Required elements for official EMU web sites

Designers of official sites at EMU are asked to use the official EMU templates, or to design their sites adhering closely to the template concepts, in consultation with the director of Web Communications. The goal is that all EMU web sites will present a professional, cohesive, user-centered experience for everyone who visits the sites.

Web developers beginning official web projects at EMU should contact the director of Web Communications to discuss the scope and plans for their web site development. This communication will facilitate a smooth process for site development and implementation.

The elements below are required on all official EMU web sites. Please contact the director of Web Communications if you have questions about any of the following elements.

Administrative Sites | Academic and Auxiliary Sites | Elements NOT to Include

Required for administrative sites

It is important for administrative sites to contain specific elements of similarity, to present a unified look and feel to this core component of the University's web presence. Administrative sites include the University's non-academic operations that are not auxiliary (auxiliary sites include such entities as the EMU Foundation, the EMU radio station, EMU Convocation Center, and so on).

• All official sites must be hosted on EMU servers, with URLs in the emich domain (see the domain names section of the Site Organization and Structure page for details). Contact the ICT department if you have questions about site hosting.
• Site templates should be used as provided, or modified minimally to accommodate specific area needs. All modifications to the official site design must conform to the template concepts, so there is a "family look" to all EMU sites. The "family look" includes the top green "bar" containing the EMU signature, as well as concepts such as the general navigation, the color palette, the stylesheet components, and the graphical presentation. Site developers wishing to modify the templates should contact the director of Web Communications before doing so.
• On all pages of your site, the title bar (the very top of the browser window, above the web page itself) must include the University's name. It can be spelled out as Eastern Michigan University or abbreviated to EMU.
• On your site's home page, the University "footer" or "masthead" must be present, containing the University's name, city / state, and main contact number. You should also include the following set of links: EMU Home, Contact EMU, Site Map, Directories, Calendars, My.emich, and Search.
• On your site's home page only, there must be a link to an e-mail address for your current site administrator. We recommend that you not use the person's name, but rather include a link such as this: Contact the site administrator, or something similar ("webmaster" is acceptable). This information must be kept current and accurate.
• On your site's home page, there must be a clearly-labeled link to the EMU home page. This can be included as part of the footer / masthead.
• On all pages of your site, there must be a link to your site's home page (designed or labeled so it is distinguishable from the front-page link to the EMU home page).
• All pages of your site should reflect basic accessibility standards.
• Understand that as a site developer, you are personally responsible for the following:

1. Ensuring that your site complies with applicable EMU standards, policies and guidelines (located on and linked from this web site).
2. Ensuring that the content (including text, graphics, all elements) of your site does not violate any copyright.
3. Keeping written permission on file for any photos of people.
4. Keeping written parental permission on file for any photos of children under age 16.
5. Gaining approval for your site's content from your dean or area director.
6. Gaining approval from the director of Web Communications before launching your newly-designed / restructured site.
7. Protecting your server access from unauthorized use.
8. Ensuring that your site remains current, accurate, and a positive reflection of the EMU mission and strategic objectives. (When you complete your responsibilities for site development, you are required to turn the maintenance duties over to the next person charged with this responsibility. If no such person has been designated to succeed you, you must immediately inform both your dean and the director of Web Communications.)
9. Ensuring that your site, and all directories/subdirectories that comprise your site, remain free of any files or data of any kind that are not directly and currently a part of your official EMU web site.

Required for academic and auxiliary sites

Academic sites include official EMU College sites or academic program sites only. Auxiliary sites are official sites that include such entities as the EMU Foundation, the EMU radio station, the EMU Convocation Center, etc. If you have a question about whether your site is academic, auxiliary or administrative (or unofficial--"none of the above"), contact the director of Web Communications.

• All official sites must be hosted on EMU servers, with URLs in the emich domain (see the domain names section of the Site Organization and Structure page for details). Contact the ICT department if you have questions about site hosting.
• Design must conform to the template concepts, so there is a "family look" to all EMU sites. This generally includes template elements such as the top green "bar" containing the EMU signature, the constituent navigation bar, the color palette, the stylesheet components, the graphical presentation, and other elements. There is room for creativity within these concepts; please consult with the director of Web Communications for individual sites.
• On all pages of your site, the title bar (the very top of the browser window, above the web page itself) must include the University's name. It can be spelled out as Eastern Michigan University or abbreviated to EMU.
• On your site's home page, the content of the University "footer" or "masthead" must be present: the University's name, city / state, and main contact number. You should also include the following set of links: EMU Home, Contact EMU, Site Map, Directories, Calendars, My.emich, and Search.
• On your site's home page only, there must be a link to an e-mail address for your current site administrator. We recommend that you not use the person's name, but rather include a link such as this: Contact the site administrator. This information must be kept current and accurate.
• On your site's home page, there must be a clearly-labeled link to the EMU home page. This can be included as part of the footer / masthead.
• On all pages of your site, there must be a link to your site's home page (designed or labeled so it is distinguishable from the front-page link to the EMU home page).
• All pages of your site should reflect basic accessibility standards.
• Understand that as a site developer, you are personally responsible for the following:

1. Ensuring that your site complies with applicable EMU standards, policies and guidelines (located on and linked from this web site).
2. Ensuring that the content (including text, graphics, all elements) of your site does not violate any copyright.
3. Keeping written permission on file for any photos of people.
4. Keeping written parental permission on file for any photos of children under age 16.
5. Gaining approval for your site's content from your dean or area director.
6. Gainining approval for academic program materials from the Provost's Office (or designee).
7. Gaining approval from the director of Web Communications before launching your newly-designed / restructured site.
8. Protecting your server access from unauthorized use.
9. Ensuring that your site remains current, accurate, and a positive reflection of the EMU mission and strategic objectives. (When you complete your responsibilities for site development, you are required to turn the maintenance duties over to the next person charged with this responsibility. If no such person has been designated to succeed you, you must immediately inform both your dean and the director of Web Communications.)
10. Ensuring that your site, and all directories/subdirectories that comprise your site, remain free of any files or data of any kind that are not directly and currently a part of your official EMU web site.

Elements NOT to include

There are certain elements that detract from the user experience, and from the professionalism of your site's presentation. Please do not include the following on your web site:

• Do not include: Individual dates or other specifically time-sensitive information on web pages, unless you are thoroughly prepared to update them EVERY day, or unless you have an automated method for daily updates. It is important to maintain completely updated information.
• Do not include: The site administrator's name on every page of your site. A reference to the site administrator (not recommended by name) is recommended on the front page only. At deeper site levels, it can be hard to maintain this information accurately, and it is also unnecessary.
• Do not include: Distracting design elements, such as flashing .gifs, blinking text, background images, super-saturated (very bright) colors, huge or tiny text sizes, looped sound files, etc.
• Do not include: any non-EMU advertising, promotions or commercial activity. These activities are prohibited in the emich domain, because it is a .edu domain. (For information about domain names, review the section on Official Web Sites or contact the director of Web Communications. EMU is subject to specific restrictions regarding domain names in the dot-edu domain; i.e. no dot-com URLs, etc.)
• Do not include: any files or data of any kind that are not directly and currently a part of your official EMU web site (even if they are not linked on the site).
• Do not include: Frames, Flash-only navigation, etc. Further information is here.
• For other specific guidelines concerning good design and elements to avoid, please see the General Site Standards page.

Questions about this site should be referred to the director of Web Communications.