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Required elements for official IU Kokomo Web sites

Designers of official sites at IU Kokomo are asked to use the official IU Kokomo templates, or to design their sites adhering closely to the template concepts, in consultation with the Web Manager and the Office of Communications and Marketing. The goal is that all IU Kokomo Web sites will present a professional, cohesive, user-centered experience for everyone who visits the sites.

Web developers beginning official Web projects at IU Kokomo should contact the Web Manager and the Office of Communications and Marketing to discuss the scope and plans for their Web site development. This communication will facilitate a smooth process for site development and implementation.

The elements below are required on all official IU Kokomo Web sites. Please contact the Web Manager and the Office of Communications and Marketing if you have questions about any of the following elements.

Administrative Sites | Auxiliary Sites | Elements NOT to Include

Required for administrative sites

It is important for administrative sites to contain specific elements of similarity, to present a unified look and feel to this core component of the University's Web presence. Administrative sites include the University's non-academic operations that are not auxiliary (auxiliary sites include such entities as the the IU Kokomo Alumni Association, IU Kokomo Library, IU Kokomo Art Gallery, and so on).

  • All official sites must be hosted on IU servers, with URLs in the iuk.edu domain (see the domain names section of the Site Organization and Structure page for details). Contact the Web Manager if you have questions about site hosting.
  • Site templates should be used as provided, or modified minimally to accommodate specific area needs. All modifications to the official site design must conform to the template concepts, so there is a "family look" to all IU Kokomo sites. The "family look" includes the top red "bar" containing the IU Kokomo wordmark, as well as concepts such as the general navigation, the color palette, the template components, and the graphical presentation. Site developers wishing to modify the templates must contact the Web Manager and the Office of Communications and Marketing before doing so.
  • On all pages of your site, the title bar (the very top of the browser window, above the Web page itself) must include the University's name and search tool bar. The name can be spelled out as Indiana University Kokomo or abbreviated to IU Kokomo.
  • On your site's home page, the university "footer" or "masthead" must be present, containing the university's name, city/state, and main contact number. You should also include the following set of links: IU Kokomo Home, News, and Events.
  • On your site's home page only, there must be a link to an e-mail address for your current site administrator. We recommend that you not use the person's name, but rather include a link such as this: Contact the site administrator, or something similar ("Web Manager" is acceptable). This information must be kept current and accurate.
  • On your site's home page, there must be a clearly-labeled link to the IU Kokomo home page. This can be included as part of the footer/masthead.
  • On all pages of your site, there must be a link to your site's home page (designed or labeled so it is distinguishable from the front-page link to the IU Kokomo home page).
  • External links (those outside the iuk.edu domain) should be opened in a separate window.
  • All pages of your site should reflect basic accessibility standards.
  • Understand that as a site developer, you are personally responsible for the following:
  1. Ensuring that your site complies with applicable IU Kokomo standards, policies and guidelines (located on and linked from this Web site).
  2. Ensuring that the content (including text, graphics, all elements) of your site does not violate any copyright laws1.
  3. Keeping written permission on file for any photos of people1.
  4. Keeping written parental permission on file for any photos of children under age 161.
  5. Gaining approval for your site's content from your dean or area director.
  6. Gaining approval from the Web Manager and the Office of Communications and Marketing before launching your newly-designed/restructured site.
  7. Ensuring that your site remains current, accurate, and a positive reflection of the IU Kokomo mission and strategic objectives. (When you complete your responsibilities for site development, you are required to turn the maintenance duties over to the next person charged with this responsibility. If no such person has been designated to succeed you, you must immediately inform your dean/director, the Web Manager, and the Office of Communications and Marketing.)
  8. Ensuring that your site, and all directories/subdirectories that comprise your site, remain free of any files or data of any kind that are not directly and currently a part of your official IU Kokomo Web site.

1 Unless provided by the Office of Communications and Marketing.

Required for Auxiliary sites

Auxiliary sites are official sites that include such entities as the the IU Kokomo Alumni Association, IU Kokomo Library, IU Kokomo Art Gallery, and so on. If you have a question about whether your site is auxiliary or administrative, contact the Office of Communications and Marketing.

  • All official sites must be hosted on IU servers, with URLs in the iuk.edu domain (see the domain names section of the Site Organization and Structure page for details).
  • Design must conform to the template concepts, so there is a "family look" to all IU Kokomo sites. This generally includes template elements such as the top red "bar" containing the IU Kokomo wordmark, the constituent navigation bar, the color palette, the template components, the graphical presentation, and other elements. There is room for creativity within these concepts; please consult with the Web Manager and the Office of Communications and Marketing for individual sites.
  • On all pages of your site, the title bar (the very top of the browser window, above the Web page itself) must include the university's name. It can be spelled out as Indiana University Kokomo or abbreviated to IU Kokomo.
  • On your site's home page, the content of the University "footer" or "masthead" must be present: the university's name, city/state, and main contact number. You should also include the following set of links: IU Kokomo Home, News, Events, and Search.
  • On your site's home page only, there must be a link to an e-mail address for your current site administrator. We recommend that you not use the person's name, but rather include a link such as this: Contact the site administrator. This information must be kept current and accurate.
  • On your site's home page, there must be a clearly-labeled link to the IU Kokomo home page. This can be included as part of the footer/masthead.
  • On all pages of your site, there must be a link to your site's home page (designed or labeled so it is distinguishable from the front-page link to the IU Kokomo home page).
  • All pages of your site should reflect basic accessibility standards.
  • Understand that as a site developer, you are personally responsible for the following:
  1. Ensuring that your site complies with applicable IU Kokomo standards, policies and guidelines (located on and linked from this Web site).
  2. Ensuring that the content (including text, graphics, all elements) of your site does not violate any copyright laws.
  3. Keeping written permission on file for any photos of people.
  4. Keeping written parental permission on file for any photos of children under age 16.
  5. Gaining approval for your site's content from your dean or area director.
  6. Gaining approval from the Web Manager and the Office of Communications and Marketing before launching your newly-designed/restructured site.
  7. Ensuring that your site remains current, accurate, and a positive reflection of the IU Kokomo mission and strategic objectives. (When you complete your responsibilities for site development, you are required to turn the maintenance duties over to the next person charged with this responsibility. If no such person has been designated to succeed you, you must immediately inform your dean/director, the Web Manager, and the Office of Communications and Marketing.)
  8. Ensuring that your site, and all directories/subdirectories that comprise your site, remain free of any files or data of any kind that are not directly and currently a part of your official IU Kokomo Web site.

Elements NOT to include

There are certain elements that detract from the user experience, and from the professionalism of your site's presentation. Please do not include the following on your Web site:

  • Do not include: Individual dates or other specifically time-sensitive information on Web pages, unless you are thoroughly prepared to update them EVERY day, or unless you have an automated method for daily updates. It is important to maintain completely updated information. An exception would be the last modified date in your footer.
  • Do not include: The site administrator's name on every page of your site. A reference to the site administrator (not recommended by name) is recommended on the front page only. At deeper site levels, it can be hard to maintain this information accurately, and it is also unnecessary.
  • Do not include: Distracting design elements, such as flashing .gifs, blinking text, background images, super-saturated (very bright) colors, huge or tiny text sizes, looped sound files, etc.
  • Do not include: any non-IU Kokomo advertising, promotions or commercial activity. These activities are prohibited in the IU Kokomo (iuk.edu) domain, because it is a .edu domain. For information about domain names, review the section on Official Web Sites or contact the Office of Communications and Marketing. IU Kokomo is subject to specific restrictions regarding domain names in the dot-edu domain; i.e. no dot-com URLs, etc.
  • Do not include: any files or data of any kind that are not directly and currently a part of your official IU Kokomo Web site (even if they are not linked on the site).
  • Do not include: Frames, Flash-only navigation, etc. Further information is here.
  • For other specific guidelines concerning good design and elements to avoid, please see the General Site Standards page.