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Home   Web Services   Web Governance   Web Standards and Procedures   Content Management Systems

Content Management Systems

UTSA offers centralized support to sites using the university's official Content Management System (CMS). Sites using alternate CMS platforms must meet all university website criteria and requirements.

UTSA's Official Content Management System

UTSA uses Cascade as its official Content Management System (CMS).

Because Cascade is centrally supported by University Marketing's Web Team, sites utilizing Cascade realize significant benefits to the University and individual users:

  • Login is easy and secure using UTSA's Single Sign On (SSO) credentials
  • UTSA global elements are automatically applied and suppressed as needed
  • University alerts are automatically activated and suppressed as needed
  • Upgrades and new versions of Cascade are automatically applied and installed
  • Easy access control allows the UTSA Web Services Team to provide key support in case of emergency
  • Eliminates the need for UTSA units to purchase their own CMS platform, web server and security tools
  • Business continuity, ensuring that sites are maintained through staffing changes or absences
  • Training infrastructure in place to onboard staff members with website updating responsibilities

Due to the significant benefits realized by sites using the university's official CMS-particularly the minimization of security risks-campus units are expected to use Cascade for their websites wherever feasible.

Support

Cascade CMS is managed by the University Marketing's Web Team in partnership with web teams from Academic Affairs, Business Affairs and University's Technology Service. Working with these teams, templates are created as needed to meet the needs of UTSA organizational units. Contact the relevant Web Team to initiate Cascade support requests, including template needs.

CMS Requirements

While numerous Content Management Systems are currently used across campus, the university's goal is to actively migrate as many UTSA websites as possible into Cascade over time. New websites will be created within Cascade CMS whenever possible.

When hiring a web vendor to build a university site, it is preferred that vendors use the Cascade CMS platform. See UTSA's Standard for Outsourcing for additional information.

CMS Exceptions

There are some valid business cases for maintaining a UTSA website in CMS other than Cascade, such as WordPress or Drupal. Site owners desiring to use a CMS other than Cascade must request an exception through the Website Steering Committee.

The Web Steering Committee may exempt sites from using Cascade CMS if it falls into one of the following categories:

  • The vendor hired to build or maintain the site is unfamiliar with Cascade
  • Cascade lacks a critical feature that is needed for the site

The ability of UTSA's web teams to support sites on non-Cascade CMS platforms is limited. It is highly recommended that any campus unit building or maintaining a website on a CMS other than Cascade has an in-house web developer and staffing infrastructure in a place to sustain the site long term.

All UTSA official sites, regardless of CMS platform, are required tp follow the university's website criteria and requirements, as well as all hosting, visual identity and lifecycle standards.