Located in the heart of Rome, John Cabot University (JCU) is an American liberal arts university that serves a diverse international student population. With a growing need for a modern digital presence, JCU sought to redesign its website and improve the experience for both internal content editors and external users.
Prior to implementing Cascade CMS, the university had been using Modern Campus for more than a decade while also relying on WordPress for its news module. Managing multiple platforms created inefficiencies and made it difficult to maintain a streamlined content management experience. At the same time, the university was preparing for a major website redesign and wanted a CMS that would support long-term modernization goals.
A More Intuitive Content Management Experience
As JCU evaluated its options, ease of use became a major priority. The university wanted a CMS that would simplify content management for its web team while providing greater flexibility and control.
After evaluating different CMS platforms and considering a renewal with their existing provider, the team selected Cascade CMS due to its usability, value, and strong partnership opportunities through Beacon Technologies.
“The backend is much more intuitive. There are fewer clicks, and the search functionality is very powerful.”
JCU was not only looking for a CMS platform, but also a reliable implementation partner that could help guide a large-scale redesign and migration effort. Beacon Technologies played an important role in the decision-making process by recommending Cascade CMS and helping the university envision a smoother implementation experience.
The university valued Beacon’s professionalism, transparency, and ability to understand its goals from the beginning of the project.
“Beacon was head and shoulders above previous experiences we’ve had with other providers.”
Supporting a Large-Scale Website Redesign
The implementation of Cascade CMS coincided with a major website redesign initiative at JCU. Throughout the migration process, the university worked closely with Beacon and Hannon Hill to ensure the final product aligned with its vision.
While every large redesign project comes with challenges, the university appreciated the responsiveness and support provided throughout implementation.
“There were some differences between the design and implementation, but the support team helped us work through issues and achieve the vision we wanted.”
One of the most noticeable improvements for the JCU team was the usability of Cascade CMS compared to their previous system. Editors found the platform easier to navigate and more efficient for day-to-day content management tasks.
The university also appreciated the flexibility of the platform and recognized opportunities to expand its use of advanced features over time as the team continues to grow its digital strategy.
Providing a Foundation for Future Innovation
JCU sees its new Cascade CMS-powered website as the foundation for future modernization initiatives. The university is already exploring ways to make the website more dynamic and personalized while continuing to optimize the user experience.
As the institution prepares for future leadership transitions and evolving digital expectations, the team values having a scalable platform that can adapt alongside its goals.
More Intuitive User Experience for Editors
Cascade CMS has simplified content management for JCU’s web communications team by reducing unnecessary complexity and improving navigation within the platform.
Strong Partnership and Support
The university benefited from a collaborative implementation process with Beacon Technologies and Hannon Hill, helping ensure the redesign project stayed aligned with institutional goals.
Scalable Platform for Future Growth
With Cascade CMS in place, JCU now has a flexible foundation for future website enhancements, personalization opportunities, and continued modernization efforts.
Although the redesigned website has not yet been live for a full year, the university has already seen positive outcomes from the project. Most notably, the institution earned a Bronze Award in the 41st Annual Educational Advertising Awards for its new website experience.
Internally, the team has experienced significant improvements in usability and efficiency thanks to Cascade CMS’s intuitive backend and powerful search capabilities.
JCU also believes there is a substantial opportunity to expand its use of Cascade CMS features in the future as the university continues refining its digital strategy and online experience.