The university is transitioning our web content management system (CMS) to a more current version, which will provide better security, a seamless user experience, and an updated brand presence – all with an easier-to-manage user admin. All websites built on the Drupal 7 SiteNow v1 standard platform will be shut down on August 1, 2024, and need to be migrated to the updated environment – Drupal 9 SiteNow v3 – prior to that date. A standard website would be a site you engaged directly with the central web team to create and has not had any custom development.

CLAS Marcom is actively supporting the migration of the college website, as well as the ~70 CLAS department academic and administrative unit sites, but it is your responsibility as the operator of a SiteNow v1 standard website to migrate any other websites including research groups, centers, labs, institutes, etc. This includes any CLAS-related websites using SiteNow v1 standard on the clas.uiowa.edu domain and on any other university pre-approved domains, such as *.labs.uiowa.edu, *.org.uiowa.edu, etc. If you are unsure what SiteNow version your website is built on, refer to this platform shutdown support page, or reach out to CLAS Marcom directly.

If you or someone in your department manages a SiteNow v1 standard website (excluding department websites) and you want to keep that website, please take action now. In order to keep your site after the shutdown date, you must request a new v3 site by February 14, 2024. According to communication from OSC regarding this platform shutdown, all users who wish to keep their website and have not yet requested a v3 replacement website have until February 14 to submit a request. If OSC has not received a request by that date, they will assume the website can be deactivated. 

Once you request your new v3 site, you can begin migration. OSC has put together tips for navigating the move away from SiteNow v1, including process steps like coordinating with key stakeholders, guidance for sharing the migration workload,  and links to existing training materials. Remember, you will need to migrate all content (people profiles, articles, page copy, images, forms, etc.) from your v1 site to your v3 site before the August 1, 2024 shutdown date – nothing moves over automatically.

The CLAS Marcom team has been working hard to manage the migration of department websites against this shutdown deadline and can help answer any questions you may have. We will continue to share learnings in outlets like the CLAS Communicator meetings, as well as answer any questions that we receive directly. Please don't hesitate to reach out to CLAS Marcom with any questions.