Web Publishing Guide: Cascade to WordPress Migration

The Migration Process

What does this mean for my current Cascade site?

If your site is currently hosted in Cascade, we’ll work with you to ensure your content is reviewed, updated if needed and successfully moved to the new platform or archived, as appropriate.

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 mid-2026.

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.

Will all Cascade content be migrated?

No. Each page will be reviewed before migration. Some pages may be updated, consolidated, or retired if they are outdated, duplicated or no longer applicable.

Will my content be deleted from Cascade?

Not immediately, but it won’t remain available indefinitely. Your existing Cascade pages will be deactivated before the Fall 2026 semester and will no longer be viewable or support updates.

Content that is not reviewed, migrated or otherwise retrieved before the Cascade shutdown may be at risk of being permanently lost. This includes webpages, documents, forms, meeting minutes and other files, whether they are currently published or unpublished.

If there is content you believe should be retained, please begin making arrangements to preserve it within your department or notify the web team as early as possible so it can be evaluated before the shutdown.

Internal Resources

Can I host internal-only content?

Yes, your unit will have the option to host internal documents, forms and resources meant only for faculty, staff and currently-enrolled students; however, these resources should not be hosted on the public-facing WordPress site. Instead, consider your audience:

• Internal Audiences: Faculty and staff resources should be stored in Microsoft SharePoint and associated with your university account.
• External Audiences: Public-facing webpages should contain only information intended for external audiences or information that supports prospective and current students.
• Course-specific materials should continue to be provided through D2L.

If you’re unsure where your content belongs, the web team can help determine the best location.

If my resource is stored in SharePoint, does it still need to be accessible?

Yes. Accessibility requirements apply to university digital content regardless of where it is stored. Public websites, SharePoint sites, PDFs, Microsoft Office documents and other digital resources intended for university audiences should meet Web Content Accessibility Guidelines (WCAG) 2.1 Level AA, unless covered by a specific legal exception.

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.

What will my new page look like?

Like this! Most pages migrated from Cascade will follow our 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.

Will my URLs change?

Yes, all migrated pages will have new URLs. While Cascade remains active, redirects can be put in place to ensure existing URLs automatically send users to your new pages. When Cascade fully shuts down, all existing inside.etamu.edu links and redirects will become inoperable.

Updating My New Page

How and where can I update my WordPress page?

Your content still belongs to you to host, manage and update, just moved to a new home. Once your pages are built in WordPress, you will have two options to add, delete or update 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.