Why a new CMS?

One of the initial reasons for forming the Web Advisory Committee in June 2012 was to help ensure a smooth transition into a new content-management system (CMS). This page includes information about the upcoming migration, but if you have any questions that are not answered here, please reach out to the WAC. 

Why is Dickinson migrating to a new CMS?  

The simple answers are "opportunity" and "integration." Two years ago, the college's enterprise systems team began looking for a software replacement for our current Ellucian Luminus-based Gateway portal. They chose Jadu (pronounced JAR-du). One of the benefits of Jadu is that it is also a very powerful and flexible content-management system (CMS) and mobile-application development tool.

Currently, we have one product supporting the Gateway portal (Ellucian Luminus), another (Ektron) supporting the public Web site, and a third product (Boopsie) supporting our mobile app. Jadu allows us to bring these three disparate areas—which are currently maintained by separate staff in marketing & communications (MarComm) and Library & Information Services (LIS)—together into one system.

That's a huge step forward for Dickinson from a support standpoint, and it also means a more seamless Web experience for users who need to navigate between the public and private areas of the Web site, or for content producers who will be able to create and edit portal and public content using the same product.

Finally, there's the financial benefit: Integrating our CMS, portal and mobile development in one system will help Dickinson save money on an annual basis.

What is the migration process and when will it start?

The specifics of the migration process are currently being developed by LIS, MarComm and Jadu staff and will be shared with the Dickinson community once a plan is finalized. The Web Advisory Committee and the MarComm and LIS teams are committed to keeping the community informed about the migration process and will provide opportunities for feedback and training in the new system. Regardless of its CMS, Dickinson's Web site can only be as successful as the people who are maintaining and contributing to it want it to be, so collaboration between MarComm, LIS and the campus community is a priority throughout the process.

We are projecting content migration from Ektron to Jadu to begin in spring 2013. 

If we're moving to a new CMS in less than a year, should I bother making any changes to my site now?

Yes! This is the time to assess your site and determine what content should be migrated to Jadu and, while you're at it, potentially make changes that can improve your Ektron site in the interim. Marketing and communication's online-marketing team provides site consultations that can help you through the analysis and refresh process. 

Have more questions?