SaaS CMS Implementation for Higher Education
The Right Platform, Expertly Implemented
Comprehensive development solutions
Many higher education institutions have chosen, or are evaluating, SaaS CMS platforms purpose-built for the sector. These platforms offer significant advantages: reduced IT burden, automatic updates, built-in accessibility features, and vendor-managed security. But the platform is only as good as its implementation.
A well-architected SaaS CMS, paired with strategic UX design, accessible development, and enrollment-focused content strategy, delivers measurably better outcomes than a default installation. iFactory partners with four leading higher education SaaS CMS vendors to deliver implementations that go beyond the template.
The SaaS vendor provides the platform. iFactory provides the strategy, design, UX, accessibility expertise, content architecture, and front-end development that transforms a CMS into a recruitment engine.
Saas solutions such as Modern Campus CMS, Cascade, TerminalFour and Squiz can be great platforms for teams that want a robust set of features without heavy IT burden and maintenance overhead.
Amazing having a true partner on board. Far and away your team had personalities and expertise that made a long and sometimes stressful project incredibly engaging for all of us."
Process
Comprehensive SaaS solutions
Modern Campus CMS
Modern Campus CMS (formerly OmniUpdate) is the most widely adopted higher education CMS, serving 415+ institutions with a platform designed specifically for the sector. Modern Campus CMS offers a familiar WYSIWYG editing experience, built-in accessibility checking, and template-based workflows that work well for distributed editorial teams. iFactory brings strategic design and development expertise to Modern Campus implementations:
- Custom template design and front-end development that goes beyond the standard Modern Campus templates to create distinctive, brand-aligned experiences.
- Accessibility compliance beyond Modern Campus defaults, with manual testing using screen readers, keyboard navigation, and voice control to meet WCAG 2.2 AA. Content architecture optimized for enrollment funnels, structuring program pages, inquiry forms, and visit registration for conversion.
- Integration with Slate, ACalog (now Modern Campus Catalog), and student information systems to connect your website to the rest of your enrollment technology stack.
- Personalization strategy using Modern Campus built-in tools to deliver targeted content to prospective students.
- Migration from legacy CMS to Modern Campus with content preservation and SEO continuity.
Cascade CMS by Hannon Hill
Cascade CMS from Hannon Hill is a flexible, secure content management system trusted by hundreds of colleges and universities. Cascade CMS is purpose-built for institutions that need strong governance and distributed content teams, with features like Clive for real-time personalization and robust workflow management. iFactory extends Cascade CMS capabilities with higher education expertise:
- Custom template and component development within the Cascade CMS architecture.
- Cascade CMS module implementation for directories, events, alerts, and course catalogs.
- Clive personalization strategy and configuration to deliver targeted experiences based on audience, geography, and behavior.
- Web governance frameworks aligned to your institutional structure, with permissions and approval workflows that match how your teams actually work.
- Content syndication and multi-site management for institutions managing content across multiple colleges or campuses.
- Migration planning and execution from legacy platforms to Cascade CMS.
TERMINALFOUR (T4)
TERMINALFOUR is a digital engagement platform serving 250+ higher education institutions globally, with particular strength in course search, student portals, and multi-channel content distribution. T4’s content modeling and personalization capabilities support complex institutional structures, making it a strong choice for large research universities and multi-campus systems. iFactory extends TERMINALFOUR’s capabilities:
- Custom template design and front-end development within the TERMINALFOUR platform.
- Course search and program finder optimization to improve discoverability and conversion.
- Student and staff portal design with accessible, role-specific experiences.
- Content personalization strategy using T4’s built-in personalization engine.
- Multi-site governance and workflow configuration for institutions with complex organizational structures.
- CRM and SIS integration with Banner, Colleague, PeopleSoft, Slate, and Salesforce.
Squiz DXP
Squiz is a composable digital experience platform used by universities in the US, UK, and Australia. Squiz has been ranked in the Gartner Magic Quadrant for consecutive years, with strength in powerful search (Funnelback), visual page building, and the ability to integrate existing institutional systems without costly migrations. iFactory supports Squiz DXP implementations:
- Front-end design and development within the Squiz DXP architecture.
- Funnelback search optimization and configuration to deliver relevant, fast search results across your institutional content.
- Conversational AI search implementation for next-generation search experiences.
- Content personalization by audience, program, and geography.
- Integration with existing CMS platforms using Squiz’s composable architecture, allowing institutions to modernize incrementally.
- A/B testing and conversion optimization for enrollment-critical pages.
What iFactory Brings to Every SaaS CMS Implementation
Regardless of platform, iFactory’s value is consistent across every SaaS CMS engagement:
- Accessibility expertise and WCAG 2.2 AA compliance.
- Enrollment-focused UX and content strategy that structures content for the student journey.
- Cross-platform front-end development standards that deliver performance, accessibility, and brand consistency.
- Comprehensive training and documentation for content teams working within their CMS.
- Ongoing maintenance, optimization, and support after launch.
- Analytics and conversion tracking setup to measure enrollment impact.
See how the development team works alongside our other disciplines to bring your vision to life.
San Jacinto College
Total transformation on a tight timeline
Content that connects
In just six months, we leveraged our designs and the power of Modern Campus CMS to tell an interactive story throughout the site. We wrote and manually migrated close to 400 pages, tailoring content to a number of audiences while highlighting the quality of San Jac’s programs.
400+
Pages re-organized, written, and published by iFactory’s content team
60+
Custom keywords optimized on-page
Connect with our team
Want to learn more about our website development services or discuss how we can support your institution?
Frequently asked questions
A SaaS (Software as a Service) CMS is a vendor-managed platform where hosting, security, and software updates are handled by the vendor. Modern Campus, Cascade CMS, TERMINALFOUR, and Squiz are all SaaS CMS platforms. Open-source platforms like Drupal and WordPress are self-hosted, meaning your institution or agency manages infrastructure, updates, and security. SaaS platforms reduce IT burden and maintenance overhead. Open-source platforms offer more architectural flexibility and no per-seat licensing costs. The right choice depends on your institution’s IT capacity, governance needs, and budget.
The platform provides the tools. Strategy, design, UX, accessibility, and content architecture are what drive enrollment results. A default SaaS CMS installation with standard templates will not perform as well as one that has been strategically designed with enrollment funnels, accessibility testing, SEO optimization, and personalization. iFactory brings 30+ years of higher education expertise to every platform, ensuring your CMS is configured to recruit, not just publish.
The answer depends on institution size, governance complexity, existing technology stack, budget, and specific functional needs. Modern Campus (Omni CMS) is the most widely adopted and works well for mid-size institutions. Cascade CMS by Hannon Hill offers strong governance and content syndication for distributed teams. TERMINALFOUR excels at large research universities with complex multi-campus structures. Squiz DXP provides powerful search and composable architecture. iFactory can help you evaluate options based on your specific requirements. Contact us for a CMS evaluation.
Yes. We migrate institutions between platforms regularly, including from Drupal or WordPress to SaaS CMS platforms and vice versa. Every migration includes content inventory and audit, automated scripting for bulk content transfer, manual curation and optimization, URL redirect maps for SEO preservation, and post-migration testing. We also migrate between SaaS platforms (for example, from TERMINALFOUR to Modern Campus). Learn about our Drupal capabilities or WordPress capabilities.
Yes. While SaaS vendors manage platform infrastructure, institutions still need front-end maintenance, content optimization, accessibility monitoring, and ongoing enhancements. iFactory provides post-launh support for all SaaS CMS platforms including template updates, component development, SEO and GEO optimization, and content team training.
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