Drupal Cloud is a flexible web content management system (CMS)
Based on open source software and built by teams at the University, Drupal Cloud is designed to meet the needs of Brown's core web presence. More than 300 University units – divisions, schools, departments, offices, programs, centers and institutes – use the CMS to power their official Brown website.
Brown continually invests in Drupal Cloud
Each year, dozens of updates and new features are introduced to maintain the high quality of Brown's web presence. Drupal Cloud empowers hundreds of web content editors to easily manage their content on a platform that delivers visually striking, reliable, and accessible webpages.
Flexible Component System
Drupal Cloud provides a versatile range of components for assembling diverse page layouts. Drupal Cloud meets the unique needs of individual units and creates a logical, cohesive experience for visitors browsing Brown's websites.
How it Works
The Office of Information Technology (OIT)
OIT manages the technical infrastructure and security of Drupal Cloud. They ensure the platform is updated and working efficiently, providing a reliable and secure web CMS for Brown.
The Office of University Communications (OUC)
OUC leads user experience efforts by developing the component system and by working directly with campus partners on the content strategy, navigation and buildout of their websites.
Units across Brown
Units across Brown use the adaptable elements of Drupal Cloud to create websites focused on user needs. They collaborate with OUC to outline their site structure, ensuring their key messages are communicated effectively.
Web Accessibility
Consistent with Brown's commitment to diversity and inclusion, Drupal Cloud was built with web accessibility in mind. Our comprehensive accessibility testing allows us to meet the University’s stated goal for compliance with digital accessibility guidelines.
Drupal Cloud helps to create accessible websites straight away. The default settings ensure compliance with accessibility standards for things like font size, letter spacing, keyboard navigation, and screen-reader support.
Web content editors must ensure their content aligns with Brown's web accessibility policy. Web accessibility training is required for all content editors.
Built for Brown
Drupal Cloud is not a commercial software product purchased by the University — it was built on open-source software by teams at Brown.
Internal web/digital teams manage Drupal Cloud specifically to support Brown's core web presence. Websites created using Drupal Cloud adhere to Brown's visual and brand identity by default. Additionally, the platform integrates with other digital tools such as Events@Brown and Google Analytics.
Eligibility
Drupal Cloud isn't designed to host every website at Brown. Instead, Brown offers various content management solutions to cater to the needs of different audiences, groups, and campus units.
Drupal Cloud is Brown's web content management solution for:
- School and divisions
- Academic and administrative departments and programs
- APC-approved centers and institutes
- Offices
- Other official University units and initiatives
Drupal Cloud is not used to host websites for:
- Conferences and workshops
- Labs and research studies
- Individual faculty and staff
- Publications and journals associated with Brown
- Organizations, partnerships, alliances and/or scholarly societies housed at Brown
- Academic courses
- Students or student organizations
If you're looking for a website for one of the purposes listed above, Brown may offer another solution you can use.
About the Technology
Drupal Cloud runs on Drupal 10, and sites are hosted in the cloud on the Pantheon platform. Agile methodology and continuous integration/deployment are the backbone for ongoing maintenance and enhancements. A robust quality assurance process includes dozens of automated tests for every new code deployment.
Runs on Drupal
Hosted on Pantheon
Agile methodology
Ongoing enhancements
CI / CD
Automated testing