Security, Policies & Guidelines

NMSU WWW Guidelines

Introduction

The World Wide Web offers New Mexico State University the opportunity to provide a broad spectrum of information in a multi-media format to large numbers of people, on campus and throughout the world. Institutional information published on the Web by NMSU units must meet certain basic standards and represent the university in a coherent and appropriate manner.

University Communications, which is responsible for coordinating information and publications about the university (Section II, General Services, Administrative Policies and Procedures Manual), will format and maintain top-level New Mexico State University home pages -- the main university home page and the second tier of pages linked to it. University Communications will provide guidelines for pages produced by other university units and will act as a resource for other university units in publishing information electronically.
Information & Communication Technologies is the university's provider of integrated information service through computing and networking technology (Section IV, Academic Services, AP&P Manual). Information & Communication Technologies will provide the technical support to help university clients provide and access information on the Web.

Objectives

The university's Web guidelines are intended to provide a framework for providing university information in a consistent and user-friendly manner, while allowing flexibility for university departments and personnel who publish information that is linked to the university's home page. The guidelines are built upon certain basic expectations: to assure the accuracy of information, maintain the currency of information, assure continuing support of the server, and develop page content that supports the university's mission.
The guidelines are intended to apply to the publication of institutional information on the World Wide Web. They should not be seen as restricting or inhibiting the use of the Web for academic purposes. All uses of this resource are subject to the NMSU Information & Communication Technologies General Use Policy. Instances of inappropriate use will be referred to the appropriate administrative unit.

General Guidelines

NMSU Identity

• Any use of the official New Mexico State University logo should be consistent with the standards established for the logo in the NMSU Graphic Standards Manual. Digital versions of the logo for Web use are available.
• University colleges, departments and other units will make their Web pages readily identifiable as NMSU pages.
  

Web Page Content and Maintenance

• Colleges and departments are responsible for preparing and maintaining their own Web pages. The information should be accurate, current and useful.
• Each college or department that publishes a Web page will designate a staff/faculty person to be responsible for maintaining the accuracy and currency of the information published.
• Each Web page will be "signed" with an e-mail address so users can contact someone responsible for maintenance of the page, to send comments or request information.
• Each page also will be dated as to its latest revision. This can be done unobtrusively with a line at the bottom of the page, such as: "Last modified 02-15-96."
• Each home page for a department, college or other unit will contain a link back to the NMSU home page.

Accessibility

All NMSU pages should be in compliance with Americans with Disabilities Act requirements regarding accessibility. Guidelines for designing pages to increase their accessibility to users with disabilities can be found at the Trace Resource and Development Center's Web site. Departments may consult Information & Communication Technologies for technical assistance.

Student organizations

The university will provide links, through the "Campus Life" page, to student organizations that are registered with the Student Affairs Division. Each organization should identify a person as its Web coordinator, who will be responsible for the content of material published on the Web.

Personal home pages

The university is not responsible for the content of personal home pages. A disclaimer to this effect should appear at the top of any menu for personal home pages. The following disclaimer is suggested: "The following pages are not official New Mexico State University pages. Comments on these pages should be directed to the page authors."

Copyright

The New Mexico State University WWW site has been created by many different members of the NMSU community using materials from various sources. Users of the NMSU site should proceed with the assumption that these electronically published materials are protected by U.S. copyright law. The university requires users to make use of these materials for nonprofit educational purposes in accordance with the fair-use provisions of copyright law. Users should seek permission from the copyright owner for all other uses. To identify the copyright owner, please contact the webmaster of the page with the desired material. For other questions about NMSU home pages or availability of material on those pages, contact University Communications, (505) 646-3221.

Advertising and Sponsorships
All pages will comply with NMSU Information & Communication Technologies General Use Policies. Units may acknowledge contributors or sponsors on any pages, including specially designated sponsors' pages. Recognition of sponsors can include, but not go beyond, use of their logos, logo types, nameplates or names, brief phrase describing their business, and a link to their own WWW sites.