Information Technology and Telecommunications Services

Proposed Content Guidelines

These proposed guidelines outline some basic content requirements for academic and administrative unit Web pages. The guide also identifies suggested content guidelines for student organization and faculty Web pages, along with University logo requirements for these pages.

Since the focus is on improving the Web site to make it a more effective tool for marketing and recruitment, FSU’s primary audience for the Web site is prospective students. With this thought, the new home page is geared towards prospective students, and additional audience-based pages are designed to address the needs of current students, faculty and staff, alumni, and other community visitors. Navigation is designed so that users can find needed information easily, and Web page templates provide for consistency and continuity in look and feel as well as navigation throughout the site. User audiences should never have to question whether they are still on FSU’s Web site or if they have been directed elsewhere. In addition, the Web page templates insure that FSU’s Web site meets Priority 1 ADA Web Accessibility Standards.

All University units should regularly review and update their Web pages, and any outdated information should be removed promptly.

Content Requirements and Navigation

In order to insure consistency, completeness of information, and a positive end user experience, the content requirements and navigation structure outlined below are minimal requirements for University Web pages. While units may add additional links to pages providing information and services particular to their unit, they may not deviate from this basic content and navigation structure.

Keeping Content Current

Not only should the content on a Web page be concise and easy to scan, the information must be current and correct. Nothing is more frustrating to a user than to find out that the information they are relying on is incorrect. It will affect the audience’s perception on the reliability and credibility of Fayetteville State University. This is why reviewing and updating content on the Web site must be completed at least once each semester.

News and Events and other Time-Sensitive Content
Time-sensitive content may need to be reviewed even more often. Units with News and Events boxes should review their Web pages on a daily or weekly basis to ensure that only the most current information is being displayed. Events that have already occurred should be removed from the Web page immediately after the event has taken place.

Highlight Boxes
Highlight boxes should be updated, at a minimum, once each semester. While academic and administrative units are encouraged to select a topic to highlight on their Web page, they should work with the Office of Public Information to obtain photos and assist with writing the text for the highlight box to ensure continuity of highlight boxes throughout the site.

Metadata
Metadata is a set of terms used to classify and identify content. Metadata is the core of the CMS and is what the CMS uses in order to create workflow, to create dynamic Web pages, and to track content and its use in multiple locations within a Web site. An example of the metadata descriptors that would be attached to a math curriculum page would include the title of the page, keywords associated with the content on the page, and the college and department owning the page. Metadata requirements will be attached to all Web content and must be completed in order to publish the Web page.

Extranet

FSU’s extranet consists of web pages that are for general public and campus consumption and are visible to anyone on the Internet. These pages must be visually appealing and promote a positive image of FSU.

Intranet

FSU’s intranet (iNside FSU) consists of web pages that generally pertain to the operation of FSU and have restricted access. Generally these pages require a login and password in order to access the files. Even though these pages have restricted access, they still should present a professional and positive image of the University to the people who use them.