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University Communications and Marketing

Digital Experience Studio > Website Technology > Sitecore CMS > Sitecore Component Guide >

Program Finder

Program Finder

The Program Finder feature provides a means for adding Program Cards to a website to enable prospective students to explore the various degree and major options available at Michigan State University. Each Program Card connects to a web page built on the Program Details Page template. The Program Cards within a website automatically appear on a filterable and searchable Program Listing Page on the website. See the pages below for information on how to work with the Program Finder feature in SitecoreAI.

A screenshot of a Program Listing Page on the Office of Admissions website
Figure 1: Example of a Program Finder Page.

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  • Usage
    • The Program Finder feature can be used to add a majors and degrees listing to a website.
    • Program Cards can point to a Program Details Page or any other web page.
    • Program Card entries display in a listing view on the Program Listing Page, which can be searched and filtered by Program Name, Program Format, Program Location, Academic Level, Area of Study and Unit.
  • Best Practices
    • Assign open graph data to each Program Details Page in Content Editor. This ensures that pages are optimized for display when they appear in web browser search results.
    • Fill out all relevant taxonomy fields for each Program Card. This ensures that the Program Listing Page accurately represents the full available collection of Program Card content matching a selected filter parameter.
    • Ensure all staff are familiar with how taxonomy fields are to be used for the unit so that tagging is consistent. 
  • Expected Behavior
    • Program Listing Pages can be viewed in a list or grid layout. This toggle option cannot be turned off.  
    • All Program Card items appear on the listing page. Pagination kicks in after a designated number of cards, as selected in the Program Cards listing widget presentation settings.
    • The listing page can be filtered by Program Name, Program Format, Program Location, Academic Level, Area of Study and Unit.
  • Related Information

    • Samples:

    • Admissions — The Office of Admissions uses a Program Card Listing page without images. 

    Similar features:

    • Mixed Content — Units with a limited number of programs may find that the Program Finder feature is too robust for their needs. In these cases, University Communications and Marketing recommends using a Mixed Content component to link to pages for individual programs.  

    Frequently Asked Questions

    How does a unit get Program Finder added to a website?

    To request the Program Finder feature be activated on a unit website, fill out and submit this form. 

    The digital experience program manager will generate a ticket, and a member of the University Communications and Marketing platforms group will activate the feature on the website.

    Can grid (or list) view be turned off on the Program Listing Page?

    No, the Program Listing Page offers both grid and listing views to provide website visitors with their optimal user experience. 

    Are images required on Program Cards?

    No, images are optional. 

    How many Program Cards are listed on a Program Listing Page?

    Content authors can adjust the number of Program Cards listed on a page using pagination controls in the Program Listing presentation settings. 

    Can a unit customize the taxonomy (i.e., filter labels and options) for the programs on the website?

    No, the taxonomies were developed to be global for all campus units, in partnership with the Office of Admissions. If a unit has a suggestion for a change, contact University Communications and Marketing to discuss the use case.

    Why is a specific option not appearing in a drop-down filter?

    The filters are contextual and additive. Options will only appear in the drop-downs if there is a Program Card tagged that matches the applied filters. If multiple filters are in use, the available options in the second (or third, etc.) filters will automatically update to contain only what is available in content on the site that already meets the other applied active filters. 

    Why can’t a user see Program Details items in their site’s Content Tree in Content Editor?

    This typically occurs when “Hidden Items” and “Buckets” are not selected to display in Content Editor. 

    Screenshot of the View tab in the Content Editor navigation ribbon showing that Content Tree, Entire Tree, Hidden Items and Buckets are checked so they will display
    Figure 2: The “Hidden Items” and “Buckets” options are checked in the View tab of the Content Editor navigation ribbon.

    In Content Editor:

    1. Click the View tab on the navigation ribbon.
    2. Check Hidden Items and Buckets.
    3. Items should now be visible in the Content Tree.

    If you’re still experiencing issues, contact University Communications and Marketing to generate a support ticket. Include the website URL and details regarding the program items you’re expecting to see. 

    Where did a newly created Program Details Page move to? 

    Program Details Pages are automatically bucketed by first letter of the program name. When a content author edits the name field, the page will move to the corresponding letter bucket. 

    Can Program Details Pages be scheduled to publish at a specific later date and time?

    Not currently. Users can set a timeframe for when a Program Details Page is “publishable” to ensure it isn’t accidentally published too early, but the Program Details Page must be manually published during the “publishable” window. 

    See “Publishing Restrictions” for instructions. 

    Using Program Finder in SitecoreAI

    Program Details Page

    Each Program Card item creates a Program Details Page. These pages have program-specific data template fields to facilitate program searchability and a cohesive design to support a quality user experience. 

    Explore the layout

    Program Listing Page

    Program Listing Pages are automatically populated listing views of the Program Details Pages on a website. These listing pages display Program Cards and are filterable using the data template, enabling website visitors to search for programs. As Program Details Pages are added to the website and published, they’ll automatically populate into the site’s Program Listing Page. 

    List programs

     

    Documentation updated: June 11, 2026

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