2016 UVI Website Policy page 1 UVI Website Policy www.uvi.edu December 2016 Web Policy Sections 1. Purpose & Scope ........................................................................................3 2. Governance ................................................................................................3 3. Statements & Disclosures ..........................................................................4 4. Content Development & Maintenance Best Practices ...............................5 5. UVI.edu Microsites ....................................................................................5 6. myUVI.net Professional Webpages ...........................................................6 7. Externally Hosted UVI Websites ................................................................7 8. Accessibility .......................................................................................... 8-12 9. Assessment ............................................................................................. 12 10. Violations ........................................................................................... 12-14 Appendix 1. Role & Responsibility of Public Relations ................................................ 15 2. Role & Responsibility of the Webmaster ................................................. 16 3. Role & Responsibility of the Website Committee ..................................... 17 4. Role & Responsibility of Website Content Contributors ..................... 18-19 5. Web Content Accessibility Guidelines 2.0 Checklist .......................... 20-25 6. Web Writing Style Guide .......................................................................... 26 7. Glossary ............................................................................................ 27-28 8. Resources & Tools .................................................................................. 29 2016 UVI Website Policy page 2 UVI Website Policy The University of the Virgin Islands (UVI) recognizes the value and potential of web technologies to communicate UVI’s excellent teaching, innovative research, and responsive community service to the public. UVI is committed to making its websites and other electronic information and services accessible to all, regardless of disability. Faculty, staff, students and all units are encouraged to take full advantage of the UVI website to assist the University in accomplishing its mission and vision. A Website Committee was formed in December 2012 to research best practices, audit content, and host focus groups to ensure the website holistically represented the mission and vision of the University. The University’s Public Relations Office and Website Committee worked collaboratively to launch a new website through a comprehensive website redesign and content auditing process. The overall branding, functionality and appearance of the website was managed by the Public Relations Office. The UVI website utilizes modern layout, universal responsive design, ISO/IEC 40500:2012 compliance, enhanced content, improved navigation, social media and multimedia integration, electronic submission forms, Google internal search engine, Google Analytics website traffic analysis, Google eForms, Cascade Server content management system and Spectate web marketing tools. The UVI homepage welcomes and serves as the primary institutional information finder for internal and external stakeholders. Information presented on the website is organized in five formats: audience based navigation, task based navigation, departments/units, directories, and search results. Contributing Authors: • Bailey, Donald - Research and Public Service Representative • Castillo, Bernard* – Faculty Representative • Farrelly, Nanyamka* - Public Relations Director • Jackson, Dionne* - Vice President for Institutional Advancement • Koopmans, Tina – Vice President for Information Technology Services and Assessment • Metz, Gary* - Institutional Advancement Representative • McKayle, Camille – Provost & Vice President of Academic Affairs • Mills, Natasha* - Access and Enrollment Services Representative • Neaves, Mitchell – Interim Vice President for Institutional Advancement • Pascal, Tyrone* - Student Representative • Pinkett, Moneca - Webmaster • Polydore Simon, Caroline - Microsite Representative • Sanchez, Aimee* - Outreach and Retention Representative 2016 UVI Website Policy page 3 • Schweizer, Amy* - Faculty Representative • Shorb, Justin* - Faculty Representative • Thomas, Dannica - Information and Technology Services Representative • Towal, Patricia - Student Affairs Representative • Wheatley, Cherie* - Customer Service Representative • Wilkinson, Daricia* – Student Representative * former contributors to the previous versions of this policy 1. Purpose & Scope The purpose of this policy is to outline good and acceptable UVI website (http://www.uvi.edu including internally hosted uvi.edu microsites) publishing guidelines. These rules are in place to protect the consistency of the UVI brand and UVI information published online. Recommendations are included for externally hosted UVI websites, and UVI faculty and student websites hosted within http://sites.myuvi.net . 2. Governance The overall framework of the UVI website (www.uvi.edu) is managed by the Public Relations Office. The Public Relations Office maintains the UVI homepage, announcements, press releases, sitemap, contact us (services directory), search engine, About UVI, audience gateways, events calendar and Public Relations section of the UVI website. Under the supervision of the Director of Public Relations, the webmaster focuses on website security, internal navigation, audience gateways, website traffic, website speed, and workflow. In addition, the webmaster researches emerging technologies, trains content contributors, administers the website content management system, and chairs the Website Committee. Public Relations and Website Committee work closely together to communicate stakeholder needs, industry trends and resource allocation. The Website Committee is directly responsible for issues related to content, policy, accessibility, and connectivity for all web pages hosted within the uvi.edu content management system. The Website Committee is limited to ten members representing Institutional Advancement, Information and Technology Services, Research and Public Service, Student Affairs, and Access & Enrollment Services; committee positions are also reserved for a faculty representative, student representative, and the webmaster, chair of the committee. The President, Provost, Vice President for Information Technology Services and Assessment, and Vice President for Institutional Advancement provide administrative and advisory support. 2016 UVI Website Policy page 4 Using shared governance and decentralized content development model, each UVI department, center, college, school and component is responsible for ensuring that their web presence accurately communicates information to their audience. A website content management system, Cascade Server, is in place to ensure that website updates are easy. The webmaster offers technical trainings and documentation (manuals) to assist departments in adding and editing content. Information about system updates, new content, and assessment results are shared each semester with all uvi.edu website content contributors and advisory committee members. UVI website requests should be directed to the webmaster by emailing webmaster@myuvi.net. 3. Statements & Disclosures The University of the Virgin Islands will not support, condone, or accept on its web pages activities that violate this web policy, other UVI policies, territorial laws, federal laws, activities that infringe on others’ rights and freedoms. Commercial and personal business activities are forbidden. This policy does not regulate content beyond what is stated by existing University policies: • Acceptable Use Policy • Brand Identity Style Guide • Faculty Policy Manual • Graduate Bulletin • Human Resource Policy • Sexual Harassment Policy • Student Code of Conduct • Student Handbook • Undergraduate Catalog Applicable territorial and federal laws: • Americans with Disability Act • Digital Millennium Copyright Act • Family Education Rights and Privacy Act (FERPA) • Federal Student Aid Consumer Information Disclosure Requirements • Rehabilitation Act • Student Right-to-Know and Campus Security (Clery) Act • Technology, Education and Copyright Harmonization Act 2016 UVI Website Policy page 5 • Telecommunications Act UVI is not responsible for unofficial University webpages, unofficial content contributors, unofficial web servers, and unofficial social media forums. The University reserves the right, however, to remove any web information, website, web server or any file on the UVI website that is found to be in violation of copyright laws, UVI policies and interests, or that is detrimental to the overall UVI brand. Unofficial webpages and social media sites may under no circumstances use the UVI logo or wordmark unless written permission is granted by the Director of Public Relations. The authority of this policy does not extend to externally hosted websites. This policy was developed using ISO/IEC 40500 which is exactly the same as WCAG 2.0. 4. Content Development & Maintenance The UVI website utilizes Cascade Server website content management system for browser-based, simplified content management. Each department/unit is responsible for content development and maintenance of its webpages on the UVI website and for complying with University web policies and guidelines. Maintenance in this context means keeping existing content current, adding new content when necessary, deleting obsolete content, and making corrections. The Website Committee recommends revisiting and updating webpages every 180 days. Employees and qualified students, with valid UVI email accounts, are responsible for the content and maintenance of their web pages and are required to comply with all University policies, including accessibility. Website content contributors are selected and approved by department leaders. These content contributors are trained in website publishing best practices. Content management responsibility includes managing text, search engine optimization (SEO), social media integration, multimedia integration, web marketing, web advertising strategies, and graphics. Valid file types include PDF, GIF, and JPG; for all others, contact the University webmaster. PDFs must be unlocked so the text can be highlighted and therefore interpreted by search engines, screen readers and other devices. Videos are best hosted in YouTube.com and streamed from uvi.edu. Sound files are best hosted in SoundCloud.com and streamed from uvi.edu. [See appendix for accessibility policy.] All web content must comply with the University’s Acceptable Use Policy which requires, among other things, compliance with intellectual property law. University content cannot contain copyrighted or trademarked material without permission except as permitted by law. Photographs, drawings, video clips, or sound clips may not be used without permission of the person who created the content or who owns the rights except as permitted by law. [See appendix for release forms.] 2016 UVI Website Policy page 6 Release Forms Departments are responsible for maintaining electronic copies of their completed photo, graphic, and video release forms. Forms with original signatures must be submitted to the Office of Public Relations within five business days of publishing the content online. Student Content Contributors Many students serve as excellent website content contributors. Students are encouraged to use their design and communication skills on the UVI website; however, all student content must be approved by a full-time UVI employee prior to online publishing. Workflow is a requirement for student website content contributors. Employee Directory The Human Resources Office adds and removes employees to the employee online directory (phone.uvi.edu). Once added, UVI faculty and staff can update their contact information (except for email address), expertise, research interests, office hours, webpage link, etc. Employee names, job titles and departments are managed by human resources. 5. UVI.edu Microsites The UVI Website Committee understands the need for custom design elements for a targeted audience. University website content management system supports customized and unique website template designs for auxiliary units. Custom designs are available upon request. Authorized microsite content contributors have the ability to make changes to pages at anytime from anywhere utilizing UVI’s website content management system. During web publishing trainings, content contributors learn how to modify existing pages and can approve proposed changes. In addition, microsite content contributors are able to modify menus, pages, and widgets. Each microsite receives website content management system account access, custom internal Google search engine, web publishing training, Content Contributor User Manual, and Google Analytics website traffic reports. Subdomain names (for example, cell.uvi.edu) are restricted to websites hosted within the UVI website content management system. All microsites must take full responsibility for their content contributions. All UVI microsites must include the following content: • Header Requirements  UVI logo with link to www.uvi.edu and UVI wordmark in the upper left corner  Title of the website, department, center or institute 2016 UVI Website Policy page 7  University header navigation • Body Requirements  Director’s contact information (name, address, phone number and e mail)  Name and email address of the site manager • Footer Requirements  Copyright notice with a copyright symbol (©) in the lower left corner  Sitemap link 6. Recommendations for myUVI.net Webpages UVI is committed to protecting the rights of students and employees to intellectual and academic freedom of expression and free academic inquiry and discovery. With this intellectual and academic freedom, individuals must in turn respect the rights of other individuals, respect the integrity of the systems and related physical resources, and observe all relevant policies, laws, regulations, and contractual obligations. UVI does not offer personal or professional webpages under the uvi.edu domain. However, the University through the Information and Technology Services component has developed a system to support employee and student professional webpages, blogs, and portfolios. In accordance with the Acceptable Use Policy, employee and student webpages can be hosted via Google and ITS’s http://sites.myuvi.net service. To request a myUVI.net web page, contact ITS by emailing helpdesk@uvi.edu. Employees are welcome to post their biography, research, outreach, courseware, and professional information online in a myuvi.net website. Information posted online leaves an Internet trail that is essentially permanent. Users are encouraged to carefully consider communicating in clear, complete, and concise messages. Take full responsibility for your content contributions. Do not post or share someone else’s material without the owner’s permission. Delete or transfer the site before you leave UVI. 7. Recommendations for Externally Hosted UVI Websites The UVI logo, wordmark and color scheme are to be evident on all externally hosted webpages. Externally hosted websites are funded and managed by their respective units and not eligible for uvi.edu subdomain names. Externally hosted websites must adhere to Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973, Section 508 of the Americans with Disabilities Act, University policies, territorial laws, and federal laws [see section 8]. Externally hosted UVI websites must adhere to the UVI Branding Style Guide for color 2016 UVI Website Policy page 8 scheme, typeface and page layout options. Each externally hosted website is responsible for maintaining their content, website, domain name, cybersecurity, analytics, accessibility, user testing, and system documentation. For externally hosted webpages, a prudent attempt must be made to achieve compliance by September 30, 2016. All webpages should be revisited and updated every 180 days with clear, complete, and concise information. Any member of a project, group, organization or other unit that has a website affiliated with UVI is responsible for the content and maintenance of its own website, and for complying with the established UVI web and other policies. Management of the site by a representative of that area is mandatory. All externally hosted UVI websites must include the following: • Header Requirements  In the upper left corner, UVI logo and UVI wordmark with links to www.uvi.edu  Title of the website, department, center or institute  Search microsite  Search all UVI content • Body Requirements  Director’s name, title, phone number, email address, mailing address, and office location (including building, floor, and room #)  Site manager’s name and email address • Footer Requirements  In the lower left corner, copyright notice with a copyright symbol (©)  UVI mission statement  Sitemap link Externally hosted websites are strongly encouraged to migrate their existing graphics and text to UVI’s official website content management system. UVI website surfers should be able to search for all website content on the www.uvi.edu and link to appropriate information without leaving the UVI domain. Also, UVI Internet traffic analytics should include all hits and link referrals. Presentations, demonstrations, trainings and custom designs are available for support auxiliaries migrating back to the uvi.edu domain. 8. Accessibility Requirements University of the Virgin Islands is committed to providing equal access to web-based information in accordance with Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973 and Section 508 of the Americans with Disabilities Act. In addition, this policy satisfies 2016 UVI Website Policy page 9 minimal accessibility standards for web pages as defined by the World Wide Web Consortium (W3C), http://www.w3.org. An accessible website is one that can be navigated and understood by everyone, regardless of disability. Making a website accessible means applying specific web development standards in order to make web content perceivable, operable, understandable, flexible, and robust. Each externally hosted website is responsible for identifying how to implement and maintain accessibility. All internally hosted and new web pages are responsible for satisfying these requirements effective immediately. For externally hosted webpages, a prudent attempt must be made to achieve compliance by September 30, 2016. 508 Standards for Webpages: (A) A text equivalent for every non-text element shall be provided (for example, "alt", "longdesc", or in element content). a. Every image, applet, embedded media, plug-in, etc. that conveys content has equivalent alternative text (alt, longdesc, or in the element context). b. The alternative text succinctly describes the content conveyed by the element, without being too verbose (for simple objects) or too vague (for complex objects). c. Complex graphics (graphs, charts, etc.) are accompanied by equivalent text, either through a description in the body of the page, a link to a description on a separate page, and/or the longdesc attribute. d. Images that have a function (images within links, image buttons, and image map areas) have alternative text which describes the associated function. e. Decorative graphics are CSS background images or have null/empty alt values (alt=” “). Images with text alternatives in element content are given empty alt text to avoid redundancy. f. Transcripts are provided for audio content. (B) Equivalent alternatives for any multimedia presentation shall be synchronized with the presentation. a. Video and audio broadcasts must have synchronized captions. b. Audio description tracks are preferred but not required for video. (C) Web pages shall be designed so that all information conveyed with color is also available without color, for example from context or markup. a. Color is not used solely to convey important information. b. Sufficient contrast is provided. (D) Documents shall be organized so they are readable without requiring an associated style sheet. 2016 UVI Website Policy page 10 a. Style sheets may be used for layout, but the document is still readable and understandable (even if less visually appealing) when the style sheet is turned off. (E) Redundant text links shall be provided for each active region of a server-side image map. (F) Client-side image maps shall be provided instead of server-side image maps except where the regions cannot be defined with an available geometric shape. a. Client-side image maps are used instead of server-side image maps. Appropriate alternative text is provided for the image as well as each hot spot area. (G) Row and column headers shall be identified for data tables. a. Data tables have column and/or row headers appropriately identified (using the element). b. Tables used strictly for layout purposes do NOT use the element. (H) Markup shall be used to associate data cells and header cells for data tables that have two or more logical levels of row or column headers. a. Data table cells are associated with the appropriate headers using the scope or id/headers attributes. (I) Frames shall be titled with text that facilitates frame identification and navigation. a. Each frame is given a title that describes the frame's purpose or content. (J) Pages shall be designed to avoid causing the screen to flicker with a frequency greater than 2 Hz and lower than 55 Hz. a. No element on the page flashes at a rate of 2 to 55 cycles per second, thus reducing the risk of optically-induced seizures. (K) A text-only page, with equivalent information or functionality, shall be provided to make a web site comply with the provisions of this part, when compliance cannot be accomplished in any other way. The content of the text-only page shall be updated whenever the primary page changes. a. A text-only version is created only when there is no other way to make the content accessible or when it offers significant advantages over the main version for certain disability types. b. The text-only version provides equivalent content and is up-to-date with the main version. (L) When pages utilize scripting languages to display content, or to create interface elements, the information provided by the script shall be identified with functional text that can be read by assistive technology. (M)When a web page requires that an applet, plug-in or other application be present on the client system to interpret page content, the page must provide a link to a plug-in or applet that complies with ADA Section 508 Standard 1194.21. a. When a web page requires that an applet, plug-in or other application be present on the client system to interpret page content, the page must 2016 UVI Website Policy page 11 provide a link to a plug-in or applet that complies with ADA Section 508 Standard 1194.21. b. All applets, scripts and plug-ins (including PDF, mp3 and mp4 files, etc.) and the content within them are accessible to assistive technologies, or else an alternative means of accessing equivalent content is provided. (N) When electronic forms are designed to be completed on-line, the form shall allow people using assistive technology to access the information, field elements, and functionality required for completion and submission of the form, including all directions and cues. a. ,