Web Policies
The World Wide Web is an integral part
of Macalester College's educational program. In addition, the Web
is an important tool for the administration of the College and is
critical to its external relations. For all these reasons, Macalester
commits to maintaining an excellent Web service and enabling all members
of the community to use it effectively. On their part, community members
will abide by reasonable agreements ensuring the continuing viability
of the service as a shared resource.
In most respects, issues of Web use
are conceived within the framework of existing College policies and
procedures. These are found in the Student,
Staff and Faculty Handbooks and include policies on Community Standards,
Harassment, Copying and Dispute Resolution. Whenever possible, guidance
will be sought by College wide policy and their recommended resolution
will be followed. In many cases, of course, a unique interpretation
of existing policy must be made for a Web-related issue.
Content - Required Elements for Department Pages
Templates
for department pages are available in order to provide a frame of
reference for required elements. The following elements are required
to appear on the main (top-level) page for all department pages on
campus:
- E-mail link for page maintainer
- Date last updated
- Department name
- Link back to Macalester main home page
- Text version of all links
It is recommended, but not required, that a faculty member or department
administrative assistant be designated the page maintainer. At minimum
the person responsible should be a permanent member of the College
staff/faculty.
Web Site Quality Control and Policy Enforcement
Link maintenance is an essential component
of overall Web site management. The Web Coordinator will prepare and
make available to departments reports detailing broken links. Repair
of broken links is the responsibility of the page maintainer for that
department. Department web sites with a high percentage of unrepaired
broken links will be reviewed by the Web Coordinator and may be brought
to the attention of the Web Management team.
The Web Coordinator will review department
web sites to check for required elements at least once per semester.
Departments that fail to include required elements will be contacted
by the Web Coordinator and a timeframe for completing the necessary
changes will be worked out. The Web Coordinator may offer assistance
to departments needing help with incorporating required elements into
their Web sites. If, upon follow-up review the required elements are
still not present, the Web Coordinator will consult with the Web Management
Team and may make the necessary changes to the page(s).
Archival Copies
Backup files currently exist for the Web server. However, these backups
do not constitute a history of the development of the campus Web site.
The campus Web site will be regularly copied and stored on a CD ROM
disc in the library Archives. The Library Archivist will be responsible
for downloading the department home pages three times a year — January,
May, and September. We will keep these records indefinitely. In addition
to the electronic copy, a printed copy of the main campus page will
be made prior to each update which usually occurs approximately every
two weeks. These printed copies will reside in Archives as well.
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