All web pages should be created in answer to a question: "What need does this page meet for a member of one of our recognized constituencies: visitor, end-user, student, staff?" (or some other unique audience?) In response to this requirement, can we design each page to contain valuable content that answers a user’s question?
Presentation of benefits that your visitors to your web page will experience is the best welcome you can offer. The word "Welcome" in the title is all too often an empty phrase that attempts to camouflage a lack of valuable content. Opening statements such as "Welcome to Our Department Home Page!" are not recommended. Neither should such a statement be used as <title> in the <head> tag.
Do not use "Under Construction" statements on University pages. The purpose of every page within our website is to provide information or point to it. If there is no information to be posted on a page, creating the page serves no purpose and there is no reason to link to it.
Web sites with an *.mnsu.edu/* URL are required by law to conform to the accessibility requirements identified in Section 508 of the Rehabilitation Act. A detailed review of standards and guidelines to achieve conformity is available at State of Minnesota Office of Enterprise Technology web accessibility guidelines page. Prior to web site deployment, all pages should be tested using the free Watchfire application or Cynthia Says
A completely accessible web site makes all of its web content accessible to individuals with or without disabilities.
No part or function of the web content shall be excluded from being accessible to individuals with disabilities unless there is a compelling and legally justifiable reason to do so.
All of the information, resources, courses, and functionality of the institution's web site(s) shall be accessible. This includes any web "pages", and scripted or programmed content such as online registration programs, tutorials, email access, etc.
This includes individuals with impaired vision, hearing, voice, cognition, or musculoneural functions (e.g. seizures, impaired dexterity in the hands, limbs, and/or other parts of the body).
More information about this topic is available at the Web Accessiblity Initiative site.
Positive user experience of web sites is a critical need to meet. According to Jakob Nielsen, a leading expert on web usability, this topic includes the following concepts:
The most usable web sites are designed to achieve each of these features and foster ease of use. To learn more about these concepts, review the resources listed on the training page.
Thorough testing to check accessibility, links, page rendering, and functionality should follow all web development.
