaining plugins on your own.

Matching Features to Your Use Case

What the Features Do Not Cover

The available information does not specify storage limits, the exact list of installed plugins, or whether sites can be exported. If your project depends on a particular plugin or a large media library, confirm those details with Academic Technology Solutions before committing. For course blogs specifically, the Class Blog Request form is the correct entry point, and the support team handles setup, student enrollment, and training rather than leaving you to configure it alone.

Instructors request a class blog by submitting the Class Blog Request form on UChicago Voices. The site is a free, self-service platform provided by IT Services, powered by WordPress, and hosted by Edublogs, and class blogs are fully supported by Academic Technology Solutions (ATS) staff. That support covers setting up the site, enrolling your students, technical support, and in-class training. If you need a site for another academic use, such as an ePortfolio, the path is different: contact Academic Technology Solutions directly instead of using the class blog form.

Before you request

Confirm the site fits your purpose. UChicago Voices is intended for students, faculty, and staff building blogs and websites for portfolios, courses, research groups, clubs, and similar uses. For a course you are teaching, the class blog route applies; for an ePortfolio or other academic use, go through ATS.

You will also need your CNet ID and password, since identity on the platform is managed through CNet credentials.

Step-by-step: requesting a class blog

1. Open the Class Blog Request form. From the UChicago Voices site, choose the option to request a class blog. The form is specifically for instructors creating a blog for a course they are teaching.
2. Submit your course details. Fill out the form with the information it asks for about your course and the site you need. The page does not publish the individual form fields, so work from the prompts shown on the form itself.
3. Wait for ATS to set up the site. ATS staff handle site setup for class blogs. You do not need to configure WordPress or hosting yourself.
4. Have your students enrolled. Student enrollment is part of the ATS support for class blogs, so coordinate enrollment with the staff assisting you rather than adding users manually.
5. Request training or technical support as needed. ATS also provides in-class training and ongoing technical support. Ask for these when you submit the request or when you are contacted about setup.

Expected result: a working course blog on UChicago Voices, with your students enrolled and support available for training and technical issues.

What you get with a class blog

Other academic uses

If your site is not a class blog—for example, an ePortfolio—do not use the class blog form. Contact Academic Technology Solutions to discuss the right setup. The same applies if you are unsure whether UChicago Voices is the right fit; the site's own guidance points to ATS for academic uses beyond course blogs.

Common snags

• Using the wrong request path. The class blog form is for courses you are teaching. Portfolios and other academic sites go through ATS.
• Trying to self-configure enrollment. Class blog support includes enrolling students, so raise enrollment with ATS instead of working around it.
• Skipping training. In-class training is offered as part of class blog support; use it if you plan to have students publish on the site.
• Assuming login works without CNet. Access is tied to your CNet ID and password, so make sure your credentials are active before setup begins.

UChicago Voices is a free, self-service web platform provided by IT Services for University of Chicago students, faculty, and staff to build blogs and websites. It runs on WordPress and is hosted by Edublogs, so you get a familiar publishing interface without running your own server. It fits portfolios, course blogs, research group sites, and club pages — and it is not a general-purpose replacement for departmental or official University web properties.

Who can use it and what it's for

The platform is open to students, faculty, and staff. Typical uses named by the service include:

• ePortfolios — a personal site to collect and present work
• Course blogs — a shared space for a class
• Research groups — a site for a lab or project team
• Clubs and other groups — a lightweight web presence

If you are an instructor building a site for a course you teach, there is a dedicated path: submit the Class Blog Request form. Those class blogs come with full support from Academic Technology Solutions staff, who help set up the site, enroll students, provide technical support, and offer in-class training. For other academic uses such as an ePortfolio, the guidance is to contact Academic Technology Solutions directly.

What you get

The CNet ID login is the practical detail worth noting: access is tied to your University identity, so you don't create a separate account, and the site's security posture follows that identity.

Deciding whether it's the right fit

Choose UChicago Voices when you want a WordPress site you can stand up yourself, you're affiliated with the University, and your needs are academic or community-oriented — a portfolio, a class, a research group, a club. The self-service model means you control the content and layout, while hosting, backups, and security sit with the platform.

Look elsewhere when you need an official University web presence, a custom application, or infrastructure the platform doesn't cover. The service describes itself as a blogging and website platform, not a general hosting environment, and the feature list is the honest boundary of what it offers.

Getting started

1. Confirm your use case. Course blog? Use the Class Blog Request form. ePortfolio or other academic site? Contact Academic Technology Solutions.
2. Request a website. The site provides a "Request a Website" entry point for general requests.
3. Build with the tools provided. Pick the UChicago Theme, add authors if you're collaborating, and embed media as needed.
4. Check your dashboard. Use Insight to see who is visiting and how the site is performing.

The main friction point to expect is the request step — this isn't an instant sign-up, so plan for a short lead time before your site is live, especially if you need student enrollment for a class blog.

UChicago Voices is for University of Chicago students, faculty, and staff who need a self-service website or blog. It is a free platform provided by IT Services, built on WordPress, and hosted by Edublogs. You can use it for class blogs, ePortfolios, research groups, clubs, and similar purposes. Access is tied to your CNet ID and password, so you need valid University credentials to use it.

Who can use it

The platform is open to three groups at the University:

• Students — for portfolios, personal sites, or group projects
• Faculty — for course blogs, research sites, or academic portfolios
• Staff — for club sites, departmental projects, or other academic uses

Because sign-in is managed through CNet ID, eligibility follows your existing University account. If you have a CNet ID, you are in the intended audience.

What you can use it for

The site lists several supported uses. The two most common are:

Class blogs

Instructors teaching a course can request a class blog. These come with full support from Academic Technology Solutions staff, who will:

• Help set up the site
• Enroll your students
• Provide technical support
• Offer in-class training

To start, fill out the Class Blog Request form linked from the Voices site.

ePortfolios and other academic uses

If you need a site for an ePortfolio or another academic purpose, the guidance is to contact Academic Technology Solutions directly rather than using the class blog form.

Research groups and clubs

The platform description also names research groups and clubs as suitable uses. These fall under the general "request a website" path rather than the class blog process.

What the platform gives you

Before requesting a site, it helps to know what you get. The listed features are:

How to get started

The path depends on your use case:

1. Teaching a course and want a class blog — complete the Class Blog Request form. Expect staff support with setup, student enrollment, and training.
2. Need an ePortfolio or other academic site — contact Academic Technology Solutions to discuss your needs.
3. Starting a research group or club site — use the general "Request a Website" option on the Voices site.

Is it the right fit?

UChicago Voices fits if you want a WordPress-based site without managing hosting, security, or backups yourself, and if your work is academic or University-affiliated. It is less suited if you need a platform outside the University's identity system or full control over the hosting environment. For course-related work, the added staff support for class blogs is a clear reason to use this platform over a generic WordPress install.