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Statamic: The CMS Higher Ed Doesn’t Know It Needs

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I’ve spent a lot of time over the years evaluating how well CMS platforms can solve the complex issues in higher ed web. And if you’ve spent time talking about higher ed web strategy, the list of issues will feel familiar. And I think they feel so familiar to us because they haven’t really been solved.

In my search for a stand-out CMS, I’ve worked with Typo3, PyroCMS, Drupal, WordPress, Hannon Hill Cascade, and many others, including static website generators and homegrown CMS platform. Along the way, I’ve been watching for a CMS that really would simplify or solve higher ed web problems.

Everything changed when I found Statamic. It pulled together a key list of features that solve problems in higher ed web on a scale from image size management all the way through the simplification of website governance.

I don't work for Statamic or get paid to promote it. But it fulfills the deep conviction I have that higher ed deserves better web technology and that our institutional websites are due for a transformative improvement.

Here’s a breakdown of how Statamic features help solve problems.

1. Static Page Publishing and Caching

  • Problem Solved: Slow load times, especially during peak traffic periods (e.g., admissions season, application deadlines).
  • Impact on Higher Ed: Publishing pages statically and using caching significantly reduces server load and ensures fast, reliable page delivery.

2. Removes the Database Layer

  • Problem Solved: Complexity and performance bottlenecks from traditional CMS/database dependencies.
  • Impact: Simplifies deployment and reduces hosting infrastructure requirements while maintaining features like pagination and collections necessary for course catalogs, faculty listings, etc.

3. Blueprints for Scalable Content Interfaces

  • Problem Solved: Inconsistent and difficult-to-scale content entry experiences for non-technical users (looking at you, Drupal).
  • Impact: Enables tailored, easy-to-use content editing interfaces for various departments (e.g., Admissions, Academics), promoting consistency across the site.

4. Bard (Advanced Text Editor with Field Sets & ProseMirror)

  • Problem Solved: Poor WYSIWYG editors that generate messy HTML and limit flexibility.
  • Impact: Empowers content editors to create clean, structured, and media-rich pages, such as news posts, faculty bios, or program details, with minimal training. Think WordPress blocks, but easier.

5. Revision History

  • Problem Solved: Lack of audit trails or the ability to revert mistakes.
  • Impact: Crucial for compliance and accountability, especially on public-facing academic program pages or institutional policies.

6. Code and Content Versioning in Git

  • Problem Solved: Disconnect between developers and content teams; poor change tracking.
  • Impact: Facilitates collaboration and rollback capabilities, useful for large web teams managing dozens of sub-sites or microsites.

7. Open-ended Roles and Permissions

  • Problem Solved: Inflexible permission systems that can’t reflect complex university hierarchies.
  • Impact: Tailors access controls to match university structures (e.g., separate access for marketing, admissions, academic departments).

8. Multi-site Capable with Localization

  • Problem Solved: Managing multiple department sites or campuses with different content needs and languages.
  • Impact: Simplifies multi-campus and international site strategies, allowing for localized content while maintaining central governance.

9. Built-in Headless API (REST & GraphQL)

  • Problem Solved: Integration with external apps and systems (e.g., event platforms, CRM, learning systems).
  • Impact: Makes the site extensible and future-proof, enabling mobile app support and other integrations.

10. Automatic Image Resizing with Focus-Point

  • Problem Solved: Poor visual presentation due to incorrect image cropping.
  • Impact: Ensures high-quality visuals across devices and formats—a must for engaging prospective students.

11. Built-in Forms

  • Problem Solved: Need for custom form builders or third-party tools for event RSVPs, inquiries, etc.
  • Impact: Enables fast setup of departmental forms without third-party dependencies or inconsistent designs.

12. Global Variables for Site-wide Content

  • Problem Solved: Duplicated or inconsistent content like footer links, addresses, or call-to-actions.
  • Impact: Centralizes common elements, reducing errors and improving consistency across pages.

Laravel

Statamic is designed as an installable package for Laravel, the leading PHP framework and the most popular backend framework on GitHub. This integration gives you full access to Laravel’s robust capabilities, allowing you to build custom solutions exactly how you envision them. It also connects you to the extensive and highly supportive Laravel developer community—one of the largest and most welcoming in the industry.

Depth

They way Statamic can be leveraged for higher ed websites goes way deeper than the problems and features I've listed above. If resolves nit-pick problems in the template layer, is easily extendible, and can be a much easier system with which to deploy personalization, CRO (think built-in A/B testing), and component-based web design. Interested in learning more? Reach out.

Summary / TL;DR

Statamic stands out for higher ed because it:

  • Enhances performance and reliability and decreases load times.
  • Simplifies editor workflows while ensuring design consistency.
  • Provides robust governance, necessary for complex organizations.
  • Supports multi-site, multilingual, and integrated environments, key for global academic institutions.
  • Reduces technical overhead without sacrificing modern development capabilities.

I didn't let my criticism of some CMS platforms creep into this article, but if you're devoted to WordPress, I invite you to read Statamic vs WordPress.