Drupal CMS Development

Project Overview

Rutgers Statewide is a comprehensive Drupal-based website that serves as the digital hub for Rutgers University’s statewide partnerships program. This project demonstrates my expertise in Drupal CMS development, accessibility compliance, and creating user-centered experiences for educational institutions. The website connects prospective students with degree completion programs across six community college partner sites throughout New Jersey.

Development Process

The project required deep understanding of both Drupal’s content management capabilities and the specific needs of educational institutions. My development approach included:

• Content Strategy: Structured content types for programs, locations, and student resources
• User Experience Design: Intuitive navigation for prospective students and current students
• Accessibility Compliance: WCAG 2.1 AA standards implementation throughout
• Responsive Design: Mobile-first approach for students accessing on various devices
• Performance Optimization: Fast loading times for better user engagement

Live Website

Key Features

Drupal CMS Implementation

• Content Management: Custom content types for programs, locations, and student resources
• User Roles & Permissions: Granular access control for different user types
• Views & Displays: Dynamic content presentation with contextual filtering
• Form Management: Custom webforms for student inquiries and applications
• Media Management: Optimized image and document handling
• SEO Optimization: Meta tags, structured data, and search-friendly URLs

Accessibility & Compliance

• WCAG 2.1 AA Standards: Full compliance with accessibility guidelines
• Screen Reader Support: Proper ARIA labels and semantic HTML
• Keyboard Navigation: Complete keyboard accessibility
• Color Contrast: High contrast ratios for better readability
• Alt Text: Comprehensive image descriptions for all media

Technical Implementation

The website was built using modern Drupal development practices:

• Drupal 9/10: Latest Drupal core with modern PHP practices
• Custom Theme Development: Responsive theme built from scratch
• Module Development: Custom modules for specific functionality
• Database Optimization: Efficient queries and caching strategies
• Security Hardening: Regular security updates and best practices
• Performance Tuning: CDN integration and caching layers

Project Gallery

Client Feedback

Riley’s work on the Rutgers Statewide website exceeded our expectations. The Drupal implementation is robust, accessible, and user-friendly. The site has significantly improved our ability to connect with prospective students across New Jersey.

Rutgers University Web Team

Technical Challenges & Solutions

Key Development Challenges

• Content Architecture: Designed flexible content types to accommodate various program structures
• Multi-site Integration: Coordinated with multiple community college partners
• Accessibility Compliance: Ensured full WCAG 2.1 AA compliance for educational institutions
• Performance Optimization: Implemented caching and CDN for fast loading times
• Security Requirements: Met university security standards and data protection requirements
• Mobile Responsiveness: Created seamless experience across all device types

Impact & Results

The Rutgers Statewide website has successfully:

• Increased Student Engagement: Improved user experience leading to higher application rates
• Enhanced Accessibility: Full compliance with educational accessibility standards
• Streamlined Content Management: Easy updates for university staff
• Improved SEO Performance: Better search visibility for degree programs
• Reduced Support Requests: Intuitive interface requiring less user assistance

Future Enhancements

The project continues to evolve with planned improvements:

• Advanced Analytics: Enhanced tracking of user behavior and conversion rates
• Personalization: Customized content based on user location and interests
• Integration: API connections with university systems for seamless data flow
• Multilingual Support: Spanish language support for diverse student populations
• Mobile App: Native mobile application for on-the-go access

This project showcases my expertise in Drupal CMS development, accessibility compliance, and creating meaningful digital experiences for educational institutions. The Rutgers Statewide website demonstrates my ability to build robust, scalable solutions that serve real user needs while meeting strict institutional requirements.

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