Lawrence University
World Wide Web Steering Committee
September 9, 1998
Purposes
The Lawrence University World Wide Web site supports the mission and purposes of the university by providing on-line access to university information resources and external information sources in support of learning, teaching, scholarship, and the institutional administration of the university. Through the creation and maintenance of an integrated Web site accessible on campus networks and over the Internet, Lawrence University seeks to
One of the many strengths of the World Wide Web as a communications medium is its openness to widespread participation, and the college encourages all members of the Lawrence community to avail themselves of the medium.
While publishing on the Web is often decentralized in academic institutions, the university does retain a direct interest in both the content and presentation of material on its Web site. As with print publications, the reputation and image of the university are manifested in the quality of information published on the Web and the same high standards as for print publications must be observed. In order to present a positive and professional image and to ensure that information officially provided on the university's Web site is both timely and accurate, this World Wide Web policy statement has been adopted to enable general oversight and facilitate the publishing of material on the Lawrence Web site.
Administration
Established in 1995, the presidentially appointed World Wide Web Steering Committee is responsible for coordinating Lawrence's presence on the Web and developing policies and procedures governing the site. In keeping with its mandate to provide direction for the development and continued growth of Lawrence's Web site, the committee is responsible for the information structure of the site and the approval of any changes thereto.
The Lawrence University home page (www.lawrence.edu) and associated top-level pages comprising the site's approved information structure provide the focus of Lawrence's World Wide Web presence. Material presented on the Lawrence University World Wide Web site may include sponsored pages, non-sponsored pages, and personal pages.
Sponsored pages are those specifically identified as part of the approved information structure. They are created and maintained according to guidelines developed by and under the supervision of the World Wide Web Steering Committee, and they employ approved design templates. Because sponsored pages are thus a publication of the university, they are subject to the same standards and review processes as print publications.
Non-sponsored pages are produced independently by academic departments, administrative offices, and certain student organizations (those recognized by the Lawrence University Community Council or those sponsored or advised by departments or offices). Content and layout of non-sponsored pages are the responsibility of the sponsoring department, office, or student organization. though such pages may be monitored periodically for compliance with university policies and conformity with professional norms of content and presentation. Publishers of such pages who choose to use the standard design templates approved by the World Wide Web Steering Committee must adhere to the same standards and review processes as for sponsored pages.
Personal pages are created by individual members of the Lawrence community and are hosted on Lawrence University Web servers subject to minimal stipulations. Lawrence University assumes no direct responsibility, legal or otherwise, for the content of personal pages, and the standard design templates may not be used for them.
Any complaints received concerning or claims asserted against an author or sponsor for the material contained in a non-sponsored or personal page shall be the responsibility of the sponsoring organization or individual author.
Material published on the Lawrence University World Wide Web site must comply with all official policies of the university, including non-discrimination, confidentiality of records, and appropriate use of computing facilities. The World Wide Web Steering Committee reserves the right to refuse or delete information that violates these policies.
Guidelines for University-Sponsored Pages
Each academic and administrative department that has officially presented information published on the Lawrence Web site shares responsibility for developing and maintaining that information. An information provider shall be identified for each such group of material; these information providers shall be responsible for making accurate and timely updates.
Sponsored pages shall conform to technical and style guidelines adopted by the World Wide Web Steering Committee, and shall use the approved standard design templates. Lawrence University photographs will be placed in a centralized Web directory for use by information providers. Each page shall contain the date the page was last updated and, using the contact button in the design template, a facility permitting users to respond with email comments. Links to the Lawrence home page and appropriate top-level pages in the information structure shall also be provided.
Prior to being published on the Web site, all sponsored pages must undergo editorial and technical review. The Web Development Team, appointed by the World Wide Web Steering Committee and consisting of the University Editor, representatives of the offices of Communications, Information Technology Services, and Instructional Technology, the Library, and the chair of the steering committee, is charged with developing and implementing procedures and processes for editorial and technical review.
The Web Development Team or its designated representatives will review the accuracy and currency of information to be published on university-sponsored pages, check for unnecessary duplication of information and contradictory or erroneous information, and advise information providers on the organization of information in their pages and its relationship to other pages in the site. Whenever possible, links to other information or pages on the Lawrence University site should be used, to reduce duplication and help ensure consistency and accuracy. Posting of duplicative material should be avoided.
Information providers should review links and update pages at least monthly. If, through random checks, a problem in content or design is discovered, the page author will be contacted with a request that the problem be corrected. If it is not corrected, the page will be removed from the Lawrence University Web site.
Contents of all published pages must be consistent with Lawrence University policies and applicable federal, state, and local laws.
Guidelines for Non-Sponsored Web Pages and Personal Home Pages
Non-sponsored Web pages may be created by academic departments, administrative offices, student organizations, and other organizational entities on campus for publication on the Lawrence Web site. The university also extends to faculty, staff, and students the privilege of establishing a presence on the Lawrence University Web site by creating and maintaining a personal home page.
Only those non-sponsored Web pages that employ the standard design templates will be subject to the editorial control of Lawrence University. In all other cases, the authors of non-sponsored pages bear full responsibility for their contents and maintenance, though the university reserves the right to monitor such pages and their associated links for compliance with university policies and applicable federal, state, and local laws and for conformity with professional norms of content and presentation. All non-sponsored Web page and personal home page authors must, moreover, adhere to the university's Acceptable Use Statement.
Students, faculty, and staff who want to develop personal home pages should contact Information Technology Services. Personal home page privileges will be extended only after completion of a signed statement acknowledging that Lawrence University policies and procedures relating to electronic communication have been read and understood and that the individual will abide by them.
Non-sponsored Web pages produced by departments, offices, or campus organizations must identify the page author and provide either a contact button or email address for users to communicate with the page author.
Personal home pages must similarly identify the page author and provide a contact button or email address for users. In addition, personal home pages must prominently display the standard Lawrence University personal home page disclaimer.
Requirements of all Published Web Pages
Material published on the Lawrence University Web site shall not violate any explicit or implied policy on confidentiality, right to privacy, or personal safety. All published material is subject to existing laws relating to copyright, intellectual property rights, and trademarks.
Because of licensing restrictions and contractual responsibilities agreed to by Lawrence University, the use of university computers and networks for commercial purposes is prohibited. Fraudulent, harassing, or obscene material is prohibited.
The Lawrence University wordmark, logo, seal, and other graphics and images owned by the university may not be altered or used without prior permission.