When it comes to website content management systems (CMS), two popular options for universities are Cascade CMS and WordPress.
While both systems have their strengths and weaknesses, in this article we will focus on why WordPress is a better choice for universities, with an emphasis on its user-friendliness, flexibility, and community support.
Ease of Use
One of the key advantages of WordPress is its ease of use. Unlike Cascade CMS, which can be difficult for non-technical users to navigate, WordPress has a simple, intuitive interface that makes it easy for anyone to create, edit, and publish content. This is particularly important for universities, where a wide range of staff members may need to update the website, from marketing and communications professionals to academic department heads. For example, The University of Michigan, one of the largest public universities in the US, uses WordPress as its CMS of choice, citing its “ease of use and flexibility” as key reasons for its popularity among staff.
Flexibility
Another advantage of WordPress is its flexibility. With thousands of available plugins and themes, WordPress can be customized to meet the unique needs of a university website, whether it’s adding a calendar of events, integrating with social media, or creating a custom design. In contrast, Cascade CMS is a proprietary system that can be more limited in terms of customization options. For example, The University of California, Berkeley, uses a custom WordPress theme for its website which features a unique design and includes specific functionality such as a campus map and event calendar.
Community Support
Perhaps the biggest advantage of WordPress, however, is its community support. WordPress is an open-source platform, which means that there is a vast community of developers and users who contribute to its development and provide support to one another. This is a huge resource for universities, as it means that if a problem arises or a new feature is needed, there is likely a solution already available or a developer who can create one. In contrast, Cascade CMS is a closed system, which means that support and development resources are more limited.
Successful Migration Examples
The University of Michigan, The University of California, Berkeley, and The University of Texas at Austin, demonstrate the effectiveness of WordPress in Higher Education.
In summary, while both Cascade CMS and WordPress have their advantages, for universities, WordPress is the clear choice for its user-friendliness, flexibility, and community support. With WordPress, universities can easily create and manage a website that meets their unique needs and can be easily updated by staff members with a wide range of technical abilities.