Getting Started Guide

What SiteFarm Is—and How FOA Uses It

SiteFarm is the campus website platform—but FOA uses it a little differently. This section explains what it is and how we tailor it for our division’s needs.

  • What is SiteFarm?

  • SiteFarm is UC Davis’s official website platform, designed to help departments quickly create beautiful, accessible, and secure websites with minimal technical overhead. 

    Built on Drupal and supported by the SiteFarm development team, it offers a flexible set of tools, templates, and integrations that let users focus on content, not code.

  • Why FOA Uses SiteFarm Differently

  • Our audiences and goals are often different from academic sites or those focused on admissions or telling university's story.

    We use SiteFarm to support the work of over a dozen FOA departments and service units, and to meet the needs of busy editors who manage operational, financial, safety, and administrative content.  

    That content demands a focus on clarity, accuracy, and usability. SiteFarm gives us the tools to deliver on that, while keeping pace with accessibility standards and campus branding.

    We choose to keep custom programming (what SiteFarm calls "subtheming") to a minimum so that system updates are smooth and our sites won't break. FOA Communications handles all the administrative setup and maintenance, so our units can stay focused on content. And editors always have access to creative support, design guidance, and web expertise from the FOA Communications team.

First 5 Things to Know

New to editing? Start here. These five quick tips will help you feel more confident using SiteFarm, even if it’s your first time.

  • 1. SiteFarm is built for you.
  • You don’t need to know HTML or Drupal to use SiteFarm. Most editing happens through easy point-and-click tools designed for campus users like you.
  • 2. You only need to know a few page types.
  • Start with the basics: basic pages, articles, events, and people. These will cover 90% of your needs—and we’ve got tips for each one.
  • 3. Editing a page is easier than you think.
  • If you’ve ever used Microsoft Word or typed into a text box online, you’ll feel right at home. SiteFarm’s editor lets you format text, add links, and insert images with just a few clicks, no coding needed.
  • 4. Preview before publishing.
  • You can (and should!) preview your work before making it live. And if you mess up? No worries—everything is versioned, and it’s easy to revert.
  • 5. You're not alone—help is here.
  • We're here to support you. Reach out with questions, check this guide anytime, and explore our growing library of how-to tips.

Editing or Updating an Existing Page

Most FOA editors don’t create new pages often—but updates happen all the time. Whether you're fixing a date, replacing a PDF, or making a bigger content change, here’s a simple process to follow:

  • 1. Plan your edits before logging in.
  • If your update is more than just fixing a typo, it helps to sort things out in advance. Draft your new text, confirm details with your team, and decide what’s changing. That way, once you're in SiteFarm, all you need to do is paste, format, and publish.
  • 2. Open the page and click the “Edit” tab.
  • Log into your site and navigate to the page. Click the Edit tab near the top. This opens the page in a simple text editor.
  • 3. Make your updates—but take your time.
  • Update text, replace files, or revise links as needed. The editor works like a word processor—use headings and bullet points to keep things clear and scannable.
  • 4. Double-check your changes.
  • Before publishing, review your edits for clarity and accuracy. Preview the page to catch anything that looks off. Small changes can have big impact—especially when others rely on the info.
  • 5. Save and publish.
  • When everything looks good, click Save and publish. You can always go back an edit, or switch to an earlier version via the "Revisions" tab.

Updating More Than Just a Sentence?

If you're making bigger changes like reorganizing content or rewriting a full section, FOA Communications can help. We’re happy to review drafts, offer layout tips, or help make sure your changes fit your site's goals. We’re here to support you.