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Web Standards

Introduction

As the scope of the University System of Georgia (������������Ƶ) web presence broadens, it is necessary to have in place a framework to guide and accommodate the development and growth of the ������������Ƶ website. The ������������Ƶ website strives to be a dynamic, informative site that provides the visitor with reliable information and is easily navigable. To assist in accomplishing this goal, Communications and Governmental Affairs and Information & Web Services (IWS) provide the following guidelines for publishing your information on the ������������Ƶ website. The guidelines are listed to provide a general framework for publishing web pages on ������������Ƶ websites. They are not meant to be restrictive, but to encourage web content authors to be attentive to a website’s structure and content so that visitors to the ������������Ƶ website can quickly locate information.

Publishing on the Web

Web Content Management

The ������������Ƶ website presents information to the ������������Ƶ community and the world at-large. The organization of the home page, the global navigation and the visual style provides consistency in look and feel for each area of the University System of Georgia website. ������������Ƶ Communications has content oversight of usg.edu. In order to administer a page or department or division site, an individual must have training using the ������������Ƶ web content management system (CMS), Expression Engine; be willing to maintain and update the page as needed; be approved by his or her supervisor; and notify ������������Ƶ Communications of the desired administrative change.

������������Ƶ Web Publishing Overview

1. The ������������Ƶ home page introduces the navigational framework to quickly access the first three levels of the ������������Ƶ website. Specific areas of the ������������Ƶ home page are used to publish new information as needed. ������������Ƶ Communications administers the ������������Ƶ home page. All new content appearing on the ������������Ƶ home page must be vetted and posted by ������������Ƶ Communications.
2. All pages must reflect a visual and organizational consistency respective to their level, location and purpose. The branding established on the homepage sets the standard for the look and feel used throughout the website. The ������������Ƶ Visual Identity Standards are applied to the overall branding of the ������������Ƶ website, and when appropriate, to unique domains hosted on ������������Ƶ web servers. The Visual Identity Standards can be found at http://www.usg.edu/visual_identity
3. ������������Ƶ website refers to the University System of Georgia website as a whole, including department websites that are part of the governing agency of the University System. The ������������Ƶ homepage is the most visible location on the ������������Ƶ website and introduces site visitors to a navigational structure and visual design shared among the different levels throughout the site. Levels are defined as the following:
   
   1. The first-level is the ������������Ƶ homepage.
   2. The second-level is any main section linked from the homepage.
   3. Third-level sections are any other websites that comprise the ������������Ƶ website.
4. The top-level pages should have content appropriate for the page and implement persistent navigation schema. Content should be reasonable in length. Longer documents should be placed as a lower level page or linked to as a document for downloading.
5. Before any higher level web pages (the first three levels) are posted, they must first be reviewed by ������������Ƶ Communications to ensure the following:
   1. textual accuracy;
   2. adherence to ������������Ƶ Visual Identity Standards and ITS web coding standards;
   3. appropriate placement within the web structure.
6. Before a lower level page is added or modified, content authors shall check spelling, grammar, and organization. All content should be proofed before publishing on the Web. Any time content is added or modified, it should be immediately checked to ensure that it displays properly, contains no broken links or grammatical mistakes, and conforms to ������������Ƶ standards as outlined here and in the Web Content Guidelines section of this document.

Web Content Guidelines

1. All new web content must be approved by ������������Ƶ Communications before being placed on the ������������Ƶ website.
2. Remember, your content will be accessible to anyone on the Internet. Your content represents not only you and your division, but also the entire Board of Regents and ������������Ƶ and should be professional and consistent with the rest of the ������������Ƶ website.
3. The Web audience is literally worldwide; be careful to ensure that posting the information on the ������������Ƶ website will not violate any copyrights, restrictions, or agreements. For example, do not post information that would violate a non-disclosure agreement.
4. No “under construction” web pages are allowed. Every page should contain useful information before being published on a website.
5. Links to commercial entities are not allowed. It is the general policy of the ������������Ƶ to avoid linking to commercial websites and thereby making implicit endorsements; however, links to companies that provide goods or services specifically of interest to the ������������Ƶ, ITS, and ������������Ƶ institutions are not prohibited.
6. No copyrighted material in any form can be used unless permission from the original copyright owner is explicitly granted. See the ������������Ƶ ������������Ƶ Policy website for more information.
7. No information pertaining to other individuals who object to the information being placed on the Web is allowed.
8. No material that might be reasonably considered abusive, profane, harassing, or sexually offensive is allowed.