Departments of UC Berkeley

From 2016 to 2021, Xfive had the privilege of collaborating with eleven prestigious UC Berkeley departments. The goal was to provide accessible, user-friendly, and reliable WordPress websites tailored to meet the unique needs of higher education institutions. With a focus on long-term website maintenance, scalability, and modern design, our work helped these departments ensure their online presence reflected their academic excellence.

Why UC Berkeley Chose Xfive for Their Website Needs

UC Berkeley’s departments required simple, clean, and accessible websites that were easy to manage for staff with varying levels of technical expertise. WordPress emerged as the ideal platform, offering flexibility, ease of use, and a strong foundation for growth. Here’s why UC Berkeley partnered with Xfive:

1. Expertise in Website Migration: Migrating from legacy platforms like Drupal or Ruby on Rails to WordPress required a partner with deep technical expertise.
2. Custom and Scalable Solutions: Depending on departmental needs, Xfive provided either fully custom designs or leveraged Press+, a higher-education-specific WordPress theme.
3. Comprehensive Website Maintenance: Our Care & Maintenance plans ensured the websites remained secure, up-to-date, and free of technical debt over time.

A Diverse Portfolio of UC Berkeley Departments

Xfive developed WordPress websites for a variety of departments, each with unique requirements and audiences:

• Department of Astronomy
• Theoretical Astrophysics Center
• Center for Integrative Planetary Science
• History of Art Department
• Department of Film & Media
• Department of Rhetoric
• Department of German
• Center for Race and Gender
• Department of Ethnic Studies
• Department of African American Studies

This diverse portfolio highlights Xfive’s ability to adapt to the specific goals and complexities of each department while maintaining consistent quality and accessibility.

Key Features of the WordPress Solutions

At Xfive, we understand that university websites must meet high standards of accessibility, usability, and performance. Here are the standout features of the solutions we delivered:

1. Accessibility and Responsiveness

Higher education websites need to be inclusive and accessible to users of all abilities. Our WordPress solutions:

• Adhered to WCAG guidelines to ensure web content was perceivable, operable, and understandable for all users.
• Used responsive design principles, ensuring seamless experiences on desktops, tablets, and smartphones.

2. User-Friendly Administration

University staff often come from non-technical backgrounds. WordPress allowed administrators to:

• Easily edit and update content without coding knowledge.
• Manage user roles and permissions for collaborative content creation.
• Simplify workflows for events, announcements, and academic publications.

3. Migration from Legacy CMS Platforms

Moving from outdated systems like Drupal or Ruby on Rails to WordPress offered significant benefits:

• Improved Performance: Faster load times ensured a better user experience and higher search engine rankings.
• Modern Design: Clean and visually appealing layouts resonated with both academic and public audiences.
• Enhanced SEO: Search engine optimization improvements helped increase visibility for departmental resources.

4. Care & Growth Website Maintenance Plans

Our collaboration didn’t stop after the initial launch. Xfive provided ongoing website maintenance, including:

• Regular updates to WordPress core, themes, and plugins.
• Security monitoring to protect against vulnerabilities.
• Optimization for performance improvements as technology and user needs evolved.

These plans ensured the websites remained relevant, functional, and secure, helping the departments avoid accumulating technical debt.

Tailored Solutions for Academic Institutions

At Xfive, we recognize that every university department has unique needs. Depending on the size and complexity of the department, we offered:

• Custom WordPress Websites: For departments requiring unique features or specific integrations, we developed bespoke solutions tailored to their goals.
• Higher-Education Themes: For smaller departments, Press+ provided an efficient and cost-effective foundation with features specifically designed for academic institutions.

Both approaches ensured that each website balanced functionality, aesthetics, and ease of management.

The Results: Reliable and Scalable Websites for UC Berkeley

By collaborating closely with UC Berkeley departments, Xfive delivered websites that reflected their academic excellence while simplifying digital workflows.

Key Outcomes

1. Enhanced Accessibility: The websites provided an inclusive experience for all users, meeting the high standards of public education institutions.
2. Improved User Experience: Clean design, intuitive navigation, and responsive layouts ensured visitors could easily access departmental resources.
3. Streamlined Content Management: Administrators gained tools to efficiently manage and update their websites, reducing reliance on IT support.
4. Future-Proof Solutions: Ongoing maintenance plans kept the websites secure, up-to-date, and aligned with evolving web standards.

A Long-Term Partnership Built on Care and Growth

Our work with UC Berkeley extended beyond website launches. By focusing on care and growth, we built a partnership rooted in trust and reliability. The Care & Maintenance plans allowed us to:

• Proactively address emerging needs, such as adding new features or improving website performance.
• Support the departments in aligning their websites with changing institutional goals.
• Continuously optimize the sites to ensure long-term success.

Why Choose Xfive for Website Maintenance and Development?

Xfive is a trusted partner for organizations like UC Berkeley, providing expert-level development and long-term care for their digital assets. Here’s what sets us apart:

1. Deep Experience with Educational Institutions: Our team understands the unique challenges of university departments and delivers solutions tailored to their needs.
2. Comprehensive Website Maintenance: We ensure your website remains secure, up-to-date, and optimized for performance over time.
3. Collaborative Approach: From initial consultation to ongoing support, we work closely with your team to achieve your goals.
4. Fair Pricing: High-quality work that delivers value while respecting your budget.

Let’s Build Your Next Website Together

If your university department or organization needs reliable website maintenance, modern WordPress development, or a trusted partner for digital growth, Xfive is here to help.

Contact Us Today to learn how we can create an accessible, user-friendly website tailored to your needs. Let’s work together to make your digital presence a reflection of your institution’s excellence.