MSU attracts 200% more interested students

Overview

With 17 colleges, hundreds of departments, and 51,838 students, Michigan State University (MSU) struggled to provide a cohesive online experience.

To unify its fragmented digital ecosystem across hundreds of websites, the university partnered with RDA and Sitecore. By consolidating platforms and implementing a scalable, headless architecture with Sitecore’s integrated DXP, MSU has improved user experience and boosted engagement with 2x more completed RFI forms and a 20% increase in virtual tours.

The initiative streamlined content operations and reduced technical overhead to maximize operational efficiency and enable faster site launches—while helping the university attract more students.

Strategy + Delivery

To support a unified and scalable digital strategy, MSU embarked on a major platform consolidation project. Partnering with Sitecore Platinum Partner RDA, MSU migrated more than 100 departmental websites running a range of legacy content management systems to a modern, headless architecture powered by Sitecore.

MSU and RDA took a strategy-first approach to the digital transformation, developing a comprehensive marketing technology roadmap, auditing user experiences across multiple websites, and refining consolidated wireframes and designs. A cross-functional agile team was established to manage component conversions, API integration, content migration automation, and ongoing maintenance.

The team created a foundational site architecture that serves as a repeatable blueprint for individual colleges and departments. Called a ‘model home’ it provides a shared framework that balances autonomy with alignment. The template library that the team established within Sitecore’s CMS also streamlined the development process and ensures visual consistency, enabling decentralized content teams to launch sites rapidly while adhering to best practices in accessibility, performance, and SEO.

Integrating Sitecore’s CMS with Sitecore’s DAM capabilities provides a robust, centralized hub for managing digital content. “We’re able to simplify content reuse, support brand consistency, and make it easier for teams to collaborate,” said Crist. AI-powered personalization capabilities enable users to quickly access the most relevant information.

“With a centralized platform, we were able to establish a shared taxonomy and governance framework across departments, ensuring that content adheres to university standards and best practices,” explains Crist.

With Sitecore’s CMS, MSU was able to transition away from a patchwork of legacy CMS platforms to a unified, cloud-native solution while maintaining high standards for accessibility, performance, and user experience. The university decided to add Sitecore’s DAM capabilities to help streamline collaboration across teams and ensure brand consistency at scale.

“We believe we now have the tools we need to meet our strategic goals of unifying the university’s digital presence, delivering optimized content experiences, and empowering content authors with the flexibility to efficiently create and manage digital content,” confirms Crist.

Read the Full Story

MSU’s digital refresh transforms user experiences, creating more intuitive, accessible, and engaging digital journeys across more than 100 websites. “With unified digital foundations on Sitecore, we’re delivering on our strategic vision as a university, which will help us attract more students, enhance engagement with our online audience, and maximize operational efficiency,” says Crist.

Click here to read the entire case study.