Web Publishing Guide: Cascade to WordPress Migration
As part of our ongoing commitment to improving accessibility and usability across our digital platforms, the university is transitioning all website content currently hosted in Cascade to a unified WordPress environment. This change will streamline website management, enhance user experience and help ensure we meet updated accessibility standards coming in 2026.
Cascade? WordPress?
What are Cascade and WordPress?
Cascade and WordPress are web content management systems (CMS)—the tools used to build and manage the university's website. Most pages on etamu.edu are already managed in WordPress and will not be affected by this change. Only a small number of pages are currently maintained in Cascade.
While Cascade has served the university well, it requires technical expertise and lacks full support for modern accessibility standards. To create a more user-friendly and compliant web environment, Cascade will be phased out in favor of a fully WordPress-based platform.
Cascade Pages
Which pages are hosted in Cascade?
Cascade hosts many support resources across the website, including:
- Student, Faculty and Staff Internal Resources pages
- Conference webpages
- CVs
- Syllabi
- Informational PDFs and forms
- The Schedule of Classes
Generally, URLs that begin with inside.tamuc.edu are Cascade pages.
Why Change?
Why is the university moving away from Cascade?
We're transitioning to WordPress to simplify website management, improve accessibility and create a more modern, unified web presence. Importantly, WordPress will help us meet updated accessibility requirements taking effect in 2026.
My Site
What does this mean for my current Cascade site?
If your site is currently hosted in Cascade, it will be migrated to WordPress. We'll work with you to ensure your content is reviewed, updated if needed and successfully moved to the new platform.
Timeline
When is this change happening?
The migration process has already begun and will continue in phases. All sites must meet state-mandated accessibility requirements by April 2026, but we will retain access to Cascade until late 2026.
The Process
Will I need to rebuild my site from scratch?
Not necessarily. In most cases, existing content will be migrated into new WordPress templates. However, some redesign and cleanup may be needed to meet accessibility standards and align with updated design guidelines.
This is also a good opportunity to review your site's content for accuracy and relevance. Think of it as spring cleaning—not a full demolition.
Page Access
Will I lose access to my page or content?
Your existing Cascade pages will be deactivated and will no longer be viewable or support updates. However, your content is not being deleted or taken over. All of your existing content still belongs to you to host, manage and update, just moved to a new home.
You'll have the opportunity to review and update your site before it moves to WordPress. This is a good time to evaluate whether your page includes outdated information, PDFs, policies or other materials that no longer reflect your unit. If you have specific archival needs, we encourage you to flag them early in the planning process.
Updating My New Page
How and where can I update my new WordPress page?
Once your pages are built in WordPress, you will have two options to add, delete or update your content as needed. Additionally, you will be asked to review your content periodically and verify that it remains correct and relevant.
Option 1: Webmaster Ticket Desk
Want Marcomm to update your page on your behalf? To request edits, submit the change request form or email [email protected].
Option 2: Submit a Revision
If you feel comfortable using WordPress and would prefer to manage updates yourself, you can submit a revision by following the step-by-step instructions in our WordPress Editor’s Guide.
Note: All revisions must be reviewed and approved by Marcomm before they will publish to the live page. This helps us ensure compliance with brand guidelines, and System, state and federal accessibility policies.
Secure Resources
Can my page host internal/private content?
Yes, your unit will have the option to host internal documents, forms and resources meant only for faculty and staff; however, these resources will not be hosted on the public-facing WordPress site. More details coming soon.
Who Does What?
Who is responsible for migrating my site?
Marcomm's web team will coordinate the migration process, but site owners will be responsible for reviewing content and making updates as needed.
Accessibility
What are the accessibility standards we need to meet?
All university websites must comply with Web Content Accessibility Guidelines (WCAG) 2.1 Level AA by April 2026, in accordance with federal and state requirements.
Site Design
Will the design of my site change?
Yes and no. All sites will move to a standardized set of WordPress templates built for accessibility, mobile responsiveness and alignment with the university brand.
However, elements like page names, navigation and content hierarchy don't necessarily need to change. Your information and resources can still be presented in a way that feels familiar to your audience.
Page Appearance
What will my new page look like?
Like this! Most pages migrated from Cascade will follow our new guide layout template—the same template used to build the page you’re accessing now. Like Cascade, the guide layout displays a navigation menu on the left, with the main content area in the center. New look, familiar navigation.
URL Management
Will my URLs change?
Yes, all migrated pages will have new URLs. Don’t worry, though. Redirects can be put in place to ensure existing URLs automatically send users to your new pages.
Outages and Downtime
Will we experience outages or downtime?
No, you should not expect any service interruption. As we work on migrating your content, you can choose whether to deactivate Cascade right away, or we can leave your Cascade pages intact until the time is right, such as between semesters.
Support
Where can I get help or ask questions during the migration?
Contact [email protected].