VICE PRESIDENT FOR FINANCE & OPERATIONS
TWAMLEY HALL ROOM 314
264 CENTENNIAL DRIVE STOP 8378
GRAND FORKS ND 58208-8378
(701) 777-3511
FAX (701) 777-4082
Date:
Dec. 14, 2012
To:
President’s Cabinet
From:
Peter Johnson, Executive Associate Vice President for University Relations
RE:
Policy Impact Statement – University Website
This impact statement is submitted for your review and input. It was prepared by Tera Buckley,
Web Managing Editor in the Office of University Relations. Your input will help determine
whether or not we should move forward in developing a policy for the University website.
Currently, decisions about the University’s main website are made without the benefit of specific
policy. Rather, decisions are based on a number of factors, including collective agreement, a
sense of best practices, adherence to long-held practices, and a determination of what seems to
logically benefit specific situations. The need for a policy has become more urgent. By June 30,
2013, the University will decommission a Web server that now hosts UND and non-UND
websites. An example of the later is the home site for a financial aid organization, to which
UND belongs, but which UND does not own. A policy will help the University determine what
– if any – non-UND websites might appropriately be moved to another UND server. A policy
will also help ensure that UND sites now on the server are adapted to comply with the new UND
Identity Guidelines before they are moved to a new server UND website.
If the Cabinet is agreeable, the Office of University Relation will take the lead in creating a
broad-based committee charged with developing a University website policy. University
Relations has already held one meeting with representatives from areas such as Academic
Affairs, Research and Economic Development, IT, etc., to discuss the need for such a policy. All
involved agree that UND needs a University Website policy. The committee would develop a
policy document with the guidance of the F&O Policy Office. Prior to being sent for campus
comment, the document will be reviewed by the newly expanded Policy Advisory Group
(includes representation from all vice president divisions and EERC). Upon completion of the
drafting process, the policy document will return to Cabinet for final discussion and submission
to the President for approval.
Please note that the only existing Web policy was approved by President Charles Kupchella in
March 2001. It specifies:
“Every site will have a standard banner, http://www.und.edu/dept/our/newtop.html, at the
top of each page affiliated with UND. Faculty home pages and student organizations are
exempt from this requirement. Each web page must also contain contact information at
the bottom, consisting of a contact name (either department or individual), full e-mail
address, mailing address, and telephone number.”
This policy is no longer valid and is outdated.