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Engage

Using a Vanity URL

What are Vanity URLs?

Engage offers institutions the ability to set up a customized or "vanity" URL. This means that you can brand your Engage application using https://hostname.institution.edu or similar.

Though the URL appears to be that of the institution, browsing to the URL takes the user to the Engage service hosted by Campus Labs. This gives your users a feeling of familiarity and trust in using the application and ensures that perceptions of your institutional ownership and the integrity of your marketing efforts are maintained.

Custom vanity URLs are made possible when you create a Domain Name System (DNS) entry for the URL.

Domain Name Services (DNS)

Your institution's network administrator can use DNS to route requests for the custom vanity URL to Engage. The DNS record must be a CNAME alias record entry in your DNS zone that points the custom vanity URL you selected at our services.

The specific host name you will need to use for this alias is:

It is important to create a CNAME instead of a direct IP address, or A, record so that any future hosting changes on our part do not require further intervention.

Additionally, an ASUID must be added as a TXT record for the sub-domain to verify ownership of the subdomain.

Anthology Engage's unique custom domain verification ID is: 978fe8848d324fd6c3d9c89a6484224dcc4be68e0fc6e295c4f478e3c6330759

An example of required information is provided below:

Vanity URL

Type

Name

Data

TTL

example.domain.edu

TXT

asuid.example

978fe8848d324fd6c3d9c89a6484224dcc4be68e0fc6e295c4f478e3c6330759

3600

Using a Vanity URL for your Community

  1. Determine the URL to be used . We recommend working with your campus marketing team to decide what would work best for your campus. Most campuses use their Engage community brand in conjunction with their e xisting domain . For example: {your Engage community brand}.{ yourinstitution }. edu .

  2. Make sure you own your chosen vanity URL or buy it if you do not . You can purchase domains through a variety of different third-party vendors but work with your IT or Marketing teams to complete the purchase.

  3. Forward the above information to your IT team . This contains all the information needed in order to create the vanity URL.

  4. Contact our support team , either by mail or by phone, to let us know that the new Vanity URL should be configured for your site .

For IT Administrators

Campus Labs has instituted a method to generate the required security certificates for the requested URL. This method leverages the work done by the non-profit entity Let’s Encrypt to create and update the certificates. You can see details on how this works from their web site .

When using this method, no intervention will be required by either your IT staff or by Campus Labs Support. The certificates will be automatically generated and installed every 90 days indefinitely.

Please contact Anthology Support with any additional questions or concerns you have about the custom vanity URL process, and we will be happy to assist you!