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MSU Web Publication Policy Draft

Introduction

This document contains the policies for publishing on the Minnesota State University, Mankato (MSU) website.

Our Mission for Web Development

MSU promotes learning through effective undergraduate and graduate teaching, scholarship, and research in service to the state, the region, and the global community.

MSU encourages the use of the Internet and World Wide Web to create an efficient and effective environment for the University's administrative, faculty, student, business, and alumni communications.

Web Site Development Disclaimer

Recognizing the value of diversity and free speech, MSU makes Internet and Web resources available to all segments of the MSU community, but does not review, edit, or endorse all items on or linked to these pages.

MSU is not responsible for the content of every page linked to its website. While University departments will make every effort to ensure the accuracy of material they publish on the Web, discrepancies may sometimes exist between printed and electronic information.

Opinions expressed in personal pages should be construed as those of the author.

Web Page Definitions

Web pages described below reside on MSU computers connected to the Internet. As such, they must comply with all applicable State of Minnesota, MnSCU, and University policies or be deleted.

Tier I - the MSU home page <http://www.mnsu.edu>

Tier II - navigational pages directly linked to the MSU home page

Tier III - college, department, office, or program home pages

Tier IV - college, department, office, or program content pages

Tier V - instructional pages

Tier VI - MSU faculty, staff, and student pages on MSU computers.

Principles for Web Development

1. Information added to the Minnesota State website <www.mnsu.edu> must be related to the functions of MSU.
2. All materials included in the MSU website must comply with the established rules and regulations of MSU, including but not limited to The Basic Stuff Student Handbook, The Employee Handbook, and the Electronic Mail Transmission Regulation. All Web developers are responsible for abiding by the Web Publication Policy.
3. Official MSU pages are those publicly accessible electronic documents that represent the University, colleges, department offices, services, or other units, as well as officially registered student faculty, or staff organizations. Official MSU pages (Tiers I-V) must conform to the standards established in the MSU Web Development Standards.
4. Pages in Tiers I-V must be ADA compliant.
5. Tier VI are those pages stored on university computers or using an address that is a part of the University's Internet domain. These pages must not appear to be official pages, but must follow applicable laws and University policies. Authors assume personal responsibility for their accuracy, quality, and currency. Information providers will be held accountable for compliance with appropriate state and federal laws and University policy.
6. All pages must be appropriately titled and clearly labeled with ownership information so that responses to those documents can be directed to the appropriate individuals.
7. No one may make material available on MSU Web servers in violation of copyright, trademark, or terms of any licensing agreement.
8. The University safeguards confidential information concerning students, research, patients, employee university business, and other matters. Much of this information is protected by various statutes, and unauthorized disclosure of confidential information is prohibited by the University and may result in disciplinary action and legal sanctions. Confidential information includes, but is not limited to, information concerning prospective, current, and former students, current and former employees, Student Health Center patients, and University business and finances. The Family Educational Right of Privacy Act of 1974 requires the University to maintain confidentiality of student records.
9. All Web developers are responsible for ensuring that the information in their Web files, including link resources, is valid, current, and appropriate to the goals and purposes of MSU. Developers or designated staff are required to maintain files and update, remove, or correct materials. Files that are not properly maintained will be removed from the MSU website.

Responsibilities

(This section addresses systems, networking, and computer issues that may not be addressed in formal University policy at this time. When such policy is enacted, the items below will refer to it. Currently the policy most closely related is the Electronic Mail Transmission Regulation listed in MSU's Employee Handbook 1998-2000.)

The following responsibilities accompany computer use at MSU.

1. Users may not attempt to modify the University system or network facilities or attempt to crash systems. Users may not tamper with any software protections or restrictions placed on computer applications or files.
2. Users may use only their computer accounts. Users may not supply false or misleading data nor improperly obtain another's password in order to gain access to computers or networked systems, data, or information.
3. Users are responsible for use of their computer account(s). They should make appropriate use of the systems and network-provided protection features and take precautions against others obtaining access to their computer resources. Individual password security is the responsibility of each user.
4. Users should practice proper Internet etiquette and may not encroach on others' use of computer resources. Such activities would include, but are not limited to tying up computer resources for game playing or trivial applications; sending harassing messages; sending frivolous or excessive messages, including chain letters, junk mail, and other types of broadcast messages; using excessive amounts of storage; intentionally introducing any computer viruses, worms, Trojan Horses, or other rogue programs to MSU hardware or software; physically damaging systems; or running grossly inefficient programs when efficient ones are available.
5. Users are responsible for making use of software and electronic materials in accordance with copyright and licensing restrictions and applicable university policies. MSU equipment, and software may not be used to violate copyright or the terms of any agreement. No one may inspect, modify, distribute, or copy proprietary data, directories, programs, files, disk, or other software without proper authorization.

Commercial Advertising

University entities (colleges, departments, offices, or programs) may use their websites to advertise available MSU services. Use of such pages by non-profit or for-profit enterprises on University-managed data transmission lines must comply with the following criteria:

• The funds raised from the sale of Web page sponsorships are used for scholarship support or to reduce reliance on student activity fee subsidies.
• The display ad copy for a sponsored MSU department Web page simply provides the sponsor's company logo, its store location(s), store hours, contact numbers and/or e-mail addresses. Pricing information on specific products and sales is not allowed.
• Money raised through advertising is deposited in an MSU cost center or MSU Foundation account.
• MSU entities placing ads on their websites adhere to these graphic requirements:
  • The MSU logo quarantine zone is doubled if placed adjacent to the logo of a sponsor.
  • All graphic standards from the MSU Graphic Standards are followed.
  • On Tier III pages, the sponsor's logo is not larger than 10,000 pixels (for example: 100 x 100, or 200 x 50).
  • On Tier IV pages, the sponsor's logo is not larger than 16,000 pixels (for example: 160 x 100, or 250 x 64).

June 26, 2001