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CMS Migration Plan

The Web Steering Committee considers every campus Web site a priority and wishes every site could be moved into the new CMS simultaneously. However, this is not possible. 

With more than 100 school, department and administrative Web sites to move, the committee has created a phased migration timeline for the entire campus based on scope, technical requirements, institutional priority, and a number of other factors and logistics.

The estimated timeline identifies three groups of sites—Phase A, Phase B and Phase C—by the order in which they will be moved. The sites are alphabetized within each category for ease of scanning, but the exact order will be determined by the factors above. If a campus unit is unable to work within the proposed timeline, an alternate timeline will be developed after completing the migration of other campus units within the particular category.

Timing forecast:

  • Phase A: The goal is to complete the few remaining Phase A sites by the Summer of 2008.
  • Phase B: In early 2008, work began on 17 web sites from Phase B.  As these sites near completion (late Summer/early Fall) we will begin contacting the remaining campus units in Phase B to arrange an appropriate schedule.
  • Phase C: We will begin contacting Phase C campus units in early 2009 to arrange an appropriate schedule.

Please locate your campus unit in the migration timeline and contact the Web Steering Committee if your site is not listed or the estimated number of pages is dramatically incorrect.

Campus Units' Responsibilities

At the appropriate time, Marketing Communications and Web Services will set up a project kickoff meeting to develop the project plan with each campus unit. In preparation for that meeting, each campus unit is asked to prepare by doing the following:

  1. Cleary identify your audience(s). What are they trying to accomplish on your site?
  2. If possible, invite visitors to your current site to give you feedback on what they like and don’t like.
  3. Update all current content.
  4. Delete all unnecessary content.
  5. Review all University Web policies and guidelines on this site.

Background on the CMS

The University purchased a new Content Management System (CMS) in early fall 2006 from Hannon Hill. The software, called “Cascade Server,” will become the standard Web site development and content deployment platform for the University. The new CMS will provide campus users with easier site management, a more stable platform and increased functionality. All campus units (offices, departments, etc.) eventually will be migrated into this new platform, and assistance and resources will be provided at the appropriate time. Campus units, however, will play an active role in the migration and content maintenance of their sites, with responsibilities to include updating of content, assigning “page managers” for individual pages and participating in training.