February 9, 2026 Marketing and Communications Update

Howdy, University MarComm Community,

We hope your semester is off to a terrific start.

With the start of the new year, you likely saw details shared regarding updates to state-mandated website requirements — and the display of digital content as a whole — in relation to accessibility.

We have a very important topic to share with you in this newsletter — new state-mandated website requirements and the new Texas A&M University website user interface (UX) that will be launched this spring.

Our websites are where our audiences go to quickly find helpful information and complete tasks. As expectations for digital experiences continue to rise, it’s more important than ever that our web resources are accessible, efficient and mobile-friendly.

We’re pleased to continue providing tools and resources that help Texas A&M teams proactively meet evolving standards and support statewide compliance efforts. The June 2024 update for Title II of the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) and Texas House Bill 5195 (HB 5195) each introduce new requirements that apply to all Texas A&M websites.

The update to the ADA requires full compliance with the WCAG 2.1 Level AA accessibility standard by April 24, 2026. HB 5195 establishes a mandate for modernizing state agency websites and online services, requiring agencies to assess their current sites and submit a modernization plan focused on accessibility, mobile responsiveness, streamlined digital services and reduced paperwork.

The Aggie UX (AUX) web design system prioritizes accessibility and supports the website modernization requirements mandated by these new laws — making it easier for us to build compliant, user-centered websites without starting from scratch.

With that in mind, we want to share what’s coming next for AUX.

The Aggie UX (AUX) team has been working on some major upgrades to AUX — all leading up to a 2.0 release. AUX 2.0 features a new mega menu option for website navigation and technical improvements that will result in AUX websites loading faster.

These changes will be coming to WordPress and Cascade during Spring Break, with planned maintenance for all Aggie UX Cascade sites on Tuesday, March 10. During this maintenance window, no one will be able to publish content on their Aggie UX Cascade site.

If planning to launch a website in Cascade using the Aggie UX theme over Spring Break, or if planning to publish content on March 10 (during Cascade maintenance), please email the Web team at web@tamu.edu. They’d like to connect early with you to discuss the planned upgrade and any potential impacts to timelines.

Learn more about Aggie UX 2.0

Content Packages

Aggieland Saturday

On Feb. 28, we will host Aggieland Saturday, our annual open house. It is the university’s front door and a critical opportunity to introduce our brand to new and vital audiences: thousands of prospective students and their families and friends. This event is our first chance to make a lasting impact, showing them what it means to be part of a welcoming, spirited community and a global force for good. It is our time to demonstrate how we can activate our brand in harmony, standing together to create an unforgettable, unified experience for every visitor.

To help everyone prepare, we have created an updated Aggieland Saturday content package. This resource is designed to help communicate in character and on-brand in a consistent, compelling way, with creative assets and messaging guidance tailored for this unique event. By using these tools, we can ensure every interaction feels inspiring and authentically Aggie, reflecting the character and values that define us. Let’s work together to show every visitor that they can find their home and purpose here at Texas A&M.

View the Aggieland Saturday content package

Community Resources Available to You

Design Counsel

Join us! Design Counsel is a creative space for Texas A&M’s visual storytellers — a place to share ideas, spark inspiration and help shape what’s next for creativity and collaboration across campus. Each meeting dives into a new topic in marketing and communications, with lots of room to learn from one another and offer support.

Our next meeting is Wednesday, Feb. 11! We will have the amazing Hailey Yamada from MarComm’s Web team speaking on accessibility, Aggie UX and all the helpful web insight one could ever hope to hear. Please RSVP using the link below.

For more information, please contact Emme Benefield on Slack or Teams, or at emcmurray05@tamu.edu.

Register for upcoming meetings

Aggie UX Training and Support

The Division of Marketing and Communications Web team hosts virtual office hours every third Thursday from 10 to 11 a.m. These sessions include a different demo every month for using Aggie UX in Cascade, WordPress and Figma. Other practical advice for creating web content, applying best practices and using the Aggie UX design system is available on the MarComm site, including a list of on-demand online trainings. Be sure to sign up for Aggie UX-specific communications by joining the Aggie UX email list.

View Office Hours

Research Communicators Network

The Divisions of Research and Marketing and Communications cohost a biweekly meeting for communicators to connect, share updates and collaborate around promoting Texas A&M’s research enterprise. These meetings are a valuable opportunity for everyone who attends, and we encourage you to send a representative if you do not have someone already participating from your unit, college or school.

When: Every other Tuesday, 10 a.m.

This informal virtual gathering is open to all communicators supporting research initiatives and researchers themselves. It’s a chance to ask questions, get feedback and align on research messaging across the university.

Contact Tim Doty, Assistant Vice President for National Media and Public Relations, or Rusty Cawley, Director of Research Communications, to be added to the calendar invitation.