Web Policy & Guidelines

The Internet and the explosion of electronic communication through the World Wide Web now enable McNeese State University to extend its message to a larger audience than any other form of communication presently available.

McNeese State University's Home Page on the World Wide Web is considered a "publication," and as such, it should present a unified presence in both design and content, and all information on the Home Page must be accurate, maintained, and updated.

To ensure consistency and accuracy, the MSU Home Page will be administered through the MSU Office of Media Services, as are other University publications that are designed for and distributed to external audiences, and Media Services will have primary responsibility for the Home Page.

Academic, non-academic, administrative, and athletic units, as well as other official MSU organizations, are eligible for inclusion in the MSU Home Page. Only approved University information will be posted on the Home Page. The MSU Home Page and links are not intended for commercial use.

The main menu categories and subcategories will be developed and approved by Media Services. Home pages for all academic and non-academic units will be located on the official server and must adhere to the official MSU Web Page Policy. There will be no links to other McNeese servers from the official Home Page.

Individual faculty, staff, and student home pages will be located on a server in the College of Science Academic Computing Center. These sites will be referenced through a separate Uniform Resource Locator (URL) http://www.faculty.mcneese.edu and http://www.students.mcneese.edu and the official MSU Web Page Policy will not apply to these sites. A disclaimer will be placed on the site stating that these are not official MSU web pages.

Additionally, each individual faculty, staff, or student web site must contain the following statement: "The content of this page is the sole responsibility of {the author's name}. McNeese State University assumes no responsibility for any content of this page and the views expressed therein are those of {the author's name} and do not necessarily represent the views of McNeese State University."

A stylesheet and graphics for the Home Page, main menu, and secondary pages will be created by Media Services. The Office of Media Services will provide assistance and support with text, graphics, and photographs. Statistical information must be verified by the appropriate dean or vice president before it will be included on a page.

Page Design and Content
Individual units are responsible for developing their own pages. Faculty and staff who create their own department's official page must have the approval of their dean, department head, or director. Once the page is completed and approved by the Office of Media Services, it will be added to the server in the appropriate category. Changes to these pages, other than informational updates, must be submitted to the Office of Media Services for review.

Departments or organizations will be notified of any problems in content or design that are discovered through random checks of pages by the Office of Media Services. If the problem is not corrected, the page will be removed from the server.

The same copyright regulations that apply to written materials will also apply to the Home Page and secondary pages. Copyrighted text, photographs, and graphics must not be placed on a page without permission of the author, photographer, or artist. A copy of this permission must be filed in the Office of Media Services.

Departmental Home Pages
Each department (academic and non-academic) is encouraged to develop a home page and to provide updated information for the page. The page should include information that would be of interest to the public and to potential students. Department heads should designate one person to maintain the page and that person's name and MSU e-mail address must be included on the page as well as the date of the last update. The department liaisons are responsible for:

gathering information for the page;
obtaining permission for copyrighted materials;
sending a copy of the page information to Media Services;
designing the page consistent with the stylesheet provided by Media Services;
ensuring that the information is kept up-to-date;
answering all questions concerning the department's page.
All of the information included on the department's home page should be coordinated through the Office of Media Services. For assistance in setting up the page (format, text, graphics, or photography) contact the Office of Media Services.

All pages maintained by individual departments must include a disclaimer statement and the following elements:
This page is designed and maintained by DEPARTMENT.
Direct comments or questions to: LIAISON ID AND MSU E-MAIL ADDRESS.
Statement of copyright and/or permissions granted if applicable.
Revision: DATE
http://Uniform Resource Locator (URL)

Organization Home Pages
Student organizations approved through the office of the vice president for administration and student affairs (or any other MSU organizations that obtain the appropriate approvals from the MSU administration) will be listed on the MSU Home Page and can request a link from the official MSU Home Page to the organization's page. Each organization is encouraged to develop a home page. The expected content for organizational pages includes basic information about the organization such as mission, bylaws, officers, meeting times and events, and qualifications for membership. Other information such as, but not limited to, advertising, political campaigning, on-line fund raising, or any unusual networking or server requirements will require an off-campus service provider.

All material on an organization's home page must comply with all applicable federal, state, and local laws and with the policies of the University.

The faculty/staff advisor or one member of the organization appointed by the advisor, must be designated to maintain and update the page, and that person's name and MSU e-mail address must be included on the page as well as the date of the last update. The faculty/staff advisor is ultimately responsible for all information on the organization's home page. The organization liaisons are responsible for:

gathering information for the page;
obtaining permission for copyrighted materials;
sending a copy of the page information to Media Services;
designing the page consistent with the stylesheet provided by Media Services;
ensuring that the information is kept up-to-date;
answering all questions concerning the organization's page.
All of the information included on the organization's home page should be coordinated through the Office of Media Services. For assistance in setting up the page (format, text, graphics, or photography) contact the webmaster@mail.mcneese.edu.

Pages maintained by organizations must include a disclaimer statement and the following elements:
This page is designed and maintained by ORGANIZATION.
Direct comments or questions to: LIAISON ID AND MSU E-MAIL ADDRESS.
Statement of copyright and/or permissions granted if applicable.
Revision: DATE
http://Uniform Resource Locator (URL)

Calendar of Events
The Office of Media Services will produce and maintain a monthly calendar of campus events for the Home Page. Departments and organizations should submit information for the calendar through the McNeese calendar by using the "add events" link on the calendar.  The event will be posted after review by the media department.

Policy Updates
This policy is subject to change and the University reserves the right to make any technical changes on the server as necessary. Users will be notified of changes or revisions in advance if possible.

If you have any questions concerning these guidelines, contact Candace V. Townsend, Director of Media Services, at (337) 475-5636. 

If you have any questions concerning the McNeese State University Home Page,  e-mail webmaster@mail.mcneese.edu.