Instructions for Submitting an Event to the CICS Website Calendar

Submitting events directly to our web calendar ensures the fastest turnaround for publication and promotion and allows you to edit and manage your event listings.  

Most events take 5–7 minutes to submit. Once you send it in, the CICS MarCom team will review and publish within two business days. 

Event submitters are responsible for ensuring the accuracy of event details prior to submission. 

For technical issues with the submission form or website functionality, contact the cicsmarcom [at] umass [dot] edu (CICS MarCom) team.  

Good to Know: 

  • You can edit or request cancellation after submitting 
  • Events are published as submitted following review 
  • Submitting your own event ensures timely posting and promotion across CICS channels  

Before You Start

Having these ready will make submission faster: 

  • Event title 
  • Date and time 
  • Location or Zoom/registration link  
  • Brief description 
  • Optional image 

Step 1: Sign In and Start 

  1. Visit: https://www.cics.umass.edu/user/ 
  2. Sign in using your UMass credentials 
  3. Click Submit an Event under My Events 

Step 2: Enter Event Basics 

Complete the following fields: 

  • Title: Full event title 
  • Short Title: Abbreviated title if needed 
  • Event Format and Event Type: Select from dropdown menus 
  • Summary: First sentence of the event description 
  • Event Date: Add start and end date/time  

Step 3: Add a Location (Skip If Online-Only) 

For in-person events: 

  1. Click Add Location 
  2. Select or create a location 
  3. Search for and select the building 
  4. Enter the room number in Campus-specific location 

If the event is virtual, leave the location set to blank.  

Step 4: Add Description and Link (If Applicable) 

  • Enter the full event description in the Body field 
  • To include a Zoom or registration link, paste the URL in the Call to Action Link 
  • Add link text (example: Register or Join via Zoom) 

Step 5: Select Categories and Submit 

  1. Select the appropriate audience, category, and related center/labs 
  2. Change save option to Submit for Review 
  3. Click Save 

Once submitted, the event will be reviewed by CICS MarCom before appearing on the live calendar within two business days. 

Editing or Canceling an Event 

To update an existing event: 

  1. Return to https://www.cics.umass.edu/user 
  2. Locate your event under My Events 
  3. Click Edit and make updates 
  4. Save changes 

To request a cancellation: 

  1. Open the event 
  2. Scroll to the bottom of the page 
  3. Change dropdown to Request Cancellation 
  4. Save 

After cancellation is confirmed, allow time for the site refresh. If the event still appears after several hours, contact the MarCom team (cicsmarcom [at] umass [dot] edu (cicsmarcom[at]umass[dot]edu)). 

Optional: Enhance Your Event Listing 

Add a Featured Image 

Adding an image helps your event stand out on the calendar.  

  1. Click Add media under Featured Image 
  2. Upload your image 
  3. Add alt text describing the image and any text it contains (for accessibility) 
  4. Click Save, then Insert Selected 

To display the image within the event description: 

  1. Return to the Body field 
  2. Change text format to Full HTML 
  3. Click Insert Media 
  4. Select image and insert 
  5. Adjust size/placement as desired  

Add a Faculty or Staff Host 

  1. Click Select person under Event Host 
  2. Search for the host’s name 
  3. Select and save