The Center for Instructional Technology (CIT) at The University of Alabama successfully transitioned over 750 faculty websites from the Weebly platform to CampusPress, a WordPress-powered solution designed specifically for higher education
Why the Move?
The migration was driven by two key factors: accessibility and cost. Weebly, while widely used, did not meet UA’s technology accessibility standards and proved to be disproportionately expensive for the services it offered. CampusPress, on the other hand, aligns with UA’s branding and IT requirements and offers a more robust, scalable, and compliant platform for faculty web presence.
What Is CampusPress?
CampusPress is a WordPress-based platform tailored for academic institutions. It allows UA faculty to create and manage professional websites and blogs using university-branded templates and approved plugins. Common use cases include online CVs, lab sites, and research project pages.
Standout features include:
- Complex page layouts
- Page duplication and reusable design patterns
- Blogging and publishing workflows
- Integration with UA’s accessibility and branding standards
Faculty can learn more or request a site at https://sites.ua.edu/people/.
Migration Highlights
CIT re-created over 500 sites on CampusPress and worked closely with OIT and Strategic Communications to ensure the transition met all institutional requirements. The migration was part of a broader initiative to improve technology accessibility across campus, in response to Title II changes. CIT is collaborating with multiple campus offices and external partners to bring UA into full compliance by April 2026.