Mercury Updates

• Added proper keyboard navigation for dropdown in Category/Year Filter
• Removed <br>, increased margin-bottom on the h1 from 30 to 60px via the main css file, and replaced alt=”…” with alt=-“” in Hero
• Background image motion reduced if browser setting Prefers Reduced Motion is enabled and darkened blurred background for text in Title Tool Block
• Updated Tertiary Navigation icon and added option to hide element to all page layouts with the navigation
• Low contest text decoration (underline) removed from news title text link in Featured News Header
• Tab block no longer center-aligns when no tab was selected
• Tab Block no longer left aligns if text wraps
• Resolved code conflict that was generated during the April 2026 code release; this conflict was preventing the CSS from applying properly and added redundant characters in HTML
• Orange color overlay in Faculty Listing, Visual Navigation and Faculty Slider changed to black and white
• Audience Navigation links work properly on mobile now

• Components now automatically pull alt text directly from the Media Library. Users are prompted to add one during creation if it is missing
• Users can now write instance-specific alt text in the side panel that overrides the default description without permanently altering the original Media Library asset
• Added proper keyboard navigation for dropdown in Category/Year Filter
• Added minimum height and overflow so the dropdown menu displays over the content when expanded for Category/Year Filter
• Removed <br>, increased margin-bottom on the h1 from 30 to 60px via the main css file, and replaced alt=”…” with alt=-“” in Hero
• Added role=”img” for <div class=”hero-bg-img”…> for Hero Split Banner
• Background image motion reduced if browser setting Prefers Reduced Motion is enabled and darkened blurred background for text in Title Tool Block
• Updated Tertiary Navigation icon and added option to hide element to all page layouts with the navigation
• Updated to Scroll to Top icon to UF Core Orange #fa4616
• Slider News no longer has “Remove Media” button to ensure theme consistency and prevent unintended breakage, as media is required in T4
• Added aria-labels to Content Layout Cards so each card link has a clear unique accessible label
• Added aria-label for Card Text Image
• Restructured semantic HTML to support standard keyboard navigation. Tabbing now reads the title link, and up/down arrow keys navigate between the image and description
• Low contrast text decoration (underline) removed from news title text link in Featured News Header
• Hover animation in Featured News Header slowed down for browser setting Prefers Reduced Motion
• Hyperlink headings in Featured News Header use UF Core Blue #0021A5
• Added aria-label so each link has clear accessible context in Full Width Video
• Updated the JavaScript theme for Slick/non-carousel content layouts to remove the unnecessary tab index behavior for the affected Slick content layouts
• Added focus indicator for search results and escape closes search modal
• Added a CSS to Search Button focus style so keyboard users can see when focus is on the search button
• Faculty Listing, Visual Navigation and Faculty Slider components now have two color options for the overlay: 1) Black and white or 2) Orange
• Tab Block no longer left aligns if text wraps
• Updated Cards – Text Only to make links optional so the component may be static

• Added CSS in the theme style file of Hero so the CTA keyboard can focus on display correctly
• Added CSS in the theme style file of Hero Split Banner so the CTA keyboard can focus on display correctly
• Background image motion reduced if browser setting Prefers Reduced Motion is enabled and darkened blurred background for text in Title Tool Block
• Added alternative text support in Title Tool Block
• Added keyboard interaction for links in Share Bar
• Updated Slider News block.json configuration for the newer WordPress block API version
• Added CSS to Faculty Landing Block to hide broken Load More CTA on both light and dark background variations
• Added CSS to Faculty Bio Quote fix text color to improve visibility and keyboard focus styling
• Restructured semantic HTML to support standard keyboard navigation. Tabbing now reads the title link, and up/down arrow keys navigate between the image and description
• Updated the PHP footer logic so an empty “ghost” link no longer appears when no footer logo is selected
• Updated the Section Navigation block.json configuration for the newer WordPress block API version
• WordPress block compatibility needed updates for newer editor behavior. Updated block.json apiVersion from 2 to 3 across UFL Blocks and Connect blocks
• Updated existing deprecated.js handing so previously saved Tab Block Inner content continues to load correctly with the updated block structure
• Added focus indicator for search results and escape closes search modal
• Updated the existing deprecated markup handling so previously saved Image Modal content remains compatible with the updated WordPress block version
• Faculty Listing, Visual Navigation and Faculty Slider components now have two color options for the overlay: 1) Black and white or 2) Orange
• Updated Cards – Text Only to make links optional so the component may be static

• Alt text was corrected where necessary to ensure images provide appropriate descriptions in Title Block
• Removed alt attributes from anchor elements in Title Tool Block
• Removed the type attribute from anchor elements and applied appropriate button attributes to support accessible interaction behavior
• Replaced anchor elements used for tab interactions with an interactive element to improve assistive technology users experience in Tab Block
• Card titles in Slider News are set to provide proper heading structure
• Removed unnecessary aria-label so screen readers can read the card title instead of image description in Slider News
• Improved security and accessibility for users opening external links in Slider News
• Corrected link syntax in Slider News
• Added descriptive alt text to all slider images in Slider News
• Improved keyboard navigation behavior to ensure menu content can be reached when tabbing through the Section Navigation
• Added alt attributes to images used for decorative purposes in Section Navigation
• Added a minimum height to the parent container, news-body-wrapper, in Related Story to ensure the descriptive text remains visible at larger viewport sizes
• Removed alt attributes to anchor elements for Related Story
• Post Header/Article Header without image is now a standalone Heading 1 element
• Converted the Post Footer Block/Article Byline structure to use a defined structured list that displays horizontally with separators
• Replaced anchor elements used for the mobile search trigger with interactive elements in Main Navigation
• Descriptive alt text is added to the images in Image Gallery for all images, including those displayed in the modal view, ensuring images convey appropriate information to screen reader users
• Hero Split Banner’s line break code is updated to improve assistive technology user experience
• Functional Category/Year Filter’s “Load More” button now loads additional results in increments of 10 items, maintaining a predictable interaction pattern for keyboard and assistive technology users
• Implemented accessible filter behavior so users are informed when filters are applied in Functional Category/Year Filter
• Updated the dropdown filters in Functional Category/Year Filter to announce their state and selected value when interacted with
• Improved security and accessibility for all external links that open in a new tab in Cards – Right Rail
• Target attribute is corrected for Cards – Right Rail to resolve syntax error
• Visually hidden text is added to Cards – Right Rail links that open in a new tab so screen readers can announce the behavior
• Removed unnecessary alt attributes and updated the associated image to provide alt text and a description

• Title Tool Block has reduced motion for animated background elements by respecting prefers-reduced-motion
• Added visually hidden “opens in new tab” text to applicable links for Title Tool Block
• Removed unnecessary alt attributes from anchor elements and interactive elements in Featured Video and updated image alt text to provide a descriptive label
• Removed the type attribute from anchor elements and applied appropriate button attributes to support accessible interaction behavior in Tab Block
• Replaced anchor elements used for tab interactions with an interactive element to improve assistive technology users experience in Tab Block
• Card titles in Slider News are set to provide proper heading structure
• Removed unnecessary aria-label so screen readers can read the card title instead of image description in Slider News
• Improved security and accessibility for users opening external links in Slider News
• Corrected link syntax in Slider News
• Added descriptive alt text to all slider images in Slider News
• Evaluated Section Navigation’s dropdown structure for semantic improvement
• Improved keyboard navigation behavior to ensure menu content can be reached when tabbing through the Section Navigation
• Added alt attributes to images used for decorative purposes in Section Navigation
• Added a minimum height to the parent container, news-body-wrapper, in Related Story to ensure the descriptive text remains visible at larger viewport sizes
• Removed alt attributes to anchor elements for Related Story
• Post Header/Article Header without image is now a standalone Heading 1 element
• Converted the Post Footer Block/Article Byline structure to use a defined structured list that displays horizontally with separators
• Replaced anchor elements used for the mobile search trigger with interactive elements in Main Navigation
• Descriptive alt text is added to the images in Image Gallery for all images, including those displayed in the modal view, ensuring images convey appropriate information to screen reader users
• Hero Split Banner’s line break code is updated to improve assistive technology user experience
• Functional Category/Year Filter’s “Load More” button now loads additional results in increments of 10 items, maintaining a predictable interaction pattern for keyboard and assistive technology users
• Implemented accessible filter behavior so users are informed when filters are applied in Functional Category/Year Filter
• Updated the dropdown filters in Functional Category/Year Filter to announce their state and selected value when interacted with
• Improved security and accessibility for all external links that open in a new tab in Cards – Right Rail
• Target attribute is corrected for Cards – Right Rail to resolve syntax error
• Visually hidden text is added to Cards – Right Rail links that open in a new tab so screen readers can announce the behavior
• Links are optional for Cards –Text Only
• Cards – Text Only can be a static component and linking is optional
• Tab Block no longer left aligns as text wraps

• Aria-label added for play and pause button SVG icons as well as aria-hidden=”true” to avoid duplicate screen reader announcements in Hero
• Hero’s optional image is marked as decorative
• Aria-label added for optional video “Hero background video”
• Help label added for notifying users whether the button’s destination link will open in a new tab or not
• Screen reader text added to help users navigate Hero Title, Hero Description, Button Text, and Button Destination input text fields
• Aria-label is added for upload and remove background image/video buttons for Hero
• Help label is added to the layout form options of Hero and Hero Split Banner so users can distinguish the difference
• If user’s browser does not support HTML 5 video, an informational message will display
• Featured Video, Featured Video Vimeo and Full-width Video Image’s optional image cover is marked as decorative, so it will not be read by screen readers
• Featured Video, Featured Video Vimeo and Full-width Video Image button is defined and will not be read aloud by screen readers
• Conditional logic is set for Featured Video, Featured Video Vimeo and Full-width Video Image to display “Play Video: [Title of video]:” or “Play Video: featured video” only if the value is available
• Improved Featured Posts code so screen readers will only announce the text instead of the background image
• Conditional logic is set for Content Carousel – Stack’s button to show only if there is a link and label value for it
• Conditional logic is set for Content Carousel – Stack to make aria-label the title of the slide. “Carousel Slide” will show unless otherwise
• Added role=”group” and aria-roledescription=”slide” to Content Carousel – Stack
• Conditional logic is set for Content Carousel – Stack to show the image alt attribute value if it exists. “Slide image” will show unless otherwise
• Alt attributes and values is added to Content Carousel – Stack images
• Conditional logic is set in Content Carousel for showing the button if there is a link and label value for it
• Conditional logic is set in Content Carousel to show the image’s alt attribute value as the slide’s arial-label if it exists. “Slide background” will show unless otherwise
• Added alt attribute and value to images in Content Carousel
• Added alt attributes and values to images in Card – Text + Image
• Conditional logic is set to show the person’s name and title if the value exists in Blockquote
• Aria-label is added for the quote in Blockquote
• Aria-label is added to Announcement Showcase that informs users if the link opens in a new tab or not
• Selected images in Visual Navigation are passed to attribute
• Updated Tab Block to provide better accessibility support for screen reader users
• Added appropriate role attributes to improve semantic meaning for assistive technologies in Tab Block Inner List
• Alt value from selected image passed to aria label in Showcase Text + Image
• Alt value from selected image passed to aria label in Post Header
• Alt value from selected image can transfer to related story image post content
• Alt text is added to Featured Cards background blue lines
• Descriptive alt text is added to the images in Image Gallery for all images, including those displayed in the modal view, ensuring images convey appropriate information to screen reader users
• Main navigation drop down items are aligned in Safari browser
• Tab Block no longer left aligns as text wraps

• Resource navigation responsive issue resolved (text getting cut off)
• Fixed padding for Section Navigation sub-items

• Integrated ReciteMe
• Main navigation logo centers on tablet
• Featured Cards display alt tags
• Showcase Text + Image component has the ability to more than one button

• Adding multiple links to Announcement Showcase component
• CTA for Slider – News component matches headline text
• Added LinkedIn icon
• Doctype declaration switched to lowercase
• Featured Video Multiple allows Vimeo embeds
• Fixed layout in Featured Video Multiple component
• Featured Video component can be edited as HTML
• Contact form checkboxes have a visible check on Firefox
• Section Navigation shows parent pages for children pages
• Modified layout of Featured Video component button
• Accordion has the option to start in closed state
• Fixed lines for Featured News cards
• Split Hero content duplication issue resolved
• Heading for posts is now editable
• Search can be limited to same-site results
• Resource navigation responsive issue resolved (text getting cut off)
• Integrated ReciteMe
• Fixed styling for post category dropdown

• Changed fonts from Gentona to IBM Plex Sans

No updates.

• Changed fonts from Gentona to IBM Plex Sans

• Fix for audience navigation click functionality

No updates.

• Fix for audience navigation click functionality
• Add ability to include up to three buttons on Showcase Text + Image block
• Enable single site search option

• Add LinkedIn social icon

• Add LinkedIn social icon

• Add LinkedIn social icon
• Featured Video Multiple option to embed videos from Vimeo as well as YouTube
• Improvements to the Featured Video Block

• Event Shell block supporting templated LiveWhale calendar widget
• CSS updates for Tables
• CSS updates for Ordered and Unordered Lists
• Fix for section navigation to display in correct order
• Implement Instagram Social Feed block

• Fix for section navigation to display in correct order

• Featured content header block, which uses Post categories and featured checkbox to highlight news
• Event Shell block supporting templated LiveWhale calendar widget
• CSS updates for Tables
• CSS updates for Ordered and Unordered Lists
• Option for first Accordion block to start closed
• More use of get_template_directory/get_template_directory_uri instead of get_stylesheet_directory/get_stylesheet_uri to support child themes better
• Option to have Section Nav open by default
• Fix for section navigation to display in correct order
• Remove radial boxes from form styling in Firefox (WordPress Gravity Forms plugin)
• Implement Instagram Social Feed block
• Add support for news/blog

• Form styles for Gravity Forms
• Make search bar not disappear when scrolling down the page
• Hide alert if search bar open
• Hide orange divider next to search icon when no utility nav dropdowns present

• Form styles for Gravity Forms
• Make search bar not disappear when scrolling down the page
• Hide alert if search bar open
• Hide orange divider next to search icon when no utility nav dropdowns present

• A WordPress Multisite companion guide is now available
• Form styles for Gravity Forms
• Make search bar not disappear when scrolling down the page
• Hide alert if search bar open
• Hide orange divider next to search icon when no utility nav dropdowns present
• Remove active state hover color on subpage navigation items
• Ability to exclude Info For and Resources as menu items
• Primary menu if no drop down alignment differs from items with drop down
• Ability to update footer social icon links