Web Site Standards and Practices
Web Sites | DoIT

Please note: This document is currently under revision.

Approved unanimously by the Web Editors Committee and ITSC, February 2003.

Roosevelt University Web Site Standards and Practices

1. It shall be the responsibility of the Web Editors Committee (WEC) to recommend design standards and usage and management policies for all University Web sites. Policies and standards recommended by the WEC will be directed to the University administrator responsible for managing the University’s Web sites, currently the Associate Provost for Academic Technology (APAT), who will be responsible for securing their approval from the ITSC. The University Webmaster will be responsible for their implementation. All standards, practices, and policies must be consistent with the University’s Computer and Network Usage Policy.

2. The APAT will be responsible for publishing and posting current standards, practices, and policies. Posting to the University Intranet will constitute compliance with this publishing requirement.

Standards and Practices for Roosevelt University Web Sites

University Academic Program and Administrative Office Web sites

Common features

• Page titles will start with the words “Roosevelt University -” and include the appropriate title of the page.
• All web pages will share the three included files that comprise the header, the left-side navigation bar, and the copyright statement at the bottom of the page.
• HTML size 2 (or 10 pt) black type for all body text. HTML size 3 (or 12-14 pt) black bold type for headlines. All body text should be set in the Verdana typeface. The appropriate HTML font code is <font face="Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif">. Arial, Helvetica, and generic sans-serif should be specified as alternatives.
• Headings and headlines should be flush left.
• Below the header (provided by the “header.htm” include page) the page will be set in a table, 715 pixels wide, divided into two columns. The left column will be 155 pixels wide and will only contain the include page “otherlinks.htm”. The right column will be 555 pixels wide and will contain the page’s title and content. The bottom cell, spanning the above two columns, will be 715 pixels wide and will contain the “copyright.htm” include page.
• All pages’ background and links color will be specified by the “links.css” style sheet. An appropriate reference to this style sheet will be included in the head of each page.
• No text should be underlined. Use of bold and italic in body text should be avoided.
• Only University standard logos should be used (the Webmaster should be consulted for information and access to standard logo files).
  Only approved university stock photos should be used and sized at 140 by 210 pixels.
• Standard navigation arrows should be placed at the bottoms of pages of subsites with multiple pages or complex hierarchies.
• Other intra-site navigational devices may be used with the approval of the Webmaster and WEC.

General features

• Do not use frames.
• Do not use "under construction" messages.
• Use of animated gifs should be minimized.
• Pages may not contain commercial advertisements or links to web pages in which University community members have significant financial interest.
• File names should be all lower case and not include spaces. Words in file names should be separated with hyphens (most recommended) or underscores (less recommended).
• All images used must either be property of Roosevelt University or the user must have written permission for its use on the Roosevelt University web site.

Appearance review. All sites within the public web site are subject to an appearance review by the Webmaster or APAT or WEC. Pages not passing the review will be revised or removed from the site. Final decision rests with the APAT.

Timeliness review. Sites must be up-to-date and timely. All sites within the public Web site are subject to a timeliness review by the Webmaster, or APAT, or WEC. Pages not passing the review will be revised or removed from the site. Final decision rests with the APAT.

Outside maintenance. Any contracts with outside designers or content providers must be approved and coordinated by the Webmaster and APAT.

Faculty Web sites

• Web sites of individual full-time faculty members may only be used to advance the University’s mission through teaching/instruction, scholarship, and community and professional service.
• Web sites of adjunct instructors may only be used for teaching/instruction.
  Faculty Web sites may not be used to promote commercial ventures.
• Only University standard logos may be used to identify Roosevelt University.
• Every faculty home page must contain a link to the University’s public Web site.
• Use of common University navigational elements is recommended but not required.
• All Faculty Web sites must conform to the University’s Computer and Network Usage Policy.

Web sites for Institutes, Centers, and affiliated entities

Web sites for Institutes and Centers other entities that are either part of the university, financed by the University, or linked to from the University public Web site are subject to appearance review by the Webmaster, APAT, and the WEC. Sites not passing the review will be revised or removed from the site.

Any site carrying a standard University logo or representing itself as affiliated with Roosevelt University must be authorized to do so by the APAT and will be subject to review by the WEC. Sites not passing the review will be revised or must discontinue use of University logos and remove all representations of University affiliation.

Web sites for Institutes, Centers, and affiliated entities are encouraged, but not required to follow the standards, policies, and practices that regulate sites of University academic programs and University administrative offices. Sites not using the standard university design described in this document will not receive design support from the Webmaster.