#184 – Rachel Cherry and Alex Aspinall on the State of WordPress in Higher Education

Exploring the State of WordPress in Higher Education

Welcome to the Jukebox Podcast from WP Tavern! Today, we dive into a fascinating discussion about the intersection of WordPress and higher education. With a focus on the community surrounding WordPress in colleges and universities, we explore a range of topics including the unique challenges and opportunities that come with using WordPress in this sector.

If you’re interested in staying updated on this topic, be sure to subscribe to the podcast. You can find us by searching for WP Tavern in your favorite podcast app or by visiting wptavern.com/feed/podcast.

Meet Our Guests

Today’s episode features two remarkable guests: Rachel Cherry and Alex Aspinall.

Rachel Cherry

Rachel is the founder of WP Campus, a nonprofit organization established to support professionals using WordPress in higher education. Over the past decade, Rachel has transformed WP Campus into a vibrant community hub, facilitating conferences and research initiatives tailored to the unique needs of its members. Currently, she serves as the organization’s Director of Technology and is an active member of its board of directors.

Alex Aspinall

Alex is part of the globally distributed team at Human Made, a prominent enterprise WordPress agency founded in 2011. At Human Made, he plays a crucial role in delivering large-scale web platforms for major organizations like Harvard, Standard Chartered, and PlayStation. Recently, Alex has cultivated a keen interest in how WordPress can effectively address the needs of the higher education sector.

Understanding WP Campus

Rachel shares the origin story of WP Campus, which was born out of a need for a dedicated community for WordPress professionals within higher education. She recognized a gap in discussions at WordCamps and sought to create a space that addresses the specific challenges and experiences of those working in this unique environment.

WP Campus has since grown to support over 1,763 members and 688 institutions, providing resources and advocacy for its community. The organization hosts conferences, conducts research, and fosters connections among its members.

The State of WordPress in Higher Education 2025 Report

At the heart of our discussion today is the newly released report titled “State of WordPress in Higher Education 2025.” This report highlights key findings, including:

• The slow adoption of the block editor and full site editing.
• The challenges faced by small teams managing hundreds of university websites.
• The increasing demand for enterprise-level tools.

Rachel emphasizes that the higher education sector often operates with limited resources. Many institutions have small web teams responsible for managing a large number of sites, which complicates the adoption of new technologies.

Key Findings and Insights

During the podcast, Rachel shares significant insights from the report:

• Only 40% of respondents are using the block editor on all their sites.
• A mere 16% reported not using the block editor at all.
• Many institutions are cautious about implementing full site editing due to governance concerns and the need for control over branding and accessibility.

Alex highlights that the complexity of higher education projects often results in the need for custom solutions, which may lead institutions to build their own plugins to meet specific accessibility requirements.

Accessibility and Governance Challenges

Accessibility is a crucial aspect for many higher education institutions, as they must comply with various regulations. In the U.S., Section 508 mandates that federally funded institutions meet certain accessibility standards. Rachel notes that while there are challenges in finding suitable plugins that meet these guidelines, the commitment to accessibility remains strong within the community.

Looking Ahead

As we look to the future, both Rachel and Alex express optimism about the continued growth of WordPress in higher education. They believe that with more collaboration and sharing of resources, the community can better address its unique challenges.

Key Takeaways

• The need for more enterprise-level tools in WordPress for higher education.
• Challenges include slow adoption of new features like the block editor and full site editing.
• Accessibility remains a top priority, with ongoing efforts to improve compliance.
• Community collaboration is essential for sharing resources and best practices.
• WP Campus serves as a vital hub for professionals in the higher education sector.

For further details and to access the report, visit wpcampus.org. Thank you for joining us today, and we hope you found this discussion insightful!

Source: Original Article