FIU Web best practices – Part 2: Site content

Continuing from last weeks part 1 of FIU web best practices we will start part 2 which will cover site content.

Site Content

Each department / unit that publishes information on an official University website is responsible for maintaining factually accurate content and currency of information, to the extent reasonably possible.

• All websites must be reviewed and updated as necessary at least once each semester or as often as necessary to maintain the accuracy of all posted content.
• Websites that contain out-of-date content should remove the outdated content and/or make necessary corrections
• Site administrators should verify that all links are accurate and working. Recheck links regularly to make sure they are still operating.
• Site administrators should take steps to make the older, obsolete versions of web pages / websites (usually replaced during the normal maintenance of site content) invisible to the indexing system. Ultimately, unnecessary web pages / websites if possible should be deleted to conserve disk space and reduce maintenance confusion unless necessary to a particular purpose.
• All code/markup should be tested for valid HTML and free from any errors according to W3C Recommendations. (A free code validator is available at http://validator.w3.org/)
• All Official university websites must present information using the highest editorial standards (spelling, punctuation, grammar, style, etc.).
• All units should adhere to the latest edition of The AP Stylebook as well as the exceptions as published in the FIU Editorial Guidelines or discipline-specific style guides.
• Units should link any information on their home page that exists in original form elsewhere on the Web (e.g., student handbook, campus map, directions to campus) to its original source, rather than copying it. This reduces duplication and helps ensure consistency and accuracy.
• Site administrators should consider utilizing appropriate links to university-wide resources (calendar, email, campus maps, phonebook, etc).
• Copyrighted material may not be used on any FIU website without permission of the copyright owner. This includes clipart, photographic images, video, audio, content, papers and other copyrightable materials.
• In those instances in which a web page seeks to capture the name or likeness of an individual’s, consent should generally be obtained if the use is for trade, promotional or advertising purposes.  There are a number of situations, however, where it may not be necessary to obtain an individuals consent, such as when the information is provided as part of a news report or a presentation having a current and legitimate public interest where a person’s name or likeness is not used for advertising purposes; or where a person appears in a photograph solely as a member of the public and where such person is not named or otherwise identified.  If you have any questions as to whether consent is required in any particular case, please contact the Vice President for External Relations or the Office of General Counsel.
• The University’s Digital Millennium Copyright Policy (http://compliance.fiu.edu/dmca.htm) provides that for those websites/webpages in which the University is a content-neutral Internet service provider, the University will use the notice procedures contained in the statute to address alleged copyright violations and will attempt to secure the voluntary take-down of infringing work or disable access to the site.
• All materials produced by FIU personnel on official pages of the FIU website are protected by copyright and shall be owned in accordance with the University’s Works and Copyrightable Materials policy and the Inventions and Works (UFF) policy, except as may be otherwise specified in writing.
• When updating website urls of sites or files, please attempt to notify others whose websites that reply on those urls or files in order to fix linking problems.
• Web pages must follow the FIU branding guidelines. Approved FIU branding can be found at http://logos.fiu.edu.
• Display clear identification of FIU on the top-level pages of each website. The preferred means of identification is to display an official FIU logo (see http://logos.fiu.edu).
• The FIU name, seal, logo, and other official images are property of FIU, and may not be used without permission of the Office of External Relations.

FIU Web Communications is a full service web team that provides support and consulting for departments at FIU. If you need help in implementing any of your web needs, please contact us.

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