Why choose Site Builder

Web Services recommends Site Builder for UCSF departments, programs, research groups and initiatives that need an official UCSF-branded website without custom development. 

It provides a flexible, supported platform for publishing and maintaining content while helping sites meet UCSF brand, accessibility and security standards. 

Site Builder comes with a host of attractive features, including the ability to integrate with UCSF's events calendar, faculty and researcher profiles and news content. Best of all, it's free to use for anyone starting a UCSF site.

Customizable

Site Builder gives you plenty of flexibility without the cost and complexity of a custom-built website.

Choose from multiple homepage styles, color combinations, fonts, sidebar options and page layouts. Modular components make it easy to arrange content to fit your needs — whether you want to feature news and events, create profile pages, add images or videos, highlight important content, or build one-, two- or three-column layouts.

You get the flexibility to create a site that feels like your own, while working within a platform that UCSF already supports.

Branded

A consistent UCSF identity helps our audiences recognize that they are on an official, trusted UCSF website.

Site Builder includes UCSF fonts, colors and design elements, giving you room to create a distinctive site while staying connected to the broader UCSF brand. That consistency strengthens recognition and builds confidence among patients, students, colleagues, supporters and other visitors.

Secure

Launching a website is only the beginning. Websites require ongoing maintenance, security updates and technical support.

With Site Builder, UCSF IT manages the underlying platform and keeps it maintained and updated. Your team can focus on your content rather than arranging separate hosting, security maintenance and ongoing technical support for a custom website.

Accessible

Digitally accessible websites are essential to serving our entire community — and they are a shared responsibility at UCSF.

Site Builder provides an accessibility-focused foundation, including features such as appropriate color contrast and structured navigation. Using a supported platform makes it easier for site owners to create and maintain content that meets UCSF accessibility expectations.

Responsive

Site Builder is designed to work across desktops, tablets and phones.

Layouts adapt automatically to different screen sizes: columns stack, images resize and content adjusts to provide a consistent experience across devices. You don't need to develop and maintain separate mobile layouts.
 

Evolving & up to date

Web technology and audience needs continue to change, and Site Builder evolves with them.

Because Site Builder is a shared UCSF platform, improvements can benefit sites across the university rather than requiring each department to fund its own development. New needs and ideas can also help inform the platform's development roadmap.

The bottom line

Site Builder gives UCSF teams a flexible, branded and supported website platform without having to independently build, host and maintain a custom site — or take on the associated development, hosting and annual support costs.