Dear Colleagues:
This message provides essential information on the implementation of the new UC ANR website using the Drupal Content Management System (CMS).
Integrated Web Platform (IWP) Background
The IWP project will enhance UC Agriculture and Natural Resources' digital presence for both internal web editors and our clientele. In the coming months, UC ANR will transition from the homegrown Site Builder to Drupal – a more stable, flexible, and powerful CMS that will make our content more discoverable to the communities we serve. This much-needed change will bring significant improvements in how we manage and present content, as well as optimizing our content for search engines.
There have been challenges with transitioning from Site Builder and the Blog system in the past, and that is why we are now working with Kanopi, a new vendor that has experience joining projects and taking them to launch. The IWP core team is leveraging the work of previous UC ANR committees and vendors (including UC Davis IET) who provided feedback, initial planning efforts, and prototypes.
What is changing and what is staying the same?
Site Builder and Blogs will be retired; Drupal is the replacement. As part of this change, UC ANR will have a whole new navigation and look and feel for our web editors and site visitors.
As we work through the development and implementation of IWP, additional changes will be identified and communicated.
| SITE BUILDER & BLOGS | DRUPAL |
| Discoverability / UC ANR's Web Presence | |
| Analytics tell us that most website visitors use Google to search and find UC ANR content. | Website visitors will utilize the Content Hub, Drupal's dynamic search feature. |
| Site Builder crashes. | Drupal has modern and continually updated technology to reduce the likelihood of crashes. |
| Tags are inconsistent between Site Builder and Blogs. Anyone can add a new tag in Blogs. | Consistent tags drive relevant information to the Content Hub/search. Tags and taxonomy will be established and maintained by a governance group. |
| Editing Experience | |
| Editors would create a page and populate it with text and assets. | After considering the audience and where the information would be reflected in the Content Hub, editors create content using pre-defined Content Types, rather than creating a page. Content Types allow for more flexibility in the future and improved management of UC ANR information and resources. |
| Anyone with ANR Portal can create a new site or Blog. | There will be an approval process to start new sites (e.g., content editors) and new procedures to add additional site managers (e.g., groups). This will reduce duplication and stagnant sites that exist in Site Builder, and ensure content is discoverable navigable, manageable, and on-brand). |
| Sites and Blogs are managed in different interfaces and systems. | Sites and blogs will all be managed in Drupal. |
Timeline and transitions
- UC ANR Employees should begin cleaning up Site Builder now: https://ucanr.edu/sites/sb3help/bestpractices/site-builder-maintenance/. Additional reminders and resources will be forthcoming.
- Employees are invited to Zoom training sessions about cleaning up Site Builder (see link below).
- Drupal is expected to go live in December 2024. If the launch date changes, we will communicate it broadly.
- Once Drupal is live, you will no longer be able to create new sites on Site Builder.
- Site Builder and Blog content will continue to be available during the transitional period.
About Drupal CMS
Drupal is a content-oriented CMS that allows for dynamic content delivery and can provide an array of benefits:
- Improved Content Organization: Drupal's taxonomy system enables sophisticated categorization, enhancing content discoverability.
- Enhanced Searchability: Content in Drupal is structured for better SEO (Search Engine Optimization), making it easier for our clientele to find what they need.
- Greater Flexibility: Drupal's Content Types provide templates for various kinds of content, allowing for consistent but also dynamic presentation.
- Scalability: Drupal can handle large volumes of content and traffic, accommodating our growing needs and improving system stability and availability.
- Consistency: IWP will help ensure a uniform look and feel across the website, enhancing the user experience and promoting UC ANR branding.
Learn more about Drupal at https://www.drupal.org/.
Starting Simple
Based on learnings from previous challenges, we are starting simple with a foundational build. This approach allows us to:
- Lay the groundwork for a more sophisticated platform and build future enhancements.
- Build confidence as we familiarize ourselves with the new system at our own pace.
- Test and learn Drupal's functionalities.
- Become scalable to allow for further growth and better management of content.
- Iterate and make improvements based on feedback and performance data.
We need everyone's support in this major undertaking. We will communicate when and how you can assist with the above processes for a robust, efficient, and orderly transition.
Contact Us!
For the latest updates on the IWP project, please visit our Integrated Web Platform (IWP) Project Webpage or email us at iwp@ucanr.edu.
Site Builder Cleanup Office Hours
As part of Site Builder cleanup efforts, Stephen Dampier is holding a weekly open office Zoom Sessions to answer your questions.
When: Tuesdays and Thursdays, 3 p.m. - 4 p.m. PST
Zoom Link: https://ucanr.zoom.us/j/97937501529?pwd=Zm1PaGRuc0htcnVZbmZQaGcya3oxQT09
IWP Core Team
Kit Alviz
Dustin Blakey
Stephen Dampier
Linda Forbes
Mike Hsu
Scott Leaf
Andrew Waegli
IWP Project Sponsor
Tu Tran