--- Change the third requirement: Use Northern's official title bar when designing a *department* home page.Mention something about the Webmasters group as an ad hoc group that is actively supporting and examining home page development on campus.
Put my name in as a contact for any suggestions, comments, or questions on the requirements and recommendations, and note to call Phil Rider with questions on how to get started.
---Missing on the last item is a mixed blessing. I can disavow the text as published, but now have to accept the flak. I would have preferred my version of the text. :-)
There will be an article next week clarifying the requirements and pointing to the activities and value of the Webmasters. The Webmasters are doing a commendable job.
I don't have a lot of time this morning, but here is a couple of comments until I can get back:
I think that the university has need of two sets of home pages. The 'committee' is concerned with an official promotable presence on the web, a consistent set of 'university' promotional pages, and are trying to define such--sort of an electronic catalog. They are also worrying a little about the other pages. The webmasters are concerned with the same as well as department and individual pages. There is overlap especially on the department pages. The university will be better known by both its official 'set of pages' and its set of individual pages. The official pages are at least an new version of the official paper publications (hopefully a slick electronic tool). The web opens up so much more info through individual publication.
The requirements are focused on official department pages, pages needed to fill out the official university set of promotional pages. One problem for the committee is that the departments are being given responsibility for completing these pages, and there needs to be some guidelines to assure consistency in this set. I do not see the requirements as guidelines for all university pages.
In reference to one of Jim's comments: I have seen a lot of similar guidelines for pages. Having information at the end of a page appears on almost all of them. 'Page' meaning file in this context.
'Having approval...' refers in one context to the 'official set of pages' because again departments are made offically responsible for certain info. It does refer in another context to all the pages when they refer to the names of courses, programs, and departments. The university as a whole is laying claim to certain pieces of 'official information' as its own product so that it can provide consistency to its students. I have not heard of any other stipulations about information on pages.
It appears to me that other requirements on validity are commonly held.
While there is no official representation of Webmasters on the Planning committee, there are several people that attend both meetings. Representation is a problem when the requirements are for all, but for the most part the requirements are focused on the 'official promotional set of pages' (not to say that other pages are not promotional). I think information exchange is as important of an issue, and I continue to move concerns, questions, and information between the groups.
I hope that you recognize these 'requirements and recommendations ...as a dynamic document...to give those starting home pages guidance and direction.'
I suggest that we integrate a set of guidelines that incorporates the broader experience of the Webmasters. I certainly think that that experience shows brightly in many of the existing pages. I don't imagine that the 'university' will interfere with such work (outside of bothering you about how it's done).
Michael. mgprais@niu.edu
(BTW, note that your identity is lost when messages to webmasters are delivered. I enjoy knowing who is speaking. I can almost put a voice with the word. Please add a signature.)